Yungang Zhou

Tensile strain switched ferromagnetism in layered NbS2 and NbSe2.

Developing approaches to effectively induce and control the magnetic states is critical to the use of magnetic nanostructures in quantum information devices but is still challenging. Here we have demonstrated, by employing the density functional theory calculations, the existence of infinite magnetic sheets with structural integrity and magnetic homogeneity. Examination of a series of transition metal dichalcogenides shows that the biaxial tensile strained NbS(2) and NbSe(2) structures can be magnetized with a ferromagnetic character due to the competitive effects of through-bond interaction and through-space interaction. The estimated Curie temperatures (387 and 542 K under the 10% strain for NbS(2) and NbSe(2) structures, respectively) suggest that the unique ferromagnetic character can be achieved above room temperature. The self-exchange of population between 4d orbitals of the Nb atom that leads to exchange splitting is the mechanism behind the transition of the spin moment. The induced magnetic moments can be significantly enhanced by the tensile strain, even giving rise to a half-metallic character with a strong spin polarization around the Fermi level. Given the recent progress in achieving the desired strain on two-dimensional nanostructures, such as graphene and a BN layer, in a controlled way, we believe that our calculated results are suitable for experimental verification and implementation, opening a new path to explore the spintronics in pristine two-dimensional nanostructures.

Evolution of lattice structure and chemical composition of the surface reconstruction layer in Li1.2Ni0.2Mn0.6O2 cathode material for lithium ion batteries

Voltage and capacity fading of layer structured lithium and manganese rich (LMR) transition metal oxide is directly related to the structural and composition evolution of the material during the cycling of the battery. However, understanding such evolution at atomic level remains elusive. On the basis of atomic level structural imaging, elemental mapping of the pristine and cycled samples, and density functional theory calculations, it is found that accompanying the hoping of Li ions is the simultaneous migration of Ni ions toward the surface from the bulk lattice, leading to the gradual depletion of Ni in the bulk lattice and thickening of a Ni enriched surface reconstruction layer (SRL). Furthermore, Ni and Mn also exhibit concentration partitions within the thin layer of SRL in the cycled samples where Ni is almost depleted at the very surface of the SRL, indicating the preferential dissolution of Ni ions in the electrolyte. Accompanying the elemental composition evolution, significant structural evolution is also observed and identified as a sequential phase transition of C2/m → I41 → Spinel. For the first time, it is found that the surface facet terminated with pure cation/anion is more stable than that with a mixture of cation and anion. These findings firmly established how the elemental species in the lattice of LMR cathode transfer from the bulk lattice to surface layer and further into the electrolyte, clarifying the long-standing confusion and debate on the structure and chemistry of the surface layer and their correlation with the voltage fading and capacity decaying of LMR cathode. Therefore, this work provides critical insights for design of cathode materials with both high capacity and voltage stability during cycling.

Adsorption of hydrogen on boron-doped graphene : A first-principles prediction

The doping effects of boron on the atomic adsorption of hydrogen on graphene have been investigated using density functional theory calculations. The hydrogen adsorption energies and electronic structures have been considered for pristine and B-doped graphene with the adsorption of hydrogen on top of carbon or boron atom. It is found that the B-doping forms an electron-deficient structure and decreases the hydrogen adsorption energy dramatically. For the adsorption of hydrogen on top of other sites, similar results have also been found. These results indicate that the hydrogen storage capacity is improved by the doping of B atom.

Adsorption-induced magnetic properties and metallic behavior of graphene

Magnetic properties and electronic structures of graphene with Cl, S, and P adsorption have been investigated using ab initio calculations. The adsorption of Cl leads to Fermi level shifting to valence band, which results in metallic graphene. A band gap of 0.6 eV emerges in a S-absorbed graphene, leading to the semiconducting graphene. The unpaired electrons in the absorbed P atom are polarized and thus exhibit a magnetic moment of 0.86μB, while no magnetic moment has been observed after Cl and S adsorption. This demonstrates that the magnetic properties and conductive behavior of graphene can be modified via atom adsorption. Specially, P-absorbed graphene may be useful for spintronic applications, such as tunneling magnetoresistance.

Electronic and magnetic properties of metal-doped BN sheet: A first-principles study

The electronic and magnetic properties of a BN sheet doped with 3d transition metals (Fe, Co and Ni) have been investigated using ab initio calculations. Our calculations show many interesting physical properties in a metal-doped BN sheet. A Fe-doped BN sheet is a half-metal with the magnetic moment of 2.0 micro(B), and Co-doped BN sheet becomes a narrow-gap semiconductor with a magnetic moment of 1.0 micro(B). However, no magnetic moment is induced on a Ni-doped BN sheet, which has the same band gap as a pristine BN sheet. Furthermore, Fe atom easily forms an isolated particle on the BN sheet, while Ni and Co atoms are likely to form a sheet-supported metal nanotemplate. These results are useful for spintronics application and could help in the development of magnetic nanotructures and metallic nanotemplate at room temperature.

Electronic and magnetic properties of substituted BN sheets: A density functional theory study

Using density functional calculations, we investigate the geometries, electronic structures and magnetic properties of hexagonal BN sheets with 3d transition metal (TM) and nonmetal atoms embedded in three types of vacancies: V(B), V(N), and V(B+N). We show that some embedded configurations, except TM atoms in V(N) vacancy, are stable in BN sheets and yield interesting phenomena. For instance, the band gaps and magnetic moments of BN sheets can be tuned depending on the embedded dopant species and vacancy type. In particular, embedment such as Cr in V(B+N), Co in V(B), and Ni in V(B) leads to half-metallic BN sheets interesting for spin filter applications. From the investigation of Mn-chain (C(Mn)) embedments, a regular 1D structure can be formed in BN sheets as an electron waveguide, a metal nanometre wire with a single atom thickness.

Electron-Rich Driven Electrochemical Solid-State Amorphization in Li-Si Alloys

The physical and chemical behaviors of materials used in energy storage devices, such as lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), are mainly controlled by an electrochemical process, which normally involves insertion/extraction of ions into/from a host lattice with a concurrent flow of electrons to compensate charge balance. The fundamental physics and chemistry governing the behavior of materials in response to the ions insertion/extraction is not known. Herein, a combination of in situ lithiation experiments and large-scale ab initio molecular dynamics simulations are performed to explore the mechanisms of the electrochemically driven solid-state amorphization in Li-Si systems. We find that local electron-rich condition governs the electrochemically driven solid-state amorphization of Li-Si alloys. This discovery provides the fundamental explanation of why lithium insertion in semiconductor and insulators leads to amorphization, whereas in metals, it leads to a crystalline alloy. The present work correlates electrochemically driven reactions with ion insertion, electron transfer, lattice stability, and phase equilibrium.

Electronic and magnetic properties of graphene absorbed with S atom: A first-principles study

Stable configuration, electronic structures, and magnetic behaviors for S adsorption on graphene have been investigated by first-principles calculations. It is found that the adsorption site of S on graphene is coverage dependent. As the increase in coverage from 0 to 0.5 ML, the preferred site is changed from bridge to hollow site. For the adsorption of S at bridge site, no magnetic moment is detected, and the adsorption is characterized by strong hybridization between the S 2s state and graphene sigma states. For the adsorption of S at hollow site, a magnetic moment of 1.98 mu(B) was induced. In this case, the hybridization occurs between S 2p states and graphene pi states. Furthermore, from the investigation of the surface potential energy curve, we find that graphene is a suitable candidate for the S storage.

First-principles study of the noble metal-doped BN layer

Intriguing electronic and magnetic properties of boron nitride (BN) layer with noble metal (Pd, Pt, Ag and Au) doping are obtained by first-principles calculations. Adsorbed Pd (or Pt) reduces the bandgap of BN sheet owing to the induction of impurity states. The unpaired electrons in the Ag (or Au)-adsorbed and the Pd (or Pt)-substituted BN layers are polarized, and thus, exhibit a magnetic moment of 1.0 μB, leading to these BN configurations to be magnetic semiconductors. The half-metallic feature of the Ag-substituted BN layer, along with the delocalization of spin states, renders this configuration an excellent spin filter material. Thus, these findings offer a unique opportunity for developing BN-based nanoscale devices.

Evidencing the existence of exciting half-metallicity in two-dimensional TiCl3 and VCl3 sheets.

Half-metallicity combined with wide half-metallic gap, unique ferromagnetic character and high Curie temperature has become a key driving force to develop next-generation spintronic devices. In previous studies, such half-metallicity always occurred under certain manipulation. Here, we, via examining a series of two-dimensional transition-metal trichlorides, evidenced that TiCl3 and VCl3 sheets could display exciting half-metallicity without involving any external modification. Calculated half-metallic band-gaps for TiCl3 and VCl3 sheets are about 0.60 and 1.10u2009eV, respectively. Magnetic coupled calculation shows that both sheets favor the ferromagnetic order with a substantial collective character. Estimated Curie temperatures can be up to 376 and 425u2009K for TiCl3 and VCl3 sheets, respectively. All of these results successfully disclose two new promising two-dimensional half-metallic materials toward the application of next-generation paper-like spintronic devices.