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At least 307 records · Page 17

Magnetic field effects on the quantum spin liquid behaviors of NaYbS 2

Spin-orbit coupling is an important ingredient to regulate the many-body physics, especially for many spin liquid candidate materials such as rare-earth magnets and Kitaev materials. The rare-earth chalcogenides NaYbCh 2 (Ch = O, S, Se) is a congenital frustrating system to exhibit the intrinsic landmark of spin liquid by eliminating both the site disorders between Na + and Yb 3+ ions with the big ionic size difference and the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction with the perfect triangular lattice of the Yb 3+ ions. The temperature versus magnetic-field phase diagram is established by the magnetization, specific heat, and neutron-scattering measurements. Notably, the neutron diffraction spectra and the magnetization curve might provide microscopic evidence for a series of spin configuration for in-plane fields, which include the disordered spin liquid state, 120° antiferromagnet, and one-half magnetization state. Furthermore, the ground state is suggested to be a gapless spin liquid from inelastic neutron scattering, and the magnetic field adjusts the spin orbit coupling. Therefore, the strong spin-orbit coupling in the frustrated quantum magnet substantially enriches low-energy spin physics. This rare-earth family could offer a good platform for exploring the quantum spin liquid ground state and quantum magnetic transitions.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Fragile-to-strong transition in liquid As 2 S 3 under pressure: The effect of melt metallization

The well-known classification of glass-forming melts into fragile and strong liquids has several notable exceptions, including water, silica, and certain phase-change materials (PCMs). These exceptional fluid systems exhibit a fragile-to-strong transition (FST) upon cooling: a transformation from a high-temperature liquid with fast atomic dynamics, low viscosity, and low flow activation energy, to a viscous supercooled melt with high energy barriers near the glass transition temperature T g . This behavior is critically important for non-volatile memories, photonic tensor cores, reconfigurable metamaterials, and other devices, that use PCMs, enabling nanosecond-scale crystallization in the fragile regime and long data retention in the strong regime near or below T g . A significant structural transformation is expected between these two viscosity regimes, along with a semiconductor-metal (SC-M) transition upon heating, driven by high internal pressure and associated density increase. By applying high external pressure to the canonical low-conducting chalcogenide melt As 2 S 3 , we observed both the FST and the SC-M transition, occurring simultaneously within the same domain of the P, T−phase space. These findings suggest that the FST is not limited to a few exceptional liquids but is a common phenomenon, at least in systems that exhibit melt metallization within specific regions of their P, T−phase diagrams.

first-principles molecular dynamics↗

Influence of QD photosensitizers in the photocatalytic production of hydrogen with biomimetic [FeFe]-hydrogenase. Comparative performance of CdSe and CdTe

Photocatalytic systems comprising a hydrogenase-type catalyst and CdX (X = S, Se, Te) chalcogenide quantum dot (QD) photosensitizers show extraordinary hydrogen production rates under visible light excitation. What remains unknown is the mechanism of energy conversion in these systems. In this work, we have explored this question by comparing the performance of two QD sensitizers, CdSe and CdTe, in photocatalytic systems featuring aqueous suspensions of a [Fe 2 (μ-1,2-benzenedithiolate) CO 6 ] catalyst and an ascorbic acid sacrificial agent. Overall, the hydrogen production yield for CdSe-sensitized reactions QDs was found to be 13 times greater than that of CdTe counterparts. According to emission quenching experiments, an enhanced performance of CdSe sensitizers reflected a greater rate of electron transfer from the ascorbic acid (k Asc ). The observed difference in the QD-ascorbic acid charge transfer rates between the two QD materials was consistent with respective driving forces for these systems.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Synergistic role of Sn-doping on the thermal and electrical properties of sinnerite Cu 6 As 4 S 9

Sinnerite Cu 6 As 4 S 9 has been identified as a promising material for optoelectronic applications, with potential for other energy-related applications; however, knowledge of the electrical and thermal properties as well as the mechanisms underlying transport in sinnerite is lacking. Here, we present an investigation of the synthesis, structural, thermal and electrical transport properties of stoichiometric and Sn-doped Cu 6 As 4 S 9 . Sinnerite has a triclinic lattice structure, with highly distorted local atomic coordination environments that, in part, results in its complex structure and bonding. Our results and analyses indicate As 4s 2 lone pair-induced distortions and strong lattice anharmonicity that leads to a relatively short phonon mean free path, resulting in intrinsically very low thermal conductivity. The electrical resistivity for both compositions, Cu 6 As 4-x Sn x S 9 (x = 0, 0.2), are relatively high and varies little with temperature, typical of degenerate semiconductors. An increase in mobility and electrical conductivity was obtained by Sn doping in Cu 6 As 3.8 Sn 0.2 S 9 . This work demonstrates an effective route to synthesize bulk sinnerite as well as advances the knowledge of the properties of sinnerite, as this and other ternary chalcogenides continue to be of interest for potential technologically significant applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Site heterogeneity and broad surface-binding isotherms in modern catalysis: Building intuition beyond the Sabatier principle

Learning the science of heterogeneous catalysis and electrocatalysis always starts with the simple case of a flat, uniform surface with an ideal adsorbate. It has of course been recognized for a century that real catalysts are more complicated. For the increasingly complex catalysts of the 21st century, this Perspective argues that surface heterogeneity and non-ideal binding isotherms are central features, and their implications need to be incorporated in current thinking. A variety of systems are described herein where catalyst complexity leads to broad, non-Langmuirian surface isotherms for the binding of hydrogen atoms – and this occurs even for ideal, flat Pt(111) surfaces. Modern catalysis employs nanoscale materials whose surfaces have substantial step, edge, corner, impurity, and other defect sites, and they increasingly have both metallic and non-metallic elements M n X m , including metal oxides, chalcogenides, pnictides, carbides, doped carbons, etc. The surfaces of such catalysts are often not crystal facets of the bulk phase underneath, and they typically have a variety of potential active sites. Catalytic surfaces in operando are often non-stoichiometric, amorphous, dynamic, and impure, and often vary from one part of the surface to another. Understanding of the issues that arise at such nanoscale, multi-element catalysts is just beginning to emerge. Yet these catalysts are widely discussed using Brønsted/Bell-Evans-Polanyi (BEP) relations, volcano plots, Tafel slopes, the Butler-Volmer equation, and other linear free energy relations (LFERs), which all depend on the implicit assumption that the active sites are “similar” and that surface adsorption is close to ideal. These assumptions underly the ubiquitous intuition based on the Sabatier Principle, that the fastest catalysis will occur when key intermediates have free energies of adsorption that are not too strong nor too weak. Current catalysis research often aims to minimize the complexity of non-ideal isotherms through experimental and computational design (e.g., the use of single crystal surfaces), and these studies are the foundation of the field. In contrast, this Perspective argues that the heterogeneity of binding sites and binding energies is an inherent strength of these catalysts. Here, this diversity makes many nanoscale catalysts inherently a high-throughput screen wrapped in a tiny package. Only by making the heterogeneity part of the foundation of catalysis models, sorting the types of active sites and dissecting non-ideal binding isotherms, will modern catalysis learn to harness the inherent diversity of real catalysts. Controlling and exploiting diversity rather than avoiding it will help to optimize complex modern catalysts and catalytic conditions.

Mayer, James M.↗

Examining phase separation and crystallization in glasses with X-ray nano-computed tomography

X-ray nano-computed tomography (nano-CT) is a powerful technique to characterize and visualize 3 dimensional (3D) phenomena in complex glasses at the nanoscale. This technique can offer a unique opportunity to explore the intricate morphology of multicomponent glass and glass-ceramic samples, due to its low X-ray energy and high spatial resolution (down to 50 nm). In the current demonstration paper, nano-CT provided insight into crystallization and phase separation, as well as a variety of other phenomena, including corrosion, fracture, and porosity. At scales ranging from 100 to 20 μm, the microstructures of phase separation in borosilicate, complex silicate, and chalcogenide glass compositions were examined. In addition, crystallites present in simulant nuclear waste glasses, volcanic glasses, and other related samples were explored. Nano-CT analysis can add to the understanding of (1) the formation processes, (2) distributions, interactions, and compositions of phases, and (3) the mechanisms, structures, and growth of crystallization and phase separation. Nano-CT offers wide potential in the field of glass science, especially when (1) common characterization methods are insufficient, (2) simple sample preparation is required, (3) 3D rendering is needed, or (4) compelling images of small, complex features are desired.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Influence of metal organic framework glasses on thermoelectric properties of AgSb 0.96 Zn 0.04 Te 2 alloy

In recent years, a significant number of chalcogenides-based thermoelectric (TE) materials have been investigated theoretically and experimentally. However, the efficiency of TE materials is often limited by physical and chemical stability issues. Therefore, it is crucial to identify additive materials that can reduce thermal conductivity and improve the efficiency of crystalline TE materials. One well-known approach to lower thermal conductivity is introducing porosity into the material structure, which helps scatter phonon energy. Metal-organic framework (MOF) crystalline materials, known for their porosity and physical and chemical stability, offer unique advantages in TE applications. In this study, we investigate the influence of 20 weight% amorphous Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework (ZIF)-62 to p-type AgSb 0.96 Zn 0.04 Te 2 (ASTZ), a well-known TE material. We synthesized composites, ASTZ, ASTZ-Zn, and ASTZ-Co, by sintering ASTZ with amorphous ZIF-62(Zn) and ZIF-62(Co) respectively. The addition of amorphous ZIF-62(Zn) leads to a significant enhancement in the Seebeck coefficient of ASTZ increasing from 151 µV/K to 229 µV/K at 586K. Moreover, the thermal conductivity of the ASTZ TE materials drops drastically from 0.491 Wm -1 K -1 to around 0.22 Wm -1 K -1 at 623K with the addition of either amorphous ZIF-62(Zn) or ZIF-62(Co). Remarkably, ASTZ containing amorphous ZIF-62(Zn) achieves a maximum thermoelectric figure of merit (zT max ) of approximately 0.078 at 573K, surpassing any MOF-based thermoelectric material reported to date. In conclusion, these findings highlight the potential of amorphous ZIF-62 as an effective additive for enhancing the properties of thermoelectric materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Fermi surface origin of the low-temperature magnetoresistance anomaly

Magnetoresistance (MR) at a fixed field can demonstrate a non-monotonic temperature dependence—an anomaly—in many systems, including low-dimensional chalcogenides, spin- and charge-density-wave metals, and topological semimetals. These systems are often low-carrier-density compensated metals, and the physics are expected to be quasi-classical. Nevertheless, the MR anomaly also exists in the highly conductive metals Cr, Mo, and W for both linear and quadratic field dependence, with their non-saturation attributed to either open orbit or electron-hole compensation. We argue that quantum transport across sharp Fermi surface arcs, but not necessarily the full cyclotron orbit, governs this MR anomaly, thereby accounting for the profound effects of disorder. In Cr, an overlay exists between three temperature dependences: MR at a constant high field, linear MR at a low field, and Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) oscillations of the smallest orbit. In Mo, the MR anomaly extends beyond the temperature of its SdH oscillations but disappears before Kohler’s scaling reemerges.

Feng, Yejun [Okinawa Institute of Science and Tech↗

Anisotropic topological surface states in thin-film monoclinic Ag 2 Se

Silver chalcogenide systems have recently attracted significant attention due to their promising topological insulating properties. Here we conducted systematic low-temperature local scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy and first-principles studies on the surface states of monoclinic Ag 2 Se thin films grown using molecular beam epitaxy. Through the use of quasi-particle interference patterns, we have observed evidence for topological surface states on the selenium-terminated surfaces with different types of defect densities. The results of ab initio calculations confirm the existence of nontrivial topological surface states in the monoclinic Ag 2 Se structure, for which such properties have not been previously reported. The energy dispersion determined using voltage-dependent standing wave patterns suggests that these topological states have an anisotropic Dirac cone structure. In conclusion, this discovery may lead to new applications for monoclinic Ag 2 Se in the rapidly growing fields of nanoelectronics and spintronics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Construction of MoS 2 /NiS 2 heterostructure with fast interfacial reaction kinetics for ultrafast sodium storage

Constructing heterostructure is a valid method to reinforcing sodium storage performance of transition metal chalcogenides materials. Herein, a simple, safe and controllable one step hydrothermal method is proposed to synthesize MoS 2 /NiS 2 heterostructure. Due to the difference in band gaps and work functions of MoS 2 and NiS 2 , the charges are redistributed at the MoS 2 /NiS 2 heterointerfaces, thereby accelerating the migration of electrons and Na + . The heterointerfaces provide extra active sites for storing Na + , thus increasing the sodium storage capacity of the heterostructure. Furthermore, the distinct redox potentials of NiS 2 and MoS 2 promote the structural stability of MoS 2 /NiS 2 heterostructure during the electrochemical reaction processes. Consequently, the obtained MoS 2 /NiS 2 heterostructure exhibits superior rate properties (339.4 mAh g –1 at 10 A g –1 ) and ultra-stable cycling stability (480.5 mAh g –1 after 350 cycles at 1 A g –1 ). Finally, this paper presents a valid strategy for creating heterostructure anodes with excellent sodium storage properties.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Hot-pressed 6 LiInSe 2 for use as a ceramic radiation detector

Lithium based chalcogenides have many uses in the nuclear science field. 6 LiInSe 2 (or LISe) has been researched extensively because of its ability to operate in both scintillator and semiconductor modes. Here, this makes it useful in applications including nuclear material detection for national security, space applications, and medical imaging. In some applications growth and fabrication costs are of concern, as it takes upwards of 40 days to synthesize a charge, grow a crystal and fabricate a detector. Ceramics are a solution for this long route of preparation. This research shows that using a 6 LiInSe 2 ceramic instead of a single crystal significantly decreases the time required to make a detector. In the present work, ceramic wafers can be formed using a mechanical press equipped with a heating attachment. The resulting ceramic wafer performs very similar to a slow-growth single crystal when used in the scintillator mode.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Synthesis of uranium mixed anion compounds synthesized using the Boron-Chalcogen Mixture method: Ba 6 Co 6 U 0·9 1S 13·5 O 0.5 and Ba 5·47 K 0·53 Zn 6 US 13·5 O 0.5

Mixed anion compounds have exhibited interesting structures and properties that differ from compounds only incorporating a single anion in their composition. Unfortunately, difficulties in the synthetic methods used to obtain these materials has slowed the evolution of this field, prompting investigations into alternate synthetic pathways to these materials. Our recently establish Boron-Chalcogen Mixture (BCM) method, which was originally developed for the synthesis of pure actinide chalcogenides from oxides, has been adapted to achieve the partial oxide to sulfide conversion of Ba 2 MUO 6 (M = Co, Zn) which resulted in two new uranium (IV/V) oxysulfide compounds, Ba 6 Co 6 U 0·91 S 13·5 O 0.5 and Ba 5·47 K 0·53 Zn 6 US 13·5 O 0.5 These compounds crystallize in the tetragonal crystal system adopting the space group I4/mcm. Finally, their syntheses, crystal structures, and trends observed in the pursuit of these new mixed anion compounds are reported.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗

Optimization of the Growth of the Van der Waals Materials Bi 2 Se 3 and (Bi 0.5 In 0.5 ) 2 Se 3 by Molecular Beam Epitaxy

The naturally existing chalcogenide Bi 2 Se 3 is topologically nontrivial due to the band inversion caused by the strong spin-orbit coupling inside the bulk of the material. Here, the surface states are spin polarized, protected by the time-inversion symmetry, and thus robust to the scattering caused by nonmagnetic defects. A high-purity topological insulator thin film can be easily grown via molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) on various substrates to enable novel electronics, optics, and spintronics applications. However, the unique surface state properties have historically been limited by the film quality, which is evaluated by crystallinity, surface morphology, and transport data. Here we propose and investigate different MBE growth strategies to improve the quality of Bi 2 Se 3 thin films grown by MBE. Based on the surface passivation status, we have classified the substrates into two categories, self-passivated or unpassivated, and determine the optimal growth mechanisms on the representative sapphire and GaAs, respectively. For Bi 2 Se 3 on GaAs, the surface passivation status determines the dominant growth mechanism. In the end, growths of the topological trivial insulator (Bi 0.5 In 0.5 ) 2 Se 3 (BIS) on GaAs are investigated following the protocols proposed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Ultralow Thermal Conductivity and Thermoelectric Properties of Rb 2 Bi 8 Se 13

Complex bismuth chalcogenides are narrow band gap semiconductors with intrinsic low thermal conductivity, which exhibit high potential as highly efficient thermoelectric materials. Here, we assess the basic thermoelectric properties of polycrystalline Rb 2 Bi 8 Se 13 in the temperature range 300-823 K as well as performance-optimizing strategies. We find that the as-made bulk samples are single phase with the monoclinic crystal structure (P2 1 /m) and crystallize in layer morphology. The pristine sample exhibits an exceedingly low lattice thermal conductivity of 0.6- 0.46 W·m -1 ·K -1 at 300-823 K, which derives from strong lattice anharmonicity, large Grüneisen parameters, and low phonon velocities induced by the complex crystal structure with heavy atom Bi and a large unit cell. Here, the Cl doping successfully enhances the carrier concentration in Rb 2 Bi 8 Se 13 with a negligible impact on the electronic band structure, displaying common doping behaviors. Se vacancy, on the contrary, leads to n-type doping and enhances the effective mass and power factors more significantly. Consequently, a maximum ZT of ~0.75 at 823 K for the 0.3% Se-vacancy-doped sample is obtained.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Surface Passivation by Excess Sulfur for Controlled Synthesis of Large, Thin SnS Flakes

Tin sulfide (SnS) is part of the group IV chalcogenides (SnX, GeX; X: S, Se), a family of anisotropic layered materials considered for thin film photovoltaics, optoelectronics, and valleytronics, and predicted narrow bandgap multiferroic materials. Large ultrathin SnS flakes, suitable for a variety of applications, are challenging to synthesize because of the enhanced surface reactivity due to the open layer structure of SnS which gives rise to a competition between lateral and vertical growth. Here we investigate the effects of added sulfur on passivating the surface and modifying the balance between lateral expansion and thickening of SnS flakes in chemical vapor transport from a SnS precursor. In addition, we investigate the growth of SnS flakes and compare the results of synthesis from a pure SnS precursor with growth, in which a slight excess of sulfur is supplied in different ways. Our results demonstrate that small amounts of excess sulfur can profoundly affect the size and thickness distributions of SnS flakes. The largest and thinnest flakes are obtained if (i) traces of sulfur are added and (ii) the sulfur source consists either of small Sx fragments released at high temperatures from the reactor walls, or atomic S supplied by sublimation from SnS 2 . The likely mechanism for the observed growth modifications is a transient surface passivation of SnS flakes during growth, which reduces the reactivity of the top facet of the flakes, limits vertical growth, and thus gives rise to ensembles with increased lateral size and reduced thickness.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Surface-Induced Deprotonation of Thiol Ligands Impacts the Optical Response of CdS Quantum Dots

Cadmium chalcogenide quantum dots (QDs) passivated by thiol-based ligands exhibit several advantages in their applications in lighting, sensing, and imaging technologies. However, their emission is sensitive to thiol concentrations, pH conditions, and temperatures. Using calculations based on the density functional theory, we identify conditions for thiol/thiolate equilibrium at the CdS QD surface that either eliminate or introduce optically inactive hole trap states favoring or disfavoring the emission. Our calculations indicate much weaker interactions between the QD and protonated species (thiols), compared to their deprotonated counterparts (thiolates). Additionally, the surface of CdS QD facilitates the partial deprotonation of thiols, leading to the formation of an additional stable networking conformation where the proton is shared between the ligand and the QD surface. Thiolates strongly reduce the optical intensity of low-energy transitions in CdS QDs, contributing thiolate-localized hole trap states at the QD band gap. However, networking between the thiols and the surface, as well as the presence of native ligands such as primary amines, stabilize such trap states brightening the lowest optical transitions. This explains the increased emission of thiol-passivated QDs at lower concentrations in neutral or acidic solutions. Surface-mediated bias toward deprotonated species and their contribution to optically inactive states also rationalizes irreversible emission quenching and bleaching in the CdSe/CdS QDs exposed to high temperatures or intensive laser pulse.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Stoichiometry of the Core Determines the Electronic Structure of Core-Shell III-V/II-VI Nanoparticles.

Recently, III-V quantum dots (QDs) emerged as an environmentally friendly alternative to CdSe; however, they exhibit broader emission spectra and inferior photoluminescence quantum yield. Here, we report a computational study of the optoelectronic properties of InxPz and InxGayPz QDs interfaced with zinc chalcogenide shells. Using density functional theory, we show that fine-tuning the composition of the core is critical to achieving narrow emission lines. We show that core-shell nanoparticles, where the core has the same diameter but different stoichiometries, may absorb and emit at different wavelengths, leading to broad absorption and emission spectra. The value of the fundamental gap of the core-shell particles depends on the ratio between the number of group III and P atoms in the core and is maximized for the 1:1 composition. We also show that the interplay between quantum confinement and strain determines the difference in the electronic properties of III-V QDs interfaced with ZnS or ZnSe shells.

Rusishvili, Mariami↗

Bulk Glassy GeTe 2 : A Missing Member of the Tetrahedral GeX 2 Family and a Precursor for the Next Generation of Phase-Change Materials

Vitreous germanium disulfide GeS 2 and diselenide GeSe 2 belong to canonical chalcogenide glasses extensively studied over the past half century. Their high-temperature orthorhombic polymorphs are congruently melting compounds, and the tetrahedral crystal and glass structure is largely preserved in the melt. In contrast, the ditelluride counterpart is absent in the Ge-Te phase diagram, which shows only a single compound, monotelluride GeTe. Phase-change materials based on GeTe have become a technologically important class of solids, and their structure and properties are also widely studied. Surprisingly, very scarce information is available for alloys having GeTe 2 stoichiometry. Using a fast quenching procedure in silica capillaries, high-energy X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy supported by first-principles simulations, we show that bulk glassy GeTe 2 differs substantially from the lighter GeX 2 members, revealing 46% of trigonal germanium, 31% of three-fold coordinated tellurium, and only 20% of edge-sharing tetrahedra or pyramids. The fraction of homopolar Ge-Ge bonds is low; however, the population of dominant Te-Te dimers and Te n oligomers, n <= 10, appears to be significant. The complex structural and chemical topology of g-GeTe 2 is directly related to the thermodynamic metastability of germanium ditelluride, schematically represented by the following reaction: GeTe 2 $\rightleftarrows$ GeTe + Te. Disproportionation is complete above liquidus in the temperature range of semiconductor-metal transition, and the dense metallic GeTe 2 liquid, mostly consisting of five-fold coordinated Ge species, exhibits high fluidity, strong fragility (m = 99 ± 5), and presumably a fast structural transformation rate combined with low atomic mobility in the vicinity of the glass transition temperature, favorable for reliable long-term data retention in nonvolatile memories. The observed and predicted characteristic features make GeTe 2 a promising precursor for the next generation of phase-change materials, especially coupled with additional metal doping, depolymerizing the tetrahedral interconnected glass network and accelerating (sub)nanosecond crystallization.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗