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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 1,783 records · Page 99
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DOE OSTI2015

Band alignment of HfO{sub 2}/multilayer MoS{sub 2} interface determined by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy: Effect of CHF{sub 3} treatment

The energy band alignment between HfO{sub 2}/multilayer (ML)-MoS{sub 2} was characterized using high-resolution x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The HfO{sub 2} was deposited using an atomic layer deposition tool, and ML-MoS{sub 2} was grown by chemical vapor deposition. A valence band offset (VBO) of 1.98 eV and a conduction band offset (CBO) of 2.72 eV were obtained for the HfO{sub 2}/ML-MoS{sub 2} interface without any treatment. With CHF{sub 3} plasma treatment, a VBO and a CBO across the HfO{sub 2}/ML-MoS{sub 2} interface were found to be 2.47 eV and 2.23 eV, respectively. The band alignment difference is believed to be dominated by the down-shift in the core level of Hf 4d and up-shift in the core level of Mo 3d, or the interface dipoles, which caused by the interfacial layer in rich of F.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Annealing effects on recombinative activity of nickel at direct silicon bonded interface

By performing capacitance transient analyses, the recombination activity at a (110)/(100) direct silicon bonded (DSB) interface contaminated with nickel diffused at different temperatures, as a model of grain boundaries in multicrystalline silicon, was studied. The trap level depth from the valence band, trap density of states, and hole capture cross section peaked at an annealing temperature of 300 °C. At temperatures ⩾400 °C, the hole capture cross section increased with temperature, but the density of states remained unchanged. Further, synchrotron-based X-ray analyses, microprobe X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF), and X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) analyses were performed. The analysis results indicated that the chemical phase after the sample was annealed at 200 °C was a mixture of NiO and NiSi{sub 2}.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Modulation of the electronic property of phosphorene by wrinkle and vertical electric field

The electronic properties of wrinkled phosphorene and its response to charge injection and external vertical electric field have been studied using first-principles calculations. It is found that small-size wrinkle systems have lower energy than wrinkle-free monolayer, suggesting that free-standing phosphorene spontaneously forms small protrusion on its nanosheet. The ratio of wrinkle height to curvature radius increases with enlarging height, indicating a promotion of field enhancement factor. Furthermore, the injected charges mostly distribute at peak and valley. Direct-to-indirect band-gap transition has been found for zigzag wrinkle with height of 14.81 Å. The band gaps of wrinkled nanosheets decrease almost linearly with increasing field, which is caused by charge separation of valence band maximum and conduction band minimum.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Electronic structure of the (Nd{sub 1−x}Dy{sub x}){sub 2}Fe{sub 14}B (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) system studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Systematic characterization of electronic structures in the (Nd{sub 1−x}Dy{sub x}){sub 2}Fe{sub 14}B system, especially the 4f behavior, provides an insight to the physical nature of the evolution of magnetic properties. A series of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) core-level and valence-band spectra were used to study the electronic structures. It was found that substitution of Dy for Nd in Nd{sub 2}Fe{sub 14}B results in a nonlinear variation in the evolution of electronic structures. Only the finite coupling between the Nd 4f states and the Fe 3d states is found at both the Nd-rich regime and the Dy-rich regime. When the Dy concentration and the Nd concentration approach to be equal, a strong coupling between the Nd 4f states and the Fe 3d states is found, which results in a bonding state between them. Additionally, the 4f components in the (Nd{sub 1−x}Dy{sub x}){sub 2}Fe{sub 14}B system are ascribed to three parts: 1) the individual contribution of the Dy 4f states, which emerges just after the Dy-substitution; 2) the contribution of the coupling between the Nd 4f states and the Dy 4f states, which arises only when 0.4 ≤ x ≤ 0.6; 3) the associated contributions of the Nd 4f states and the Dy 4f states, where the contribution of the Nd 4f states and that of the Dy 4f states are prominent in the Nd-rich regime and Dy-rich regime, respectively.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Electron doping through lithium intercalation to interstitial channels in tetrahedrally bonded SiC

We report on first-principles calculations that clarify the effect of lithium atom intercalation into zinc blende 3C-silicon carbide (3C-SiC) on electronic and structural properties. Lithium atoms inside 3C-SiC are found to donate electrons to 3C-SiC that is an indication of a new way of electron doping through the intercalation. The electrons doped into the conduction band interact with lithium cations and reduce the band spacing between the original valence and conduction bands. We have also found that a silicon monovacancy in 3C-SiC promotes the lithium intercalation, showing that the vacancy generation makes SiC as a possible anode material for lithium-ion battery.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Dynamical effects in electron spectroscopy

One of the big challenges of theoretical condensed-matter physics is the description, understanding, and prediction of the effects of the Coulomb interaction on materials properties. In electronic spectra, the Coulomb interaction causes a renormalization of energies and change of spectral weight. Most importantly, it can lead to new structures, often called satellites. These can be linked to the coupling of excitations, also termed dynamical effects. State-of-the-art methods in the framework of many-body perturbation theory, in particular, the widely used GW approximation, often fail to describe satellite spectra. Instead, approaches based on a picture of electron-boson coupling such as the cumulant expansion are promising for the description of plasmon satellites. In this work, we give a unified derivation of the GW approximation and the cumulant expansion for the one-body Green’s function. Using the example of bulk sodium, we compare the resulting spectral functions both in the valence and in the core region, and we discuss the dispersion of quasi-particles and satellites. We show that self-consistency is crucial to obtain meaningful results, in particular, at large binding energies. Very good agreement with experiment is obtained when the intrinsic spectral function is corrected for extrinsic and interference effects. Finally, we sketch how one can approach the problem in the case of the two-body Green’s function, and we discuss the cancellation of various dynamical effects that occur in that case.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2015

Irreversible thermochromic response of RF sputtered nanocrystalline BaWO{sub 4} films for smart window applications

We report irreversible thermochromic behaviour of BaWO{sub 4} (BWO) films for the first time. BWO films have been deposited at different substrate temperatures (RT, 200, 400, 600 and 800 °C) using RF magnetron sputtering in pure argon plasma. BWO films deposited at 800 °C exhibit crystalline nature. Also, BWO films deposited in the temperature range of 400 - 600 °C exhibit WO{sub 3} as a secondary phase and its weight percentage decreases with an increase in deposition temperature, whereas the films deposited at 800 °C exhibited pure tetragonal phase. FESEM images revealed that as the average particle sizes of the films are higher as compared with the thickness of the films and is explained based on Avrami type nucleation and growth. The transmittance of the films decreases with an increase in deposition temperature up to 600 °C and increases thereafter. Films deposited at 600 °C show ≤ 20% transmittance, looking at the films deposited at room temperature and 800 °C exhibits 90 and 70%, respectively. The refractive index and extinction coefficient of the films show profound dependence on crystallinity and packing density. The optical bandgap of BWO films increases significantly with an increase in O{sub 2}% during the deposition. The optical bandgap of the BWO films deposited at different temperatures in pure argon plasma, are in the range of 3.7 to 3.94 eV whereas the films deposited at 600 °C under different O{sub 2} plasma are in the range of 3.6 - 4.5 eV. The formations of colour centres are associated with the oxygen vacancies, which are clearly seen from the optical bandgap studies. The observed irreversible thermochromic behaviour in BWO films is attributed to the presence of oxygen vacancies that arises due to the electrons trapped at oxygen vacancies causing an inter valence charge transfer of W{sup 5+} to W{sup 6+} and is confirmed through the change in the optical density (ΔOD). Further, the Raman spectra are being used to quantify the presence of oxygen vacancies and the formation of pure BWO phase. The obtained optical responses of BWO films are promising for solar cell and smart window applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Electron- and photon-impact ionization of furfural

The He(I) photoelectron spectrum of furfural has been investigated, with its vibrational structure assigned for the first time. The ground and excited ionized states are assigned through ab initio calculations performed at the outer-valence Green’s function level. Triple differential cross sections (TDCSs) for electron-impact ionization of the unresolved combination of the 4a″ + 21a′ highest and next-highest occupied molecular orbitals have also been obtained. Experimental TDCSs are recorded in a combination of asymmetric coplanar and doubly symmetric coplanar kinematics. The experimental TDCSs are compared to theoretical calculations, obtained within a molecular 3-body distorted wave framework that employed either an orientation average or proper TDCS average. The proper average calculations suggest that they may resolve some of the discrepancies regarding the angular distributions of the TDCS, when compared to calculations employing the orbital average.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2015

Communication: Investigation of the electron momentum density distribution of nanodiamonds by electron energy-loss spectroscopy

The electron momentum distribution of detonation nanodiamonds (DND) was investigated by recording electron energy-loss spectra at large momentum transfer in the transmission electron microscope (TEM), which is known as electron Compton scattering from solid (ECOSS). Compton profile of diamond film obtained by ECOSS was found in good agreement with prior photon experimental measurement and theoretical calculation that for bulk diamond. Compared to the diamond film, the valence Compton profile of DND was found to be narrower, which indicates a more delocalization of the ground-state charge density for the latter. Combining with other TEM characterizations such as high-resolution transmission electron spectroscopy, diffraction, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy measurements, ECOSS was shown to be a great potential technique to study ground-state electronic properties of nanomaterials.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2015

Band alignment and chemical bonding at the GaAs/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} interface: A hybrid functional study

The band alignment at the interface between GaAs and amorphous Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} is studied through the use of hybrid functionals. For the oxide component, a disordered model is generated through density-functional molecular dynamics. The achieved structure shows good agreement with the experimental characterization. The potential line-up across the interface is obtained for two atomistic GaAs/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} interface models, which differ by the GaAs substrate termination. The calculated valence band offset amounts to 3.9 eV for an interface characterized by the occurrence of Ga–O bonds as dominant chemical bonding, favoring the high-energy side in the range of experimental values (2.6–3.8 eV). The effect of As antisite and As–As dimer defects on the band alignment is shown to be negligible.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

First principles study of electronic structure for cubane-like and ring-shaped structures of M{sub 4}O{sub 4}, M{sub 4}S{sub 4} clusters (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu)

Spin-polarized DFT has been used to perform a comparative study of the geometric structures and electronic properties for isolated M{sub 4}X{sub 4} nano clusters between their two stable isomers - a planar rhombus-like 2D structure and a cubane-like 3D structure with M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu ; X = O, S. These two structural patterns of the M{sub 4}X{sub 4} clusters are commonly found as building blocks in several poly-nuclear transition metal complexes in inorganic chemistry. The effects of the van der Waals corrections to the physical properties have been considered in the electronic structure calculations employing the empirical Grimme’s correction (DFT+D2). We report here an interesting trend in their relative structural stability - the isolated M{sub 4}O{sub 4} clusters prefer to stabilize more in the planar structure, while the cubane-like 3D structure is more favorable for most of the isolated M{sub 4}S{sub 4} clusters than their planar 2D counterparts. Our study reveals that this contrasting trend in the relative structural stability is expected to be driven by an interesting interplay between the s-d and p-d hybridization effects of the constituents’ valence electrons.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Complete-active-space second-order perturbation theory (CASPT2//CASSCF) study of the dissociative electron attachment in canonical DNA nucleobases caused by low-energy electrons (0-3 eV)

Low-energy (0-3 eV) ballistic electrons originated during the irradiation of biological material can interact with DNA/RNA nucleobases yielding transient-anion species which undergo decompositions. Since the discovery that these reactions can eventually lead to strand breaking of the DNA chains, great efforts have been dedicated to their study. The main fragmentation at the 0-3 eV energy range is the ejection of a hydrogen atom from the specific nitrogen positions. In the present study, the methodological approach introduced in a previous work on uracil [I. González-Ramírez et al., J. Chem. Theory Comput. 8, 2769-2776 (2012)] is employed to study the DNA canonical nucleobases fragmentations of N–H bonds induced by low-energy electrons. The approach is based on minimum energy path and linear interpolation of internal coordinates computations along the N–H dissociation channels carried out at the complete-active-space self-consistent field//complete-active-space second-order perturbation theory level. On the basis of the calculated theoretical quantities, new assignations for the adenine and cytosine anion yield curves are provided. In addition, the π{sub 1}{sup −} and π{sub 2}{sup −} states of the pyrimidine nucleobases are expected to produce the temporary anions at electron energies close to 1 and 2 eV, respectively. Finally, the present theoretical results do not allow to discard neither the dipole-bound nor the valence-bound mechanisms in the range of energies explored, suggesting that both possibilities may coexist in the experiments carried out with the isolated nucleobases.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2015

Phonon spectra of elpasolites Cs{sub 2}NaRF{sub 6} (R=Y,Yb): Ab initio calculations

The influence of hydrostatic pressure on structure and dynamics of a crystal lattice of elpasolites Cs{sub 2}NaYbF{sub 6} and Cs{sub 2}NaYF{sub 6} (S.G. 225) within ab initio approach is investigated. Frequencies and irreducible representations (irreps) of phonon modes are determined. Elastic constants are calculated. The calculations are carried out within MO LCAO approach using DFT method with hybrid functionalities of B3LYP and PBE0 in CRYSTAL09 periodic code. For the description of rare earth ion the pseudopotential replacing internal orbitals including 4f orbitals was used. External 5s and 5p orbitals defining chemical bond were described by valence basis sets.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

In situ investigations of laser and thermally modified As{sub 2}S{sub 3} nanolayers: Synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations

As-deposited, annealed, and in situ As{sub 2}S{sub 3} nanolayers, illuminated by blue (405 nm) and red (650 nm) laser light, were studied using synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy and DFT electronic structure calculations. Changes in composition and local atomic coordination occurring in the irradiated region of As{sub 2}S{sub 3} films were monitored by analysis of As 3d and S 2p core levels. These studies show that both the thermal treatment and the red laser illumination of As{sub 2}S{sub 3} nanolayers decrease the concentration of homopolar (As-As and S-S) bonds. From the other hand, an increasing concentration of As-rich structural units (s.u.) with a homopolar As-As bond was observed under in situ blue laser illumination of As{sub 2}S{sub 3} nanolayers. Molecular orbital energies were calculated for different As- and S-centered s.u. and used for the interpretation of the core levels and valence band spectra. The surface local structure of the As{sub 2}S{sub 3} nanolayers and its photoinduced transformation are discussed in detail.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Optical and electron paramagnetic resonance studies of Cr doped Ga{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles

In the present work we report the experimental results obtained on Ga{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles doped with Cr ions. X-ray diffraction analysis confirms the substitution of Ga ions with Cr ions. A secondary phase of Cr{sub 2}O{sub 5} oxides was evidence at high doping Cr concentration by Raman spectroscopy. Different valence state of Cr ions was highlighted by UV-VIS spectroscopy. EPR spectroscopy data show the presence of different environments for Cr ions, depending on the Cr addition.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

A global potential energy surface and dipole moment surface for silane

A new nine-dimensional potential energy surface (PES) and dipole moment surface (DMS) for silane have been generated using high-level ab initio theory. The PES, CBS-F12{sup HL}, reproduces all four fundamental term values for {sup 28}SiH{sub 4} with sub-wavenumber accuracy, resulting in an overall root-mean-square error of 0.63 cm{sup −1}. The PES is based on explicitly correlated coupled cluster calculations with extrapolation to the complete basis set limit, and incorporates a range of higher-level additive energy corrections to account for core-valence electron correlation, higher-order coupled cluster terms, and scalar relativistic effects. Systematic errors in computed intra-band rotational energy levels are reduced by empirically refining the equilibrium geometry. The resultant Si–H bond length is in excellent agreement with previous experimental and theoretical values. Vibrational transition moments, absolute line intensities of the ν{sub 3} band, and the infrared spectrum for {sup 28}SiH{sub 4} including states up to J = 20 and vibrational band origins up to 5000 cm{sup −1} are calculated and compared with available experimental results. The DMS tends to marginally overestimate the strength of line intensities. Despite this, band shape and structure across the spectrum are well reproduced and show good agreement with experiment. We thus recommend the PES and DMS for future use.

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

Potential energy surface of triplet N{sub 2}O{sub 2}

We present a global ground-state triplet potential energy surface for the N{sub 2}O{sub 2} system that is suitable for treating high-energy vibrational-rotational energy transfer and collision-induced dissociation. The surface is based on multi-state complete-active-space second-order perturbation theory/minimally augmented correlation-consistent polarized valence triple-zeta electronic structure calculations plus dynamically scaled external correlation. In the multireference calculations, the active space has 14 electrons in 12 orbitals. The calculations cover nine arrangements corresponding to dissociative diatom-diatom collisions of N{sub 2}, O{sub 2}, and nitric oxide (NO), the interaction of a triatomic molecule (N{sub 2}O and NO{sub 2}) with the fourth atom, and the interaction of a diatomic molecule with a single atom (i.e., the triatomic subsystems). The global ground-state potential energy surface was obtained by fitting the many-body interaction to 54 889 electronic structure data points with a fitting function that is a permutationally invariant polynomial in terms of bond-order functions of the six interatomic distances.

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

Composition dependent Fermi level shifting of Au decorated MoS{sub 2} nanosheets

In the present work, shifting of Fermi level of MoS{sub 2} nanosheets due to decoration of Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) is reported. Au NPs are grown on MoS{sub 2} nanosheets by chemical reduction method. The structural analysis of pristine MoS{sub 2} and Au NPs decorated MoS{sub 2} has been done using X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The effect of Au NPs decoration on the Fermi energy level of MoS{sub 2} nanosheets have been monitored by scanning Kelvin probe microscopy, which measures the work function in terms of contact potential difference. The work function of pristine MoS{sub 2} is found to be 4.994 eV, and it increases linearly for Au-MoS{sub 2} with increasing concentration of Au NPs. The gradual increase in the work function values indicate a systematic shifting of Fermi energy level of MoS{sub 2} towards valence band due to decoration of Au NPs.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗