Surface energies in high-entropy carbides with variable carbon stoichiometry

The carbon vacancy in high-entropy carbides (HECs) has a significant impact on their physical and chemical properties, yet relevant studies have still been relatively few. In this study, we investigate the surface energies of HECs with variable carbon vacancies through first-principles calculations. The results show that the surface energy of the (1 0 0) surface of the stoichiometric HECs is significantly lower than that of (1 1 1) surface. With the decrease in carbon stoichiometry, the surface energies of both (1 0 0) and (1 1 1) surfaces increase gradually, which is mainly due to the weakening of covalent bonding and the decrease of metal Hirshfeld-I (HI) charges. However, the surface energy of (1 0 0) surface increases more quickly than that of (1 1 1) surface and will exceed that of (1 1 1) surface when the carbon stoichiometry decreases to a certain extent, which is primarily attributed to the greater decrease rate of metal HI charges of (1 0 0) surface.     

Type-II AsP/Sc2CO2 van der Waals heterostructure: an excellent photocatalyst for overall water splitting

In this work, we explore the application potential of AsP/M₂CO₂ (M = Sc, Zr) van der Waals heterostructures in photocatalytic water splitting through the first-principles calculations. The calculated results show that AsP/Zr₂CO₂ heterostructure possesses an unfavorable type-Ⅰ band alignment, whereas AsP/Sc₂CO₂ exhibits a desirable type-Ⅱ band alignment, which is beneficial for separating the photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Also, the band edge positions of AsP/Sc₂CO₂ heterostructure stride the redox potential of water, ensuring favorable reaction kinetics. Besides, the strong optical absorption of AsP/Sc₂CO₂ heterostructure in both visible and ultraviolet regions (especially up to 10⁻⁶ cm⁻¹ at about 250 nm) makes it possible to utilize solar energy effectively. Meanwhile, AsP/Sc₂CO₂ heterostructure has an exciton binding energy as low as 0.09 eV, which quantitatively illustrates the high separation efficiency of photogenerated charge carrier. Thus, the type-Ⅱ band alignment, suitable band edge position, strong light absorption, and low exciton binding energy together indicate that AsP/Sc₂CO₂ heterostructure is a potential photocatalytic material. In addition, the obvious redshift phenomenon in the optical spectrum of AsP/Sc₂CO₂ heterostructure shows that biaxial strain can improve its light capture capability. Also, the interconversion between type-Ⅱ and type-Ⅰ can be achieved by applying different strains. All these findings suggest that the novel AsP/Sc₂CO₂ heterostructure has significant application prospects in next-generation photovoltaic and photocatalytic devices.     

钨中空位及其团簇的能量学和动力学性质参数

在总结前人钨中空位及其团簇的能量学和动力学行为的研究成果基础上，采用第一性原理方法系统计算了钨中空位及其团簇的结合能和扩散能垒。研究发现，交换关联泛函PW91和PBE较PBEsol、AM05和LDA更适合用于计算钨空位的能量学性质。基于第一性原理计算结果对文献中单空位形成能、双空位作用性质等争议性问题进行了讨论，并对钨经验势进行了评估。研究结果表明，钨中孤立单空位间总是相互排斥，而空位团簇（V_n>3）对单空位具有很强的吸引作用，其结合能随着所含空位个数增多呈现波动性增大的趋势。空位团簇稳定结构可通过最小化Wigner-Seitz表面积来确定，其结合能与V_n与V_n-1之间的Wigner-Seitz面积之差呈正比。     

Phonon phase stability,structural, mechanical,electronic, and thermoelectric properties of two new semiconducting quaternary Heusler alloys CoCuZrZ (Z = Ge and Sn)

For meeting the energy demand, the development of new and novel thermoelectric (TE) materials for power generation is very vital. In this draft, we have theoretically investigated two new quaternary CoCuZrZ (Z = Ge and Sn) Heusler alloys for their structural, mechanical, electronic, and TE properties. In the energy minimization process, the alloys are found to be non-magnetic in the ground state. Based on calculated phonon dispersion curves, formation energy, and elastic constants, we propose that both CoCuZrGe and CoCuZrSn are stable. Furthermore, the mechanical properties indicate that CoCuZrGe (CoCuZrSn) has a brittle (ductile) nature. The electronic properties examined in Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE), PBEsol, and modified Becke-Johnson (mBJ) potential, all predict that reported systems are narrow-gap semiconductors (SCs). In addition, the temperature dependent TE properties have been studied by calculating the electronic thermal conductivity (κ), Seebeck coefficient (S), power factor (PF) and electrical conductivity (σ/τ). The obtained positive value of S conveys the materials as p-type SCs, with a maximum value of 26.2 μV/K for CoCuZrGe and 28 μV/K for CoCuZrSn. The σ/τ, κ, and PF show increasing trends with rising temperature. The PF is found to be 1.55 × 10¹² WK⁻²m⁻¹s⁻¹ for CoCuZrGe and 1.38 × 10¹² WK⁻²m⁻¹s⁻¹ for CoCuZrSn. The proposed semiconducting Heusler alloys may receive attention for a range of TE and spintronic applications.     

Thermophysical and mechanical properties of novel high-entropy metal nitride-carbides

In this work, a novel (Hf_0.2Zr_0.2Ta_0.2Nb_0.2Ti_0.2)(N_0.5C_0.5) high-entropy nitride-carbide (HENC-1) with multi-cationic and -anionic sublattice structure was reported and their thermophysical and mechanical properties were studied for the first time. The results of the first-principles calculations showed that HENC-1 had the highest mixing entropy of 1.151R, which resulted in the lowest Gibbs free energy above 600 K among HENC-1, (Hf_0.2Zr_0.2Ta_0.2Nb_0.2Ti_0.2)N high-entropy nitrides (HEN-1), and (Hf_0.2Zr_0.2Ta_0.2Nb_0.2Ti_0.2)C high-entropy carbides (HEC-1). In this case, HENC-1 samples were successfully fabricated by hot-pressing sintering technique at the lowest temperature (1773 K) among HENC-1, HEN-1 and HEC-1 samples. The as-fabricated HENC-1 samples showed a single rock-salt structure of metal nitride-carbides and high compositional uniformity. Meanwhile, they exhibited high microhardness of 19.5 ± 0.3 GPa at an applied load of 9.8 N and nanohardness of 33.4 ± 0.5 GPa and simultaneously possessed a high bulk modulus of 258 GPa, Young's modulus of 429 GPa, shear modulus of 176 GPa, and elastic modulus of 572 ± 7 GPa. Their hardness and modulus are the highest among HENC-1, HEN-1 and HEC-1 samples, which could be attributed to the presence of mass disorder and lattice distortion from the multi-anionic sublattice structure and small grain in HENC-1 samples. In addition, the thermal conductivity of HENC-1 samples was significantly lower than the average value from the “rule of mixture” between HEC-1 and HEN-1 samples in the range of 300-800 K, which was due to the presence of lattice distortion from the multi-anionic sublattice structure in HENC-1 samples.     

Predictions of structural,electronic, mechanical,and thermodynamic properties of TMBCs (TM = Ti,Zr, and Hf) ceramics

In the present work, we have investigated the structural, electronic, elastic, and thermodynamic properties of transition-metal boron-carbon compounds (TMBCs) (TM = Ti, Zr, Hf) using the first-principles calculations. The results showed that TMBCs are energetically and thermodynamically stable, and the sequence of phase stability is HfBC > ZrBC > TiBC. B-C bonds can be formed in TMBCs ceramics due to the strong hybridization between B-2p and C-2p states. The elastic anisotropies of TMBCs were illustrated by elastic anisotropy indexes, 3D surface constructions, and 2D projections, and the results indicated that the sequence of elastic anisotropy is ZrBC > TiBC > HfBC. Finally, the calculated minimum thermal conductivities, based on the Clarke's and Cahill's models, of all TMBCs are anisotropic with the sequence of ZrBC > TiBC > HfBC.     

Mg-Zn-Y合金中14H-LPSO相与W相的电子结构与弹性性能的第一性原理计算

运用密度泛函理论的第一性原理平面波赝势方法计算了14H-LPSO相和Mg_3Y_2Zn_3(W相)的能带、态密度、电子结构及弹性常数,计算的晶格参数与实验值相吻合。能带结构和态密度分析计算结果显示,14H-LPSO相成键能量范围主要在-8~3eV之间,W相的成键能量范围主要在-8~0.5eV之间。这表明LPSO相成键峰主要来自Mg3s、Zn4s、Y5s和4p轨道,W相的成键峰主要来自Mg3s、Zn3p和Y4d轨道。14H-LPSO相的(0001)面的电荷密度分析表明,Zn原子和Mg原子之间的电子云重叠较强,两者形成了较强的共价键;Zn原子和Y原子之间的电子云重叠较弱,形成较弱的共价键;W相的(011)面的电荷密度分析表明Zn原子和Y原子之间的电子云重叠较强,两者形成了较强的共价键。通过计算14H-LPSO相与W相的弹性常数,推导了体积模量、剪切模量、杨氏模量、泊松比、弹性各向异性系数的计算式。将两者与Mg基体进行比较,结果表明,三者的塑性关系为Mg基体14H-LPSO相W相,其中W相的硬度最大。     

钯催化剂对锂空气电池氧析出和氧还原反应的催化机理的研究

锂空气电池以其超高的能量密度而备受关注, 然而充、放电过电位高等问题严重限制了其实际应用。金属钯作为催化剂可而降低锂空气电池的充、放电过电位, 但其充、放电反应催化机制尚不完善。本研究运用第一原理计算方法, 建立了钯/氧气/过氧化锂(Pd/O₂/Li₂O₂)的三相界面催化模型, 从微观角度揭示钯催化剂在锂空气电池充、放电反应中的催化机制。研究表明, Pd/O基底通过促进Li₂O₂在界面处的电荷转移提高自身对LiO₂吸附作用, 从而加速放电产物在电极表面的形成, 有效降低了充电过电位0.43 V。     

Effects of substitution of X (X=rhenium,chromium and zirconium) on the properties of Co7Mo6 μ phase: A first‐principles study

The effects of three typical refractory elements (rhenium, chromium and zirconium) substituting the molybdenum atom in Co₇Mo₆ μ phase were investigated using first‐principles calculations based on the density functional theory (DFT). Energy (including binding energy and defect energy) and electronic structures (including density of states and charge density) of Co₇Mo₅X (X=rhenium, chromium and zirconium) were calculated. The optimized lattice structure of Co₇Mo₆ agrees well with the experimental data. The calculated results show the bonding between doped rhenium atom and its nearest neighbor molybdenum and cobalt atoms gets visibly stronger, contributing to the good stability of the unit cell. Neverthless, the bonding between chromium and its nearest neighbor molybdenum and cobalt is weaker, and the zirconium‐molybdenum and zirconium‐cobalt bonds are much weaker. The results reveal rhenium tends to participate in the formation of μ phase, but zirconium and chromium atoms are not prone to concentrate in μ phase.     

Single-Atom Catalysts and Dual-Atom Catalysts for CO2 Electroreduction: Competition or Cooperation?

Developing highly active and selective electrocatalysts for electrochemical reduction of CO₂ can reduce environmental pollution and mitigation of greenhouse gas emission. Owing to maximal atomic utilization, the atomically dispersed catalysts are broadly adopted in CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR). Dual-atom catalysts (DACs), with more flexible active sites, distinct electronic structures, and synergetic interatomic interactions compared to single-atom catalysts (SACs), may have great potential to enhance catalytic performance. Nevertheless, most of the existing electrocatalysts have low activity and selectivity due to their high energy barrier. Herein, 15 electrocatalysts are explored with noble metallic (Cu, Ag, and Au) active sites embedded in metal–organic hybrids (MOHs) for high-performance CO₂RR and studied the relationship between SACs and DACs by first-principles calculation. The results indicated that the DACs have excellent electrocatalytic performance, and the moderate interaction between the single- and dual-atomic center can improve catalytic activity in CO₂RR. Four among the 15 catalysts, including (CuAu), (CuCu), Cu(CuCu), and Cu(CuAu) MOHs inherited a capability of suppressing the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction with favorable CO overpotential. This work not only reveals outstanding candidates for MOHs-based dual-atom CO₂RR electrocatalysts but also provides new theoretical insights into rationally designing 2D metallic electrocatalysts.