Defect tolerance of lead-halide perovskite (100) surface relative to bulk: band bending, surface states, and characteristics of vacancies

We characterize formation of vacancies at a surface slab model and contrasted the results to bulk of lead-halide perovskites using cubic CsPbI$_3$ as a representative structure. The defect-free CsI-terminated (100) surface does not trap charge carriers. In the presence of defects (vacancies), the surface is anticipated to behave as $p$-type. The formation energy of cesium vacancies $V_\text{Cs}^{-}$ is lower at the surface than in bulk with iodine vacancies $V_\text{I}^{+}$ having a similar energy (near 0.25-0.4 eV) in the range of chemical potentials compatible with solution processing synthesis conditions. Major surface vacancies produce shallow host-like energy states with a small Franck-Condon shift, which renders them electronically harmless (same as in bulk). The spin-orbit coupling contributes to the defect tolerance of lead-halide perovskite surfaces by causing delocalization of electronic states associated with $n$-type defects and retraction of lowest unoccupied states from the surface due to a mixing of Pb-$p_{x,y,z}$ orbitals. The results explain a high optoelectronic performance of two-dimensional structures, nanoparticles, and polycrystalline thin films of lead-halide perovskites in spite of abundance of interfaces in these materials.Comment: 35 pages (main text) + 5 pages (supporting information

Modélisation du comportement électrochimique de matériaux pour batteries au lithium à partir de calculs de premiers principes

Rapporteurs : M. ETOURNEAU Jean, M. PASTUREL Alain Examinateurs : M. BOUCHER Florent, M. BROUSSELY Michel, M. GOURIER Didier, M. GRESSIER Pascal, M. OUVRARD Guy, M. SCHWARZ KarlheinzThe functioning of a positive electrode in a lithium battery is based on the reversible intercalation of lithium. In some cases, such a reaction can lead to important structural modifications and therefore to an amorphization of the material. A theoretical approach is presented here that leads to structural predictions and simulations of electrochemical behaviour of positive electrode materials. In the first part, DFT (Density Functional Theory) formalisms and the respective advantages of FLAPW (Full potential Linearized Augmented Plane Waves) and PP/PW (Pseudopotential / Plane Waves) methods are discussed. In the second part are given some fundamental electrochemistry considerations related to the intercalation process, thermodynamics aspects and relationships with electronic structure. Then, an approach combining experimental data and geometry optimisation of structural hypotheses is given. This approach was first applied to a model compound LiMoS2, and has been then generalised to systems of industrial interest such as LixV2O5 (0 ≤ x ≤ 3). The simulated X-ray diagrams of the optimised structures for LiMoS2 and ω- Li3V2O5 are in good agreement with experimental data. In the case of LixV2O5, the first discharge curves starting from α-V2O5 and γ'-V2O5 were then successfully simulated. A chemical bond analysis was carried out to help understand the origin of the distortion in LiMoS2 and the voltage variations in the electrochemical curves of LixV2O5. This study clearly demonstrates that an approach combining first-principle calculations and available experimental data is invaluable in the structure determination of poorly crystallised compounds. Such a procedure contributes to the understanding of the phase transitions induced by the lithium intercalation in vanadium oxide compounds and can really be used in the research of new battery materials.Le fonctionnement d'une électrode positive de batterie au lithium repose sur la possibilité d'intercaler de façon réversible du lithium au sein du matériau qui la constitue. Une telle réaction conduit souvent à une perte de la cristallinité du matériau. Une démarche théorique permettant d'accéder à la structure du composé et à la modélisation de son comportement électrochimique est présentée dans ce mémoire. La première partie expose les fondements de la DFT (Density Functional Theory), et les mérites respectifs des méthodes FLAPW (Full potential Linearized Augmented Plane Waves) et PP/PW (Pseudopotential / Plane Waves). La seconde partie rappelle quelques concepts fondamentaux d'électrochimie comme le processus d'intercalation, les aspects thermodynamiques et les relations avec la structure électronique. Ensuite, une démarche basée sur l'optimisation de la géométrie de différentes hypothèses structurales est présentée. Cette démarche a été appliquée à l'étude d'un composé modèle LiMoS2, et a ensuite été étendue à des composés d'intérêt industriel tels que LixV2O5 (0 ≤ x ≤ 3). Ainsi, pour LiMoS2 et ω-Li3V2O5, les structures optimisées permettent de simuler des diagrammes de diffraction RX en très bon accord avec l'expérience. Ceci a donc permis, dans le cas de LixV2O5, une modélisation des premières décharges partant de α-V2O5 et de γ'-V2O5. Afin de mieux comprendre l'origine de la distorsion dans LiMoS2 et des variations de potentiel des courbes électrochimiques de LixV2O5, une analyse de la liaison chimique a également été réalisée. Ces résultats mettent clairement en évidence le fait qu'une approche couplant calculs de premiers principes et expériences constitue une aide efficace à la détermination de la structure de composés mal cristallisés. Une telle démarche contribue à la compréhension des transformations structurales induites par l'intercalation du lithium dans des oxydes de vanadium et peut ainsi être utile à la recherche de nouveaux matériaux de batteries

Density-functional study of LixMoS2 intercalates (0<=x<=1)

The stability of Lithium intercalated 2H- and 1T allotropes of Molybdenum disulfide (LixMoS2) is studied within a density-functional theory framework as function of the Li content (x) and the intercalation sites. Octahedral coordination of Li interstitials in the van der Waals gap is found as the most favorite for both allotropes. The critical content of Lithium, required for the initialization of a 2H->1T phase transition is estimated to x ~ 0.4. For smaller Li contents the hexagonal 2H crystal structure is not changed, while 1T-LixMoS2 compounds adopt a monoclinic lattice. All allotropic forms of LixMoS2 - excluding the monoclinic Li1.0MoS2 structure - show metallic-like character. The monoclinic Li1.0MoS2 is a semiconductor with a band gap of 1.1 eV. Finally, the influence of Li intercalation on the stability of multiwalled MoS2 nanotubes is discussed within a phenomenological model.Comment: submitted to Comput.Mater.Sc

Eu- and Tb-adsorbed Si3_{3}N4_{4} and Ge3_{3}N4_{4}: tuning the colours with one luminescent host

Phosphor-converted white light emitting diodes (pc-LEDs) are efficient light sources for applications in lighting and electronic devices. Nitrides, with their wide-ranging applicability due to their intriguing structural diversity, and their auspicious chemical and physical properties, represent an essential component in industrial and materials applications. Here, we present the successful adsorption of Eu and Tb at the grain boundaries of bulk β-Si$_{3}$N$_{4}$ and β-Ge$_{3}$N$_{4}$ by a successful combustion synthesis. The adsorption of europium and terbium, and the synergic combination of both, resulted in intriguing luminescence properties of all compounds (red, green, orange and yellow). In particular, the fact that one host can deliver different colours renders Eu,Tb-β-M$_{3}$N$_{4}$ (M = Si, Ge) a prospective chief component for future light emitting diodes (LEDs). For the elucidation of the electronic properties and structure of β-Si$_{3}$N$_{4}$ and β-Ge$_{3}$N$_{4}$, Mott–Schottky (MS) measurements and density functional theory (DFT) computations were conducted for the bare and RE adsorbed samples

Nanoengineering Carbon Allotropes from Graphene

Monolithic structures can be built into graphene by the addition and subsequent re-arrangement of carbon atoms. To this end, ad-dimers of carbon are a particularly attractive building block because a number of emerging technologies offer the promise of precisely placing them on carbon surfaces. In concert with the more common Stone-Wales defect, repeating patterns can be introduced to create as yet unrealized materials. The idea of building such allotropes out of defects is new, and we demonstrate the technique by constructing two-dimensional carbon allotropes known as haeckelite. We then extend the idea to create a new class of membranic carbon allotropes that we call \emph{dimerite}, composed exclusively of ad-dimer defects.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Potential room-temperature multiferroicity in cupric oxide under high pressure

International audienceCuO, known to be multiferroic (MF) from T-L = 213 K to T-N = 230 K at ambient pressure, has been the subject of debates about its ability to exhibit multiferroicity at room temperature (RT) under high hydrostatic pressure. Here we address this question based on theoretical and experimental investigations. The influence of hydrostatic pressure on T-L and T-N has been estimated from ab initio calculations combined with classical Monte-Carlo simulations and a quasi-1D antiferromagnetic analytical model. From the experimental side, electric permittivity anomalies related to ferroelectric transitions have been followed with dielectric measurements on single crystals up to 6.1 GPa. We show that the temperature T-N below which the MF state forms increases with pressure linearly to higher pressure that hitherto supposed, and indeed based on our calculations, should exceed RT above about 20 GPa

Predicting experimentally stable allotropes: Instability of penta-graphene

International audienceIn recent years, a plethora of theoretical carbon allotropes have been proposed, none of which has been experimentally isolated. We discuss here criteria that should be met for a new phase to be potentially experimentally viable. We take as examples Haeckelites, 2D networks of sp2-carbon–containing pentagons and heptagons, and “penta-graphene,” consisting of a layer of pentagons constructed from a mixture of sp2- and sp3-coordinated carbon atoms. In 2D projection appearing as the “Cairo pattern,” penta-graphene is elegant and aesthetically pleasing. However, we dispute the author’s claims of its potential stability and experimental relevanc

SnCN₂: A Carbodiimide with an Innovative Approach for Energy Storage Systems and Phosphors in Modern LED Technology

The carbodiimide SnCN$_{2}$ was prepared at low temperatures (400 °C–550 °C) by using a patented urea precursor route. The crystal structure of SnCN$_{2}$ was determined from single‐crystal data in space group C2/c (no. 15) with a=9.1547(5), b=5.0209(3), c=6.0903(3) Å, β=117.672(3), V=247.92 Å$^{3}$ and Z=4. As carbodiimide compounds display remarkably high thermal and chemical resistivity, SnCN$_{2}$ has been doped with Eu and Tb to test it for its application in future phosphor‐converted LEDs. This doping of SnCN$_{2}$ proved that a color tuning of the carbodiimide host with different activator ions and the combination of the latter ones is possible. Additionally, as the search for novel high‐performing electrode materials is essential for current battery technologies, this carbodiimide has been investigated concerning its use in lithium‐ion batteries. To further elucidate its application possibilities in materials science, several characterization steps and physical measurements (XRD, in situ XANES, Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy, thermal expansion, IR spectroscopy, Mott‐Schottky analysis) were carried out. The electronic structure of the n‐type semiconductor SnCN$_{2}$ has been probed using X‐ray absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) computations