Jakub D. Baran

Measuring the mechanical properties of molecular conformers

Scanning probe-actuated single molecule manipulation has proven to be an exceptionally powerful tool for the systematic atomic-scale interrogation of molecular adsorbates. To date, however, the extent to which molecular conformation affects the force required to push or pull a single molecule has not been explored. Here we probe the mechanochemical response of two tetra(4-bromophenyl)porphyrin conformers using non-contact atomic force microscopy where we find a large difference between the lateral forces required for manipulation. Remarkably, despite sharing very similar adsorption characteristics, variations in the potential energy surface are capable of prohibiting probe-induced positioning of one conformer, while simultaneously permitting manipulation of the alternative conformational form. Our results are interpreted in the context of dispersion-corrected density functional theory calculations which reveal significant differences in the diffusion barriers for each conformer. These results demonstrate that conformational variation significantly modifies the mechanical response of even simple porpyhrins, potentially affecting many other flexible molecules.

Prospects for Engineering Thermoelectric Properties in La1/3NbO3 Ceramics Revealed via Atomic-Level Characterization and Modeling

A combination of experimental and computational techniques has been employed to explore the crystal structure and thermoelectric properties of A-site-deficient perovskite La1/3NbO3 ceramics. Crystallographic data from X-ray and electron diffraction confirmed that the room temperature structure is orthorhombic with Cmmm as a space group. Atomically resolved imaging and analysis showed that there are two distinct A sites: one is occupied with La and vacancies, and the second site is fully unoccupied. The diffuse superstructure reflections observed through diffraction techniques are shown to originate from La vacancy ordering. La1/3NbO3 ceramics sintered in air showed promising high-temperature thermoelectric properties with a high Seebeck coefficient of S1 = -650 to -700 μV/K and a low and temperature-stable thermal conductivity of k = 2-2.2 W/m·K in the temperature range of 300-1000 K. First-principles electronic structure calculations are used to link the temperature dependence of the Seebeck coefficient measured experimentally to the evolution of the density of states with temperature and indicate possible avenues for further optimization through electron doping and control of the A-site occupancies. Moreover, lattice thermal conductivity calculations give insights into the dependence of the thermal conductivity on specific crystallographic directions of the material, which could be exploited via nanostructuring to create high-efficiency compound thermoelectrics.

Descriptors for predicting the lattice constant of body centered cubic crystal

The prediction of the lattice constant of binary body centered cubic crystals is performed in terms of first principle calculations and machine learning. In particular, 1541 binary body centered cubic crystals are calculated using density functional theory. Results from first principle calculations, corresponding information from periodic table, and mathematically tailored data are stored as a dataset. Data mining reveals seven descriptors which are key to determining the lattice constant where the contribution of descriptors is also discussed and visualized. Support vector regression (SVR) technique is implemented to train the data where the predicted lattice constants have the mean score of 83.6% accuracy via cross-validation and maximum error of 4% when compared to experimentally determined lattice constants. In addition, trained SVR is successful in predicting material combinations from a desired lattice constant. Thus, a set of descriptors for determining the lattice constant is identified and can be used as a base descriptor for lattice constants of further complex crystals. This would allow for the acceleration of the search for lattice constants of desired atomic compositions as well as the prediction of new materials based on a specified lattice constant.

Atomic-scale characterization of thermoelectric oxides using high spatial and energy resolution STEM-EELS

Thermoelectric (TE) devices convert heat into electricity and represent an important route for green technologies. They have the potential for making an impact in many fields, such as portable devices (medical applications) and smart grid systems (coupled with batteries and photovoltaics). Metal oxides possess several advantages over traditional thermoelectric (TE) materials including low price, nontoxicity, chemical and thermal stability at high temperature. Furthermore, the chemical richness of their structures ensures that their properties are highly tuneable [1]. Accurate information on the crystal structure and the resulting electronic properties is of paramount importance for understanding and predicting TE oxides’ properties reliably as macroscopic quantities like Seebeck coefficient and electronic conductivity are directly related to the electronic states in the vicinity of the Fermi level. Here we use atomic-scale, high energy resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and electron energy loss spectroscopy to inform theoretical predictions from density functional theory electronic band-structure calculations combined with the Boltzmann transport theory, to a number of highly promising TE oxide systems.