Patrick Hermet

Improper ferroelectricity in perovskite oxide artificial superlattices

Ferroelectric thin films and superlattices are currently the subject of intensive research because of the interest they raise for technological applications and also because their properties are of fundamental scientific importance. Ferroelectric superlattices allow the tuning of the ferroelectric properties while maintaining perfect crystal structure and a coherent strain, even throughout relatively thick samples. This tuning is achieved in practice by adjusting both the strain, to enhance the polarization, and the composition, to interpolate between the properties of the combined compounds. Here we show that superlattices with very short periods possess a new form of interface coupling, based on rotational distortions, which gives rise to ‘improper’ ferroelectricity. These observations suggest an approach, based on interface engineering, to produce artificial materials with unique properties. By considering ferroelectric/paraelectric PbTiO3/SrTiO3 multilayers, we first show from first principles that the ground-state of the system is not purely ferroelectric but also primarily involves antiferrodistortive rotations of the oxygen atoms in a way compatible with improper ferroelectricity. We then demonstrate experimentally that, in contrast to pure PbTiO3 and SrTiO3 compounds, the multilayer system indeed behaves like a prototypical improper ferroelectric and exhibits a very large dielectric constant of εr ≈ 600, which is also fairly temperature-independent. This behaviour, of practical interest for technological applications, is distinct from that of normal ferroelectrics, for which the dielectric constant is typically large but strongly evolves around the phase transition temperature and also differs from that of previously known improper ferroelectrics that exhibit a temperature-independent but small dielectric constant only.

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Simulations of Nitrogen- and Boron-Doped Graphene and Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

We report on studies of electronic properties and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) of the most common configurations of nitrogen- or boron-doped graphene and carbon nanotubes using density functional theory. Charge transfer, shift of the Fermi level, and localized electronic states are analyzed as a function of the doping configurations and concentrations. The theoretical STM images show common fingerprints for the same doping type for graphene, and metallic or semiconducting nanotubes. In particular, nitrogen is not imaged in contrast to boron. STM patterns are mainly shaped by local density of states of the carbon atoms close to the defect. STM images are not strongly dependent on the bias voltage when scanning the defect directly. However, the scanning of the defect-free side of the tube displays a perturbation compared to the pristine tube depending on the applied bias.

First-principles calculations of the nonlinear optical susceptibilities and Raman scattering spectra of lithium niobate

Nonlinear optical susceptibilities and nonresonant Raman scattering spectra of the ferroelectric phase of lithium niobate (LiNbO3) are computed using a first-principles approach based on density functional theory and taking advantage of a recent implementation based on the nonlinear response formalism and the 2n+1 theorem. Infrared reflectivity spectra of the ferroelectric phase of LiNbO3 are also calculated. New assignments are proposed for the E-modes, clarifying a longstanding debate in the literature. In addition, it is shown that knowledge of the nonlinear optical susceptibility tensor of LiNbO3 does not significantly alter the profile of its Raman spectra in a configuration where the longitudinal optic modes are involved.

Raman scattering intensities in BaTiO3 and PbTiO3 prototypical ferroelectrics from density functional theory

Nonlinear optical susceptibilities and Raman scattering spectra of the ferroelectric phases of BaTiO(3) and PbTiO(3) are computed using a first-principles approach based on density functional theory and taking advantage of a recent implementation based on the nonlinear response formalism and the 2n+1 theorem. These two prototypical ferroelectric compounds were chosen to demonstrate the accuracy of the Raman calculation based both on their complexity and their technological importance. The computation of the Raman scattering intensities has been performed not only for the transverse optical modes, but also for the longitudinal optical ones. The agreement between the measured and computed Raman spectra of these prototypical ferroelectrics is remarkable for both the frequency position and the intensity of Raman lines. This agreement presently demonstrates the state-of-the-art in the computation of Raman responses on one of the most complex systems, ferroelectrics, and constitutes a step forward in the reliable prediction of their electro-optical responses.

A first-principles investigation of the thermodynamic and mechanical properties of Ni–Ti–Sn Heusler and half-Heusler materials

First principles calculations of the vibrational, thermodynamic and mechanical properties of the Ni–Ti–Sn Heusler and half-Heusler compounds have been performed. First, we have calculated the Raman and infrared spectra of NiTiSn, providing benchmark theoretical data directly useful for the assignments of its experimental spectra and clarifying the debate reported in the literature on the assignment of its modes. Then, we have discussed the significant vibrational density-of-states of Ni2TiSn at low-frequencies. These states are at the origin of (i) its smaller free energy, (ii) its higher entropy, and (iii) its lower Debye temperature, with respect to NiTiSn. Finally, we have reported the mechanical properties of the two compounds. In particular, we have found that the half-Heusler compound has the largest stiffness. Paradoxically, its bulk modulus is also the smallest. This unusual behavior has been related to the Ni-vacancies that weaken the structure under isostatic compression. Both compounds show a ductile behavior.

First-principles model potentials for lattice-dynamical studies: general methodology and example of application to ferroic perovskite oxides

We present a scheme to construct model potentials, with parameters computed from first principles, for large-scale lattice-dynamical simulations of materials. We mimic the traditional solid-state approach to the investigation of vibrational spectra, i.e., we start from a suitably chosen reference configuration of the compound and describe its energy as a function of arbitrary atomic distortions by means of a Taylor series. Such a form of the potential-energy surface is general, trivial to formulate for any material, and physically transparent. Further, such models involve clear-cut approximations, their precision can be improved in a systematic fashion, and their simplicity allows for convenient and practical strategies to compute/fit the potential parameters. We illustrate our scheme with two challenging cases in which the model potential is strongly anharmonic, namely, the ferroic perovskite oxides PbTiO3 and SrTiO3. Studying these compounds allows us to better describe the connection between the so-called effective-Hamiltonian method and ours (which may be seen as an extension of the former), and to show the physical insight and predictive power provided by our approach-e.g., we present new results regarding the factors controlling phase-transition temperatures, novel phase transitions under elastic constraints, an improved treatment of thermal expansion, etc.

Vibrational Origin of the Thermal Stability in the Highly Distorted α-Quartz-Type Material GeO2: An Experimental and Theoretical Study

We report an experimental and theoretical vibrational study of the high-performance piezoelectric GeO2 material. Polarized and variable-temperature Raman spectroscopic measurements on high-quality, water-free, flux-grown α-quartz GeO2 single crystals combined with state-of-the-art first-principles calculations allow the controversies on the mode symmetry assignment to be solved, the nature of the vibrations to be described in detail, and the origin of the high thermal stability of this material to be explained. The low-degree of dynamic disorder at high-temperature, which makes α-GeO2 one of the most promising piezoelectric materials for extreme temperature applications, is found to originate from the absence of a libration mode of the GeO4 tetrahedra.

First-principles study of the dynamical and nonlinear optical properties of urea single crystals.

Raman and infrared spectra of urea single crystals have been calculated using the density functional theory. This allowed us to assign the remaining experimental low-frequency phonon modes. Then, we have determined the sign of the second-harmonic nonlinear optical susceptibility coefficient in urea to be negative, clarifying a long debate in the literature. Finally, we computed for the first time the electro-optic coefficients of urea. We found that the electronic and ionic contributions have a similar order of magnitude and an opposite sign, yielding a smaller value than that expected, and necessitating further experimental clarifications.

Revisited phonon assignment and electro-mechanical properties of chromium disilicide

We report a complete study of the lattice dynamics, dielectric, elastic and piezoelectric properties of hexagonal semiconducting chromium disilicide (CrSi2). From a combined experimental and theoretical study, we have revisited the phonon mode assignments at the zone-center, so that the contradictions met in previous experimental studies between 250 and 300 cm−1 are now explained and understood. We found that the temperature dependence of the Raman frequencies is mainly due to an implicit volume contribution and related to the large Gruneisen parameter. This explains why CrSi2 has a moderate thermal conductivity although its Debye temperature is quite large. Optic and static dielectric constants have also been analyzed and discussed. The elastic constants of CrSi2 are large, but this compound is quite brittle. In addition, the relatively low Poisson coefficient associated to the large negative Cauchy pressure of CrSi2 indicate the angular nature of its bonding. The calculation of its piezoelectric coefficient shows a sizable value with a magnitude similar to that reported for α-quartz. This prediction requires, however, experimental confirmation.

Correlations between structure and far-infrared active modes in polythiophenes.

We have investigated the experimental X-ray and far-infrared responses of three polythiophenes synthesized from a thiophene, alpha-bithiophene, and alpha-quaterthiophene monomer. The X-ray data show that the crystallinity of the different polythiophene samples depends on the synthesis conditions. An excellent correlation between the crystallinity of polythiophenes and their far-infrared signatures is demonstrated. In addition, the assignment of the far-infrared phonon modes in polythiophenes is given by using both an experimental filiation procedure and first-principles calculations. In particular, the ring libration inside the polymeric chain, directly involved in the electron-phonon coupling, is assigned.