| 1. |
- Al-Zoubi, Noura, et al.
(författare)
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Tetragonality of carbon-doped ferromagnetic iron alloys : A first-principles study
- 2012
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Ingår i: Physical Review B. Condensed Matter and Materials Physics. - 1098-0121 .- 1550-235X. ; 85:1, s. 014112-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Using density-functional theory in combination with the exact muffin-tin orbital (EMTO) method and coherent potential approximation, we investigate the alloying effect on the tetragonality of Fe-C solid solution forming the basis of steels. In order to assess the accuracy of our approach, first we perform a detailed study of the performance of the EMTO method for the Fe(16)C(1) binary system by comparing the EMTO results to those obtained using the projector augmented wave method. In the second step, we introduce different substitutional alloying elements (Al, Cr, Co, Ni) into the Fe matrix and study their impact on the structural parameters. We demonstrate that a small amount of Al, Co, and Ni enhances the tetragonal lattice ratio of Fe(16)C(1) whereas Cr leaves the ratio almost unchanged. The obtained trends are correlated with the single-crystal elastic parameters calculated for carbon-free alloys.
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| 2. |
- Alekseev, A. Yu, et al.
(författare)
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Curvature-induced effects in semiconducting alkaline-earth metal silicide nanotubes
- 2021
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Ingår i: Physica. E, Low-Dimensional systems and nanostructures. - : Elsevier BV. - 1386-9477 .- 1873-1759. ; 128
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- By means of ab-initio techniques we have investigated changes in the structure and electronic properties of alkaline-earth metal silicide (Ca2Si, Mg2Si and MgCaSi) nanotubes caused by the curvature-induced effects. It is revealed that the curvature-induced effects can: 1) stabilize Mg2Si nanotubes in a phase, which is metastable for the parent 2D Mg2Si; 2) lead to an energy gain as a result of 2D to nanotube structural transformation in the case of ternary MgCaSi nanotubes; 3) modify the band dispersion and band gaps for nanotubes with the diameters less than 30 angstrom. In addition, Mg2Si and MgCaSi nanotubes are found to be direct band-gap (0.5-1.2 eV) materials with appreciable oscillator strength of the first direct transitions.
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| 3. |
- Alekseev, A. Yu, et al.
(författare)
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Interplay between structural changes, surface states and quantum confinement effects in semiconducting Mg2Si and Ca2Si thin films
- 2023
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Ingår i: Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics - PCCP. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 1463-9076 .- 1463-9084. ; 25:29, s. 19952-19962
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ab initio techniques have been used to investigate structural changes in semiconducting Mg2Si and Ca2Si thin films (from 17 nm down to 0.2 nm corresponding to the 2D structure) along with band-gap variations due to quantum confinement. Cubic Mg2Si(111) thin films being dynamically stable at thicknesses (d) larger than 0.3 nm displayed an indirect band gap, the reduction of which with increasing d could be reasonably well described by the simple effective mass approximation. Only 2D Mg2Si has a unique structure because of the orthorhombic distortion and the direct band gap. Since the surface energy of cubic Ca2Si(111) films was lower with respect to any surface of the orthorhombic phase, which is the ground state for the Ca2Si bulk, the metastable in-bulk cubic phase in the form of thin films turned out to be preferable in total energy than any orthorhombic Ca2Si thin film for d < 3 nm. Sizable structural distortion and the appearance of surface states in the gap region of Ca2Si thin films with d < 3 nm could be the reason for an odd dependence of the band-gap variation on d.
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| 4. |
- Alekseev, A. Yu, et al.
(författare)
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Stability of 2D Alkaline-Earth Metal Silicides, Germanides and Stannides
- 2019
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Ingår i: International Journal of Nanoscience. - : World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte Ltd. - 0219-581X. ; 18:3-4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- By means of ab initio calculations, we have estimated stability of 2D Me2X (Me = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba and X = Si, Ge, Sn) in the T and Td phases, which are similar to the ones of 2D transition metal chalcogenides, in addition to their phonon spectra. The T phase is found to be more stable for 2D Ca2X, Sr2X and Ba2X, whereas the Td phase is predicted to be the ground state for 2D Mg2X. We have also discussed that imaginary frequencies in the calculated phonon spectra of 2D Me2X, which appeared in the vicinity of the Gamma point, were not necessarily associated with the dynamic instability.
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| 5. |
- Alekseev, A. Y., et al.
(författare)
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Structural stability and electronic properties of 2D alkaline-earth metal silicides, germanides, and stannides
- 2020
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Ingår i: Japanese Journal of Applied Physics. - : IOP PUBLISHING LTD. - 0021-4922 .- 1347-4065. ; 59
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present the results of an extended theoretical study of the structure, phonon, electronic and optical properties of 2D alkaline-earth metal silicides, germanides and stannides (2D Me2X, where Me=Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba and X=Si, Ge, Sn). The performed analysis has shown the occurrence of the pseudo passivation effect and ionic chemical bonding in these 2D Me2X. In addition, the preformed investigation of their phonon spectra has shown the absence of imaginary frequencies indicating the stability of these 2D structures. The band structure calculations performed using the hybrid functional have revealed that all 2D Me2X are semiconductors with the gap varying from 0.12 to 1.01 eV. Among them Mg- and Ca-based 2D materials are direct band-gap semiconductors with the first direct transition having appreciable oscillator strength. We also propose to consider ternary 2D silicides, germanides and stannides with different Me atoms as a feasible way to modify properties of parent 2D Me2X.
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| 6. |
- Amft, Martin, et al.
(författare)
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A Molecular Mechanism for the Water-Hydroxyl Balance during Wetting of TiO2
- 2013
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Ingår i: The Journal of Physical Chemistry C. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1932-7447 .- 1932-7455. ; 117:33, s. 17078-17083
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We show that the formation of the wetting layer and the experimentally observed continuous shift of the H2O-OH balance toward molecular water at increasing coverage on a TiO2(110) surface can be rationalized on a molecular level. The mechanism is based on the initial formation of stable hydroxyl pairs, a repulsive interaction between these pairs, and an attractive interaction with respect to water molecules. The experimental data are obtained by synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy and interpreted with the aid of density functional theory calculations and Monte Carlo simulations.
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| 7. |
- Amft, Martin, et al.
(författare)
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Adsorption of Cu, Ag, and Au atoms on graphene including van der Waals interactions
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of Physics. - : IOP Publishing. - 0953-8984 .- 1361-648X. ; 23:39
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We performed a systematic density functional (DF) study of the adsorption of copper, silver, and gold adatoms on pristine graphene, especially accounting for van der Waals (vdW) interactions by the vdW-DF and PBE + D2 methods. In particular, we analyze the preferred adsorption site (among top, bridge, and hollow positions) together with the corresponding distortion of the graphene sheet and identify diffusion paths. Both vdW schemes show that the coinage metal atoms do bind to the graphene sheet and that in some cases the buckling of the graphene layer can be significant. Only the results for silver are qualitatively at variance with those obtained with the generalized gradient approximation, which gives no binding in this case. However in all three cases, we observe some quantitative differences between the vdW-DF and PBE + D2 methods. For instance the adsorption energies calculated with the PBE + D2 method are systematically higher than the ones obtained with vdW-DF. Moreover, the equilibrium distances computed with PBE + D2 are shorter than those calculated with the vdW-DF method.
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| 8. |
- Amft, Martin, et al.
(författare)
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Catalytic activity of small MgO-supported Au clusters towards CO oxidation : A density functional study
- 2010
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Ingår i: Physical Review B Condensed Matter. - 0163-1829 .- 1095-3795. ; 81:19, s. 195443-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In order to explain the experimentally found catalytic characteristics of Au1-4 /MgO (100) we have performed a comprehensive density functional study of these systems and their ability to (co)adsorb CO and O2 molecules. Starting from the carefully determined ground-state structures we have analyzed binding mechanisms, the influence of spin-orbit coupling, and charge redistributions in Au1-4 /MgO+CO (O2). Experimentally Au1,2 /MgO were found to be inactive under a mixed atmosphere. We show that O2 strongly binds to Au1 /MgO that prevents coadsorption. Although a catalytic reaction cycle towards CO oxidation, analogous to the gas phase reaction involving Au 2-, is energetically possible for Au2 /MgO, the cluster will get blocked by a strongly bound CO. On the other hand, the catalytic activity of Au3,4 /MgO could be explained by their ability to coadsorb CO and O2, hence indicating the occurrence of a Langmuir- Hinshelwood-type reaction mechanism for these clusters.
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| 9. |
- Amft, Martin
(författare)
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Density Functional Theory Studies of Small Supported Gold Clusters and Related Questions : What a Difference an Atom Makes
- 2010
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- During the last decades the specific manipulation of matter on the (sub-) nanometer scale, also known as nanoscience, became possible by technologies such as the scanning tunneling microscope. Nanocatalysts, i.e. catalytic active structures of up to a few nanometers in size, belong to this rather new class of materials. Unlike ordinary ’macroscopic’ catalytic materials, the performance of nanocatalysts does not simply scale, for instance, with the surface to volume ratio of the active material. In this Thesis model nanocatalysts are investigated by means of ab-initio density functional theory calculations. In paper I, we explain the experimentally observed catalytic characteristics of small gold clusters, Au1-4, on a regular magnesium oxide terrace towards the oxidation of carbon monoxide by thoroughly studying the adsorption of CO and O2 on these clusters. In the subsequent paper II, we study the feasibility of a catalytic water-mediated CO oxidation reaction on Au1-4/MgO and find that this reaction mechanism is not assessable for Au2,4/MgO and unlikely for Au1,3/MgO. Papers III and IV concentrate on the reactivity of clusters in the gas phase. Particularly, we focus on the relative stability of Au13 isomers and its potential for O2 dissociation (paper III). We find the lowest energy isomers, which contain a triangular prism at their center surrounded by a ring of the remaining seven atoms, to be generally stable upon O2 adsorption. The dissociation of O2 at certain sites of Au13 is found to be exothermic. In paper IV we performed scans of the Born-Oppenheimer potential energy surfaces of neutral and charged Cu3, Ag3, and Au3 to explore the thermally excited vibrations of these trimers. While the Born-Oppenheimer surface of Cu3 exhibits one fairly deep energy minimum, it is comparatively flat with two shallow minima in the case of Ag3. Hence for Ag3 there exist many thermally accessible geometries in a wide range of angles and bond lengths. For Au3, two distinct energy minima appear, being well-separated by a barrier of 180 meV. Already at room temperature, we find bond lengths changes of up to 5% for the studied trimers. Choosing Au3 as a case study for the changed reactivity of thermally excited modes, we find CO to bind up to 150 meV stronger to the excited cluster. Gold deposited on graphene and graphite was observed to form larger aggregates. In paper V, we study the electronic structures, high mobility, and substrate-mediated clustering processes of Au1-4 on graphene. Already in the 1970s is was speculated that dispersion forces, i.e. van der Waals forces, significantly contribute to the adsorption energies of gold atoms on graphite. We accounted for van der Waals interactions in our density functional theory calculations (paper VI) and investigated the influence of these dispersion forces on the binding of copper, silver, and gold adatoms on graphene. While copper and gold show a mixed adsorption mechanism, i.e. chemical binding plus attraction due to the van der Waals forces, silver is purely physisorbed on graphene.
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| 10. |
- Amft, Martin, et al.
(författare)
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Does H2O improve the catalytic activity of Au1−4/MgO towards CO oxidation?
- 2010
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The present density functional theory study addresses the question whether the presence of H2O influences the catalytic activity of small gold clusters, Au1-4/MgO(100), towards the oxidation of carbon monoxide. To this end, we studied the (co-)adsorption of H2O and CO/O2 on these gold clusters. The ground state structures in the presence of all three molecular species, that we found, are Au1O2/MgO and Au2-4CO/MgO with H2O adsorbed on the surface in the proximity of the clusters-molecule complex. In this configuration the catalytic activity of Au1-4/MgO is indifferent to the presence of H2O. We also found that a stable, highly activated hydroperoxyl-hydroxyl complex, O2H ·· OH, can be formed on Au1,3/MgO. For the catalytic active system Au8/MgO, it has been predicted that this complex opens an alternative catalytic reaction pathway towards CO oxidation. Our results suggest that this water mediated catalytic cycle is unlikely to occur on Au1,3/MgO. In the case of Au1/MgO the cycle is interrupted by the dissociation of the remaining (OH)2 complex after forming the first CO2 molecule. On Au3 /MgO the O2H ·· OH complex is likely to decompose upon the impact of a CO molecule, since three of its bond dissociation energies are comparable to the reaction barrier of the CO to CO2 oxidation.
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