Adam J. Jackson

Lattice dynamics and vibrational spectra of the orthorhombic, tetragonal, and cubic phases of methylammonium lead iodide

The hybrid halide perovskite CH3NH3PbI3 exhibits a complex structural behaviour, with successive transitions between orthorhombic, tetragonal and cubic polymorphs at ca. 165 K and 327 K. Herein we report first-principles lattice dynamics (phonon spectrum) for each phase of CH3NH3PbI3. The equilibrium structures compare well to solutions of temperature-dependent powder neutron diffraction. By following the normal modes we calculate infrared and Raman intensities of the vibrations, and compare them to the measurement of a single crystal where the Raman laser is controlled to avoid degradation of the sample. Despite a clear separation in energy between low frequency modes associated with the inorganic PbI3 network and high-frequency modes of the organic CH3NH3+ cation, significant coupling between them is found, which emphasises the interplay between molecular orientation and the corner-sharing octahedral networks in the structural transformations. Soft modes are found at the boundary of the Brillouin zone of the cubic phase, consistent with displacive instabilities and anharmonicity involving tilting of the PbI6 octahedra around room temperature.

Vibrational spectra and lattice thermal conductivity of kesterite-structured Cu2ZnSnS4 and Cu2ZnSnSe4

Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) is a promising material for photovoltaic and thermoelectric applications. Issues with quaternary semiconductors include chemical disorder (e.g., Cu–Zn antisites) and disproportionation into secondary phases (e.g., ZnS and Cu2 SnS 3). To provide a reference for the pure kesterite structure, we report the vibrational spectra—including both infra-red and Raman intensities—from lattice-dynamics calculations using first-principles force constants. Three-phonon interactions are used to estimate phonon lifetimes (spectral linewidths) and thermal conductivity. CZTS exhibits a remarkably low lattice thermal conductivity, competitive with high-performance thermoelectric materials. Transition from the sulfide to selenide (Cu2ZnSnSe4) results in softening of the phonon modes and an increase in phonon lifetimes.

Ab initio thermodynamic model of Cu2ZnSnS4

Thin-film solar cells based on the semiconductor Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) are a promising candidate for terawatt-scale renewable energy generation. While CZTS is composed of earth abundant and non-toxic elements, arranged in the kesterite crystal structure, there is a synthetic challenge to produce high-quality stoichiometric materials over large areas. We calculate the thermodynamic potentials of CZTS and its elemental and binary components based on energetic and vibrational data computed using density functional theory. These chemical potentials are combined to produce a thermodynamic model for the stability of CZTS under arbitrary temperatures and pressures, which provide insights into the materials chemistry. CZTS was shown to be thermodynamically stable with respect to its component elements and their major binary phases binaries under modest partial pressures of sulfur and temperatures below 1100 K. Under near-vacuum conditions with sulfur partial pressures below 1 Pa decomposition into binaries including solid SnS becomes favourable, with a strongly temperature-dependent stability window.

Computational Screening of All Stoichiometric Inorganic Materials

Summary Forming a four-component compound from the first 103 elements of the periodic table results in more than 1012 combinations. Such a materials space is intractable to high-throughput experiment or first-principle computation. We introduce a framework to address this problem and quantify how many materials can exist. We apply principles of valency and electronegativity to filter chemically implausible compositions, which reduces the inorganic quaternary space to 1010 combinations. We demonstrate that estimates of band gaps and absolute electron energies can be made simply on the basis of the chemical composition and apply this to the search for new semiconducting materials to support the photoelectrochemical splitting of water. We show the applicability to predicting crystal structure by analogy with known compounds, including exploration of the phase space for ternary combinations that form a perovskite lattice. Computer screening reproduces known perovskite materials and predicts the feasibility of thousands more. Given the simplicity of the approach, large-scale searches can be performed on a single workstation.

A universal chemical potential for sulfur vapours

The equilibrium thermochemistry of mixed vapour-phase sulfur allotropes is computed and solved to obtain a single chemical potential function.

Oxidation of GaN: An ab initio thermodynamic approach

GaN is a wide-band-gap semiconductor used in high-efficiency light-emitting diodes and solar cells. The solid is produced industrially at high chemical purities by deposition from a vapor phase, and oxygen may be included at this stage. Oxidation represents a potential path for tuning its properties without introducing more exotic elements or extreme processing conditions. In this work, ab initio computational methods are used to examine the energy potentials and electronic properties of different extents of oxidation in GaN. Solid-state vibrational properties of Ga, GaN, Ga2O3, and a single substitutional oxygen defect have been studied using the harmonic approximation with supercells. A thermodynamic model is outlined which combines the results of ab initio calculations with data from experimental literature. This model allows free energies to be predicted for arbitrary reaction conditions within a wide process envelope. It is shown that complete oxidation is favorable for all industrially relevant conditions, while the formation of defects can be opposed by the use of high temperatures and a high N2:O2 ratio.

Correction: A universal chemical potential for sulfur vapours

Correction for ‘A universal chemical potential for sulfur vapours’ by Adam J. Jackson et al., Chem. Sci., 2016, 7, 1082–1092.

Data to accompany the article "Lattice dynamics of the tin sulphides SnS2, SnS and Sn2S3: vibrational spectra and thermal transport"

This repository contains key raw data from the calculations performed in the manuscript, including the optimised structures, data from the lattice-dynamics calculations, the simulated spectra and the thermal-conductivity tensors.

Suppression of lattice thermal conductivity by mass-conserving cation mutation in multi-component semiconductors

In semiconductors almost all heat is conducted by phonons (lattice vibrations), which is limited by their quasi-particle lifetimes. Phonon-phonon interactions represent scattering mechanisms that produce thermal resistance. In thermoelectric materials, this resistance due to anharmonicity should be maximised for optimal performance. We use a first-principles lattice-dynamics approach to explore the changes in lattice dynamics across an isostructural series where the average atomic mass is conserved: ZnS to CuGaS

Supporting data for modelling of sulfur vapours

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