Tunable band gaps in bilayer graphene-BN heterostructures

We investigate band-gap tuning of bilayer graphene between hexagonal boron nitride sheets, by external electric fields. Using density functional theory, we show that the gap is continuously tunable from 0 to 0.2 eV, and is robust to stacking disorder. Moreover, boron nitride sheets do not alter the fundamental response from that of free-standing bilayer graphene, apart from additional screening. The calculations suggest that the graphene-boron nitride heterostructures could provide a viable route to graphene-based electronic devices.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figure

Piezoelectric Electrostatic Superlattices in Monolayer MoS2_2

Modulation of electronic properties of materials by electric fields is central to the operation of modern semiconductor devices, providing access to complex electronic behaviors and greater freedom in tuning the energy bands of materials. Here, we explore one-dimensional superlattices induced by a confining electrostatic potential in monolayer MoS$_2$, a prototypical two-dimensional semiconductor. Using first-principles calculations, we show that periodic potentials applied to monolayer MoS$_2$ induce electrostatic superlattices in which the response is dominated by structural distortions relative to purely electronic effects. These structural distortions reduce the intrinsic band gap of the monolayer substantially while also polarizing the monolayer through piezoelectric coupling, resulting in spatial separation of charge carriers as well as Stark shifts that produce dispersive minibands. Importantly, these minibands inherit the valley-selective magnetic properties of monolayer MoS$_2$, enabling fine control over spin-valley coupling in MoS$_2$ and similar transition-metal dichalcogenides

Ab initio studies of thermodynamic and electronic properties of phosphorene nanoribbons

We present a density functional theory study of the thermodynamic and electronic properties of phosphorene nanoribbons. We consider a variety of terminations and reconstructions of ribbon edges, both with and without hydrogen passivation, and calculate an ab intio phase diagram that identifies energetically preferred edges as a function of temperature and hydrogen partial pressure. These studies are also accompanied by detailed electronic structure calculations from which we find that ribbons with hydrogenated edges are typically direct gap semiconductors with fundamental gaps that are in excess of phosphorene, the gaps varying inversely with ribbon width. In contrast, ribbons with bare or partially passivated edges either have metallic edges or are semiconducting with band gaps that are smaller than those of their hydrogenated counterparts due to the appearance of midgap edge states. Overall, our studies provide a basis for tailoring the electronic properties of phosphorene nanoribbons by controlling the edge termination via processing conditions (temperature and hydrogen partial pressure) as well as by confinement of carriers via control over ribbon width

Effect of atomic scale plasticity on hydrogen diffusion in iron: Quantum mechanically informed and on-the-fly kinetic Monte Carlo simulations

We present an off-lattice, on-the-fly kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) model for simulating stress-assisted diffusion and trapping of hydrogen by crystalline defects in iron. Given an embedded atom (EAM) potential as input, energy barriers for diffusion are ascertained on the fly from the local environments of H atoms. To reduce computational cost, on-the-fly calculations are supplemented with precomputed strain-dependent energy barriers in defect-free parts of the crystal. These precomputed barriers, obtained with high-accuracy density functional theory calculations, are used to ascertain the veracity of the EAM barriers and correct them when necessary. Examples of bulk diffusion in crystals containing a screw dipole and vacancies are presented. Effective diffusivities obtained from KMC simulations are found to be in good agreement with theory. Our model provides an avenue for simulating the interaction of hydrogen with cracks, dislocations, grain boundaries, and other lattice defects, over extended time scales, albeit at atomistic length scales

Functionalizing CNTs for Making Epoxy/CNT Composites

Functionalization of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with linear molecular side chains of polyphenylene ether (PPE) has been shown to be effective in solubilizing the CNTs in the solvent components of solutions that are cast to make epoxy/CNT composite films. (In the absence of solubilization, the CNTs tend to clump together instead of becoming dispersed in solution as needed to impart, to the films, the desired CNT properties of electrical conductivity and mechanical strength.) Because the PPE functionalizes the CNTs in a noncovalent manner, the functionalization does not damage the CNTs. The functionalization can also be exploited to improve the interactions between CNTs and epoxy matrices to enhance the properties of the resulting composite films. In addition to the CNTs, solvent, epoxy resin, epoxy hardener, and PPE, a properly formulated solution also includes a small amount of polycarbonate, which serves to fill voids that, if allowed to remain, would degrade the performance of the film. To form the film, the solution is drop-cast or spin-cast, then the solvent is allowed to evaporate

Ab initio studies of thermodynamic and electronic properties of phosphorene nanoribbons

We present a density functional theory study of the thermodynamic and electronic properties of phosphorene nanoribbons. We consider a variety of terminations and reconstructions of ribbon edges, both with and without hydrogen passivation, and calculate an ab intio phase diagram that identifies energetically preferred edges as a function of temperature and hydrogen partial pressure. These studies are also accompanied by detailed electronic structure calculations from which we find that ribbons with hydrogenated edges are typically direct gap semiconductors with fundamental gaps that are in excess of phosphorene, the gaps varying inversely with ribbon width. In contrast, ribbons with bare or partially passivated edges either have metallic edges or are semiconducting with band gaps that are smaller than those of their hydrogenated counterparts due to the appearance of midgap edge states. Overall, our studies provide a basis for tailoring the electronic properties of phosphorene nanoribbons by controlling the edge termination via processing conditions (temperature and hydrogen partial pressure) as well as by confinement of carriers via control over ribbon width

Electronic structure of electron-irradiated graphene and effects of hydrogen passivation

We report results for the electronic structure of irradiated and irradiation-induced amorphized graphene based on first-principles density functional theory calculations, using models of irradiated graphene sheets that were initially relaxed structurally according to molecular-dynamics simulations. We find that localized states appear at the Fermi level upon irradiation damage and the corresponding local density of states increases with increasing defect density. Electronic structure calculations show that band flattening occurs due to electron localization in the vicinity of irradiation-induced defects and reduces the charge carrier mobility. This band flattening effect becomes stronger with increasing defect density due to a greater degree of carrier localization at irradiation-induced carbon dangling bonds. Passivating these dangling bonds with hydrogen atoms delocalizes the charge density, reduces the density of states at the Fermi level, and increases the band dispersion. Hydrogen passivation also has the additional effect of quenching any localized magnetic moments at dangling bonds. Our studies show that defect engineering of graphene—even at a gross level without atomic-scale precision—can be employed to tune its properties for additional electronic functionality

Improving Vaginal Examinations Performed by Midwives

A vaginal examination (VE) is an essential part of midwifery care, and is routinely performed when assessing the progress of labour. As evidence shows that during labour women may find VEs unpleasant, embarrassing and sometimes painful, the aim of this article is to review literature on the use of VEs during labour and to synthesise information from the available literature on how to provide an effective VE. The studies considered were retrieved from three databases (the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature [CINAHL], SCOPUS and MEDLINE) using the following search terms: “VEs in labour”, “midwives and use of VEs” and “women experiences of VEs in labour”. The literature reviewed suggests that midwives are not careful about VEs. Therefore, a concerted effort is needed to pay attention to the frequency of VEs, the management of pain and distress, information-giving and the preferences of the patient, so that the patient can feel in control during a VE