Emilio Scalise

Strain-induced semiconductor to metal transition in the two-dimensional honeycomb structure of MoS2

AbstractThe electronic properties of two-dimensional honeycomb structures of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) subjected to biaxial strain have been investigated using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. On applying compressive or tensile bi-axial strain on bi-layer and mono-layer MoS2, the electronic properties are predicted to change from semiconducting to metallic. These changes present very interesting possibilities for engineering the electronic properties of two-dimensional structures of MoS2.

Electronic properties of hydrogenated silicene and germanene

The electronic properties of hydrogenated silicene and germanene, so called silicane and germanane, respectively, are investigated using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. Two different atomic configurations are found to be stable and energetically degenerate. Upon the adsorption of hydrogen, an energy gap opens in silicene and germanene. Their energy gaps are next computed using the HSE hybrid functional as well as the G0W0 many-body perturbation method. These materials are found to be wide band-gap semiconductors, the type of gap in silicane (direct or indirect) depending on its atomic configuration. Germanane is predicted to be a direct-gap material, independent of its atomic configuration, with an average energy gap of about 3.2 eV, this material thus being potentially interesting for optoelectronic applications in the blue/violet spectral range.

Two-dimensional Si nanosheets with local hexagonal structure on a MoS(2) surface.

The structural and electronic properties of a Si nanosheet (NS) grown onto a MoS2 substrate by means of molecular beam epitaxy are assessed. Epitaxially grown Si is shown to adapt to the trigonal prismatic surface lattice of MoS2 by forming two-dimensional nanodomains. The Si layer structure is distinguished from the underlying MoS2 surface structure. The local electronic properties of the Si nanosheet are dictated by the atomistic arrangement of the layer and unlike the MoS2 hosting substrate they are qualified by a gap-less density of states.

Vibrational Properties of Silicene and Germanene

AbstractThe structural and vibrational properties of two-dimensional hexagonal silicon (silicene) and germanium (germanene) are investigated by means of first-principles calculations. It is predict that the silicene (germanene) structure with a small buckling of 0.44 Å (0.7 Å) and bond lengths of 2.28 Å (2.44 Å) is energetically the most favorable, and it does not exhibit imaginary phonon mode. The calculated non-resonance Raman spectra of silicene is characterized by a main peak at about 575 cm−1, namely the G-like peak. For germanene, the highest peak is at about 290 cm−1. Extensive calculations on armchair silicene nanoribbons and armchair germanene nanoribbons are also performed, with and without hydrogenation of the edges. The studies reveal other Raman peaks mainly distributed at lower frequencies than the G-like peak which could be attributed to the defects at the edges of the ribbons, thus not present in the Raman spectra of non-defective silicene and germanene. Particularly the Raman peak corresponding to the D mode is found to be located at around 515 cm−1 for silicene and 270 cm−1 for germanene. The calculated G-like and the D peaks are likely the fingerprints of the Raman spectra of the low-buckled structures of silicene and germanene.

An electric field tunable energy band gap at silicene/(0001) ZnS interfaces

The interaction of silicene, the silicon counterpart of graphene, with (0001) ZnS surfaces is investigated theoretically, using first-principles simulations. The charge transfer occurring at the silicene/(0001) ZnS interface leads to the opening of an indirect energy band gap of about 0.7 eV in silicene. Remarkably, the nature (indirect or direct) and magnitude of the energy band gap of silicene can be controlled by an external electric field: the energy gap is predicted to become direct for electric fields larger than about 0.5 V Å(-1), and the direct energy gap decreases approximately linearly with the applied electric field. The predicted electric field tunable energy band gap of the silicene/(0001) ZnS interface is very promising for its potential use in nanoelectronic devices.

Two-dimensional hexagonal tin : ab initio geometry, stability, electronic structure and functionalization

We study the structural, mechanical and electronic properties of the two-dimensional (2D) allotrope of tin: tinene/stanene using first-principles calculation within density functional theory, implemented in a set of computer codes. Continuing the trend of the group-IV 2D materials graphene, silicene and germanene; tinene is predicted to have a honeycomb lattice with lattice parameter of a0 = 4.62 A and a buckling of d0 = 0.92 A. The electronic dispersion shows a Dirac cone with zero gap at the Fermi energy and a Fermi velocity of m s−1; including spin–orbit coupling yields a bandgap of 0.10 eV. The monolayer is thermally stable up to 700 K, as indicated by first-principles molecular dynamics, and has a phonon dispersion without imaginary frequencies. We explore applied electric field and applied strain as functionalization mechanisms. Combining these two mechanisms allows for an induced bandgap up to 0.21 eV, whilst retaining the linear dispersion, albeit with degraded electronic transport parameters.

Engineering the electronic properties of silicene by tuning the composition of MoX2 and GaX (X?=?S,Se,Te) chalchogenide templates

By using first-principles simulations, we investigate the interaction of a 2D silicon layer with two classes of chalcogenide-layered compounds, namely MoX2 and GaX (X = S, Se, Te). A rather weak (van der Waals) interaction between the silicene layers and the chalcogenide layers is predicted. We found that the buckling of the silicene layer is correlated to the lattice mismatch between the silicene layer and the MoX2 or GaX template. The electronic properties of silicene on these different templates largely depend on the buckling of the silicene layer: highly buckled silicene on MoS2 is predicted to be metallic, while low buckled silicene on GaS and GaSe is predicted to be semi-metallic, with preserved Dirac cones at the K points. These results indicate new routes for artificially engineering silicene nanosheets, providing tailored electronic properties of this 2D layer on non-metallic substrates. These non-metallic templates also open the way to the possible integration of silicene in future nanoelectronic devices.

Interaction of silicene and germanene with non-metallic substrates

By using first-principles simulations, we investigate the interaction of silicene and germanene with various non-metallic substrates. We first consider weak van der Waals interactions between the 2D layers and dichalcogenide substrates, like MoX2 (X=S, Se, Te). The buckling of the silicene or germanene layer is correlated to the lattice mismatch between the 2D material and the MoX2 template. The electronic properties of silicene or germanene on these different templates then largely depend on the buckling of the 2D material layer: highly buckled silicene or germanene on MoS2 are predicted to be metallic, while low buckled silicene on MoTe2 is predicted to be semi-metallic, with preserved Dirac cones at the K points. We next study the covalent bonding of silicene and germanene on (0001) ZnS and ZnSe surfaces. On these substrates, silicene or germanene are found to be semiconducting. Remarkably, the nature and magnitude of their energy band gap can be controlled by an out-of-plane electric field.

Predicting 2D silicon allotropes on SnS2

A first principles study on the stability and structural and electronic properties of two-dimensional silicon allotropes on a semiconducting layered metal-chalcogenide compound, namely SnS2, is performed. The interactions between the two-dimensional silicon layer, commonly known as silicene, and the layered SnS2 template are investigated by analyzing different configurations of silicene. The calculated thermodynamic phase diagram suggests that the most stable configuration of silicene on SnS2 belongs to a family of structures with Si atoms placed on three different planes; so-called dumbbell silicene. This particular dumbbell silicene structure preserves its atomic configuration on SnS2 even at a temperature of 500 K or as a “flake” layer (i.e., a silicene cluster terminated by H atoms), thanks to the weak interactions between the silicene and the SnS2 layers. Remarkably, an electric field can be used to tune the band gap of the silicene layer on SnS2, eventually changing its electronic behavior from semiconducting to (semi)metallic. The stability of silicene on SnS2 is very promising for the integration of silicene onto semiconducting or insulating substrates. The tunable electronic behavior of the silicene/SnS2 van der Walls heterostructure is very important not only for its use in future nanoelectronic devices, but also as a successful approach to engineering the bang-gap of layered SnS2, paving the way for the use of this layered compound in energy harvesting applications.

Surface chemistry and buried interfaces in all-inorganic nanocrystalline solids

Semiconducting nanomaterials synthesized using wet chemical techniques play an important role in emerging optoelectronic and photonic technologies. Controlling the surface chemistry of the nano building blocks and their interfaces with ligands is one of the outstanding challenges for the rational design of these systems. We present an integrated theoretical and experimental approach to characterize, at the atomistic level, buried interfaces in solids of InAs nanoparticles capped with Sn2S64– ligands. These prototypical nanocomposites are known for their promising transport properties and unusual negative photoconductivity. We found that inorganic ligands dissociate on InAs to form a surface passivation layer. A nanocomposite with unique electronic and transport properties is formed, that exhibits type II heterojunctions favourable for exciton dissociation. We identified how the matrix density, sulfur content and specific defects may be designed to attain desirable electronic and transport properties, and we explain the origin of the measured negative photoconductivity of the nanocrystalline solids.An integrated theoretical and experimental approach characterizes buried interfaces in nanocrystal-in-glass systems at the atomistic level, revealing how matrix density and specific defects may be designed to attain desirable electronic and transport properties.