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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 307 records · Page 17
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Electronic Structure of Molecular Cobalt Catalysts for H 2 Production Revealed by Multifrequency EPR

Improving the design of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts requires a detailed understanding of the catalyst's structure and environment. Here wwe have used multifrequency electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy (X-band, Q-band, and D-band) in combination with density functional theory (DFT) modeling to elucidate the electronic structure of three Co(II) molecular catalysts for H 2 evolution to determine correlations of electronic structure parameters with catalytic activity and stability. The Co(II) coordination complexes investigated here are representative of two types of H 2 -evolving molecular catalysts: cobaloximes, formed from cobalt coordination to two glyoxime ligands, and cobalt poly(pyridyl) complexes, which commonly have either four or five pyridyl ligands coordinating a single Co(II) ion. These Co(II) complexes were studied in a variety of solvents with a range of polarities and stoichiometric amounts of potential ligands to the cobalt ion to assess the strength and nature of ligand- cobalt interactions. Using magnetic resonance parameters obtained by EPR spectroscopy as reference data, we reconstructed the electronic structure of the Co(II) complexes with the help of DFT modeling. For all three catalysts, we uncovered a linear correlation between the Co(II) A z value and the g x value that is dependent on the strength of the axial ligands. The correlations that we have established between the electronic structure and metal coordination environment provide insight into the structural and electronic factors underpinning the observed trends in HER catalysis activity.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2018

Synthesis, and Crystal and Electronic Structures, of the Titanium-Rich Bismuthides AE 3 Ti 8 Bi 10 ( AE = Sr, Ba, Eu)

Three isotypic compounds with the chemical formula AE 3 Ti 8 Bi 10 (AE = Sr, Ba, Eu) have been obtained via both high-temperature solid state and flux growth reactions. Their crystal structure, representing a new type (space group P6 3 /mmc, Pearson symbol hP 42 ), features an open framework composed of interlinked TiBi 5 square pyramids and TiBi 6 octahedra. The Ti–Bi substructure is penetrated by infinite columns of face-sharing AE 6 polyhedra centered by Bi atoms. First-principle calculations and physical property measurements indicate metallic behavior and absence of localized magnetic moments on the Ti atoms. Analysis of the chemical bonding reveals strong Ti–Bi and Ti–Ti bonds. Finally, the latter demonstrate classic two-center, as well as multicenter interactions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Removing Basis Set Incompleteness Error in Finite-Temperature Electronic Structure Calculations: Two-Electron Systems

We investigate the basis-set-size dependence for quantities related to interacting electrons in the canonical ensemble. Calculations are performed using exact diagonalization (finite temperature full configuration interaction method) on two-electron model systems–the uniform electron gas (UEG) and the helium atom. Our data reproduce previous observations of a competition for how the internal energy converges between the ground-state correlation energy and the high-temperature kinetic energy. We explore how this can be related to component parts of the internal energy including kinetic, exchange, and correlation energies and show there is surprising nuance in how this can be broken down into mostly monotonically converging quantities. We also show that separation of the free energy into a free energy with/without correlation allows for monotonic convergence with basis set size due to the variational principle. We find that the free energy convergence matches the previously observed convergence properties of the internal energy. We discuss the free energy divergence that happens when converging a finite basis analytical hydrogen atom to the complete basis set limit and compare this to the energies of a helium atom in a large periodic box. Reducing the box size, we saw convergence trends for the helium atom that were similar to the UEG.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2016

Prediction of spin-dependent electronic structure in 3d-transition-metal doped antimonene

We investigate the geometric structure and electronic and magnetic properties of 3d-transition-metal atom doped antimonene using spin-polarized first-principles calculations. Strong orbital hybridization exhibits between 3d-transition-metal and Sb atoms, where covalent bonds form in antimonene. A spin-polarized semiconducting state appears in Cr-doped antimonene, while half-metallic states appear by doping Ti, V, and Mn. These findings indicate that once combined with doping states, the bands of antimonene systems offer a variety of features. Specific dopants lead to half-metallic characters with high spin polarization that has potential application in spintronics.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2012

Electronic structure and the local electroneutrality level of SiC polytypes from quasiparticle calculations within the GW approximation

The most important interband transitions and the local charge neutrality level (CNL) in silicon carbide polytypes 3C-SiC and nH-SiC (n = 2-8) are calculated using the GW approximation for the self energy of quasiparticles. The calculated values of band gap E{sub g} for various polytypes fall in the range 2.38 eV (3C-SiC)-3.33 eV (2H-SiC) and are very close to the experimental data (2.42-3.33 eV). The quasiparticle corrections to E{sub g} determined by DFT-LDA calculations (about 1.1 eV) are almost independent of the crystal structure of a polytype. The positions of CNL in various polytypes are found to be almost the same, and the change in CNL correlates weakly with the change in E{sub g}, which increases with the hexagonality of SiC. The calculated value of CNL varies from 1.74 eV in polytype 3C-SiC to 1.81 eV in 4H-SiC.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2018

Electronic Structure, Mechanical and Dynamical Stability of Hexagonal Subcarbides M{sub 2}C (M = Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Re, Os, Ir, and Pt): Ab Initio Calculations

Ab initio calculations were used to study the properties of a series of hexagonal (Fe{sub 2}N-like) subcarbides M{sub 2}C, where M = Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Re, Os, Ir, and Pt, and to calculate their equilibrium structural parameters, electronic properties, phase stability, elastic constants, compression modulus, shear modulus, Young’s modulus, compressibility, Pugh’s indicator, Poisson ratio, elastic anisotropy indices, and also hardness, Debye temperature, sound velocity, and low-temperature heat capacity. It is found based on these results that all the subcarbides are mechanically stable; however, their formation energies E{sub form} are positive with respect to a mixture of d-metal and graphite. In addition, the calculation of the phonon spectra of these subcarbides shows the existence of negative modes, which indicates their dynamical instability. Thus, a successful synthesis of these subcarbides at normal conditions is highly improbable.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2013

Experimentally characterizing the electronic structures of f-electron systems using advanced high resolution Fourier transform microwave spectroscopies

We aim to (i) provide data that directly addresses the fundamental roles of actinide valence electrons in chemical bonding, and (ii) serve to provide prototypical data for the heavy element computational chemistry community. These goals will be achieved through the first pure rotational spectroscopic measurements on prototypical systems at ultra-high resolution. These systems encompass low oxidation state uranium and thorium compounds including, but not limited to, UX and ThX, X = F, Cl, Br, I, and UY and ThY, Y = O, S, and other simple U and Th-containing compounds. Our primary experimental tools involve time-domain rotational spectroscopy achieving line widths and resolutions of a few kHz.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2017

Electron energy-loss and soft X-ray emission spectroscopy of electronic structure of MgB{sub 4}

The electronic structure of MgB{sub 4}, with the characteristic crystal structure comprising one-dimensional pentagonal B{sub 6} cluster chain, was investigated using electron energy-loss spectroscopy and soft X-ray emission spectroscopy based on transmission electron microscopy. The dielectric function and density of state of unoccupied and occupied states were clarified experimentally for the first time. Although theoretical calculations has predicted MgB{sub 4} to be a semiconductor, the electron energy-loss spectrum in this study show a plasmon peak at 0.4 eV, which might be due to carrier electrons. Theoretical calculations suggested that the electronic states near the Fermi energy are localized along the one dimensional B{sub 6} cluster chain. Therefore, one–dimensional electric conductivity is expected. - Graphical abstract: Crystal structure of MgB{sub 4} consists of one-dimensional B{sub 6} cluster chain. The electronic structure characteristic to one-dimensionality is explored by using experimental EELS and SXES measurements based on TEM and first principle calculation. Display Omitted - Highlights: • The electronic structure of MgB{sub 4} is investigated using EELS and SXES based on TEM. • The peak at 0.4 eV in low-loss spectrum implies carriers with low density. • DOSs in VB and CB were revealed from B K emission and B K-shell excitation spectra. • Wien2K shows electronic states near Fermi level located along B{sub 6} cluster chains. • One dimensional behavior of the carriers is expected in MgB{sub 4}.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Tailoring the Electronic Structures and Spectral Properties of ZnO with Irradiation Defects Generated Under Intense Electronic Excitation: A Combined Experimental and DFT Approach

Here, the relationship between the composition of the internal defect states, spectral properties, and correlated electronic structures of wurtzite zinc oxide (ZnO) crystals under 645 MeV Xe 35+ irradiation is systematically investigated, employing experimental characterizations combined with first-principle calculations. Based on the ion irradiation-induced thermal expansion and relaxation processes, the high concentration of vacancy/interstitial defects produced from the transient disordered phase in molten track states trigger photoelectric changes, as follows: i) the generation of internal defect states effectively reduces the intrinsic bandgap (3.25 eV → 2.66 eV); ii) a large number of defective active sites inhibits the recombination between electron–hole pairs, causing dark conductance and photoconductance to increase with increasing damage levels until optimal fluence is achieved. Based on the density functional theory (DFT) with the GGA + U (GGA = generalized gradient approximation) method, the defective models associated with the different electronic structures, density of states, formation energy, and the nature of the chemical bonding are established. The narrowing of the bandgap observed experimentally and the enhancement of carrier concentration originating from the internal electron defect states are qualitatively verified, therefore laying the foundation for designing future nanoscale photoelectronic devices and microelectronics applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2012

Electronic Structure, Localization and 5f Occupancy in Pu Materials

The electronic structure of delta plutonium ({delta}-Pu) and plutonium compounds is investigated using photoelectron spectroscopy (PES). Results for {delta}-Pu show a small component of the valence electronic structure which might reasonably be associated with a 5f{sup 6} configuration. PES results for PuTe are used as an indication for the 5f{sup 6} configuration due to the presence of atomic multiplet structure. Temperature dependent PES data on {delta}-Pu indicate a narrow peak centered 20 meV below the Fermi energy and 100 meV wide. The first PES data for PuCoIn5 indicate a 5f electronic structure more localized than the 5fs in the closely related PuCoGa{sub 5}. There is support from the PES data for a description of Pu materials with an electronic configuration of 5f{sup 5} with some admixture of 5f{sup 6} as well as a localized/delocalized 5f{sup 5} description.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2020

Ligand effects on electronic structure and bonding in U(iii) coordination complexes: a combined MCD, EPR and computational study

The trivalent oxidation state of uranium has been shown to undergo unique reactivity, from its ability to activate a variety of small molecules to its role in the catalytic reduction of ethene to ethane amongst others. Central to this unique reactivity and ability to rationally design ligands for isotope separation is the underlying uranium electronic structure. While electronic structure studies of U(IV), U(V), and U(VI) have been extensive, by comparison, analogous studies of more reduced oxidation states such as U(III) remains underdeveloped. Herein we report a combined MCD and EPR spectroscopic approach along with density functional theory and multireference wavefunction calculations to elucidate the effects of ligand perturbation in three uranium(III) Tp* complexes. Overall, the experimental and computational insight suggests that the change in ligand environment across this series of U(III) complexes resulted in only minor perturbations in the uranium electronic structure. This combined approach was also used to redefine the electronic ground state of a U(III) complex with a redox non-innocent Bipy - ligand. Overall, these studies demonstrate the efficacy of the combined experimental and theoretical approach towards evaluating electronic structure and bonding in U(III) complexes and provide important insight into the challenges in altering ligand environments to modify bonding and reactivity in uranium coordination chemistry.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Roadmap on methods and software for electronic structure based simulations in chemistry and materials

This Roadmap article provides a succinct, comprehensive overview of the state of electronic structure methods and software for molecular and materials simulations. Seventeen distinct sections collect insights by 51 leading scientists in the field. Each contribution addresses the status of a particular area, as well as current challenges and anticipated future advances, with a particular eye towards software related aspects and providing key references for further reading. Foundational sections cover density functional theory and its implementation in real-world simulation frameworks, Green's function based many-body perturbation theory, wave-function based and stochastic electronic structure approaches, relativistic effects and semiempirical electronic structure theory approaches. Subsequent sections cover nuclear quantum effects, real-time propagation of the electronic structure, challenges for computational spectroscopy simulations, and exploration of complex potential energy surfaces. The final sections summarize practical aspects, including computational workflows for complex simulation tasks, the impact of current and future high-performance computing architectures, software engineering practices, education and training to maintain and broaden the community, as well as the status of and needs for electronic structure based modeling from the vantage point of industry environments. Overall, the field of electronic structure software and method development continues to unlock immense opportunities for future scientific discovery, based on the growing ability of computations to reveal complex phenomena, processes and properties that are determined by the make-up of matter at the atomic scale, with high precision.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Pressure effects on the electronic structure and superconductivity of ( TaNb ) 0.67 ( HfZrTi ) 0.33 high entropy alloy

Effects of pressure on the electronic structure, electron-phonon interaction and superconductivity of the high entropy alloy (TaNb) 0.67 (HfZrTi) 0.33 , is studied in the range from 0 to 100 GPa. Electronic structure is calculated using the Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker method and the coherent potential approximation. Effects of pressure on the lattice dynamics were simulated using the Debye- Gru ¨neisen model, and the Gruneisen parameter at ambient conditions, Debye temperature and Sommerfeld electronic heat capacity coefficient were additionally experimentally determined. The electron-phonon coupling parameter λ is calculated using the McMillan-Hopfield parameters, computed in the rigid muffin tin approximation. We find, that the system undergoes the Lifshitz transition, as one of the bands cross the Fermi level at elevated pressures. The electron-phonon coupling parameter ? decreases above 10 GPa, however, calculated superconducting Tc increases up to 40 - 50 GPa and later is stabilized at the larger value than for the ambient conditions, in agreement with the experimental findings. Our results show, that the evolution of Tc with pressure in (TaNb) 0.67 (HfZrTi) 0.33 can be very well explained by the classical electron-phonon mechanism.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2020

Mapping the Electronic Structure of the Uranium(VI) Dinitride Molecule, UN 2

A combined anion photoelectron spectroscopic and relativistic electronic-structure computational study of the electronic structure of the UN 2 molecule is reported. Since the photoelectron spectrum of uranium dinitride’s negative ion, UN 2 - , (UN 2 plus an additional electron) directly reflects the electronic structure of neutral UN 2 , we have measured and relied upon the photoelectron spectrum of the UN 2 – anion as a means of mapping the electronic structure of neutral UN 2 . In addition to the electron affinity of the UN 2 ground state (the energy released when attaching an electron to UN 2 molecule), energy levels of the UN 2 excited states (electronic states with higher energies than the ground state) were well characterized by the close interplay between experiment and high-level theory. We found that both electron attachment and electronic excitation significantly bend the UN 2 molecule and elongate its U≡N bond. Implications for the activation of UN 2 are discussed.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2014

The Effect of Thermal Reduction on the Photoluminescence and Electronic Structures of Graphene Oxides

Electronic structures of graphene oxide (GO) and hydro-thermally reduced graphene oxides (rGOs) processed at low temperatures (120–1806C) were studied using X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES), X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) and resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS). C K-edge XANES spectra of rGOs reveal that thermal reduction restores C 5 C sp2 bonds and removes some of the oxygen and hydroxyl groups of GO, which initiates the evolution of carbonaceous species. The combination of C K-edge XANES and Ka XES spectra shows that the overlapping p and p* orbitals in rGOs and GO are similar to that of highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), which has no band-gap. C Ka RIXS spectra provide evidence that thermal reduction changes the density of states (DOSs) that is generated in the p-region and/or in the gap between the p and p* levels of the GO and rGOs. Two-dimensional C Ka RIXS mapping of the heavy reduction of rGOs further confirms that the residual oxygen and/or oxygen-containing functional groups modify the p and s features, which are dispersed by the photon excitation energy. The dispersion behavior near the K point is approximately linear and differs from the parabolic-like dispersion observed in HOPG.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗