1
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Long T, Zhang L, Cao Z. THF-Assisted CO 2 Reduction Catalyzed by Electride Mg 2EP: Insight from DFT Calculations. J Phys Chem A 2024; 128:5344-5350. [PMID: 38940816 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.4c03500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Hydroboration and hydrogenation reductions of CO2 catalyzed by a porphyrinoid-based dimagnesium(I) electride (Mg2EP) were investigated by density functional theory calculations. Herein, the presence of potentially excess electrons located at the Mg-Mg bond endows Mg2EP with the ability to activate small molecules such as CO2, HBpin, and H2, thus opening up the possibility for further CO2 conversion. The Mg2EP-catalyzed hydroboration of CO2 to HCOOBpin is predicted to have relatively higher activity in comparison to the hydrogenation reduction to formic acid (HCOOH). Interestingly, the common solvent molecule tetrahydrofuran as an auxiliary can coordinate with the Mg center to effectively weaken the bonding interaction between the dimagnesium center and the intermediate species from the CO2 conversion, thereby promoting the catalytic cycle for the CO2 hydroboration. The present results suggest that the electride Mg2EP is promising for the molecular catalyst in the CO2 transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tairen Long
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces and Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 360015, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces and Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 360015, China
| | - Zexing Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces and Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 360015, China
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2
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Zhao L, Lin M, Huang Z, Zhen Y, Wang T, Wang Y, Tao D, Yan G, Peng Z, Li S, Xu J, Xing W. Theoretical Study of Catalytic Performance of Pristine M 2C and Oxygen-Functionalized M 2CO 2 MXenes as Cathodes for Li-N 2 Batteries. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:33710-33722. [PMID: 38906849 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c07670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Li-N2 batteries are a promising platform for electrochemical energy storage, but their performance is limited by the low activity of the cathode catalysts. In this work, density functional theory was used to study the catalytic activity of the pristine M2C and oxygen-functionalized M2CO2 MXenes (M = Sc, Ti, and V) as cathodes for Li-N2 batteries. The calculated results suggest that the pristine M2C MXenes (M = Sc, Ti, and V) show high electrical conductivity due to the Fermi level crossing the metal 3d states. The stable adsorption of N2 occurs on M2C MXenes via a side-on model and strengthens gradually with decreasing metal atomic number. Furthermore, the kinetics of N2 dissociation can be significantly accelerated by the coadsorption of Li on M2C MXenes. However, adsorption and dissociation of N2 on the M2CO2 surfaces are too difficult to occur due to strong electrostatic repulsion. The Li-mediated nitrogen reduction reaction during discharge proceeds favorably via (N + N)* → (LiN + N)* → (LiN + LiN)* → (Li2N + LiN)* → (Li2N + Li2N)* → (Li3N + Li2N)* → (Li3N + Li3N)* to form two isolated Li3N* on M2C MXenes. The calculated charge-discharge overpotentials decrease in the order of Sc2C < Ti2C < V2C. Notably, the Sc2C MXene has great potential as a cathode catalyst for Li-N2 batteries because of its high electrical conductivity, strong N2 adsorption, favorable Li-mediated N2 dissociation, and ultralow discharging, charging, and total overpotentials (0.07, 0.06, and 0.13 V). This study offers a theoretical foundation for future research on Li-N2 batteries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianming Zhao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, Shandong 266580, P. R. China
| | - Meixin Lin
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, Shandong 266580, P. R. China
| | - Zhenyu Huang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, Shandong 266580, P. R. China
| | - Yuchao Zhen
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, Shandong 266580, P. R. China
| | - Tao Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, Shandong 266580, P. R. China
| | - Yizhu Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, Shandong 266580, P. R. China
| | - Ding Tao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, Shandong 266580, P. R. China
| | - Guangkun Yan
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, Shandong 266580, P. R. China
| | - Zeyue Peng
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, Shandong 266580, P. R. China
| | - Shouao Li
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, Shandong 266580, P. R. China
| | - Jing Xu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, Shandong 266580, P. R. China
| | - Wei Xing
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, Shandong 266580, P. R. China
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3
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Wan B, Yuan Y, Zheng L, Xu Y, Zhao S, Liu K, Huang D, Wu L, Zhang Z, Wang G, Li J, Zhang S, Gou H. BaCu, a Two-Dimensional Electride with Cu Anions. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:17508-17516. [PMID: 38861394 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c05723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
The electron-rich characteristic and low work function endow electrides with excellent performance in (opto)electronics and catalytic applications; these two features are closely related to the structural topology, constituents, and valence electron concentration of electrides. However, the synthesized electrides, especially two-dimensional (2D) electrides, are limited to specific structural prototypes and anionic p-block elements. Here we synthesize and identify a distinct 2D electride of BaCu with delocalized anionic electrons confined to the interlayer spaces of the BaCu framework. The bonding between Cu and Ba atoms exhibits ionic characteristics, and the adjacent Cu anions form a planar honeycomb structure with metallic Cu-Cu bonding. The negatively charged Cu ions are revealed by the theoretical calculations and experimental X-ray absorption near-edge structure. Physical property measurements reveal that BaCu electride has a high electronic conductivity (ρ = 3.20 μΩ cm) and a low work function (2.5 eV), attributed to the metallic Cu-Cu bonding and delocalized anionic electrons. In contrast to typical ionic 2D electrides with p-block anions, density functional theory calculations find that the orbital hybridization between the delocalized anionic electrons and BaCu framework leads to unique isotropic physical properties, such as mechanical properties, and work function. The freestanding BaCu monolayer with half-metal conductivity exhibits low exfoliation energy (0.84 J/m2) and high mechanical/thermal stability, suggesting the potential to achieve low-dimensional BaCu from the bulk. Our results expand the space for the structure and attributes of 2D electrides, facilitating the discovery and potential application of novel 2D electrides with transition metal anions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biao Wan
- Key Laboratory of Materials Physics of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Laboratory of Zhongyuan Light, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Yifang Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Materials Physics of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Laboratory of Zhongyuan Light, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Lu Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Materials Physics of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Laboratory of Zhongyuan Light, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Ya Xu
- Key Laboratory of Materials Physics of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Laboratory of Zhongyuan Light, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Shijing Zhao
- Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Beijing 100094, China
| | - Kefeng Liu
- Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Beijing 100094, China
| | - Dajian Huang
- Science and Technology on Surface Physics and Chemistry Laboratory, Mianyang 621907, China
| | - Lailei Wu
- College of Material Science and Engineering, Liaoning Technical University, Fuxin 123000, China
| | - Zhuangfei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Materials Physics of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Laboratory of Zhongyuan Light, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Gongkai Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Materials Laminating Fabrication and Interface Control Technology, School of Material Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China
| | - Jiong Li
- Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Shuo Zhang
- Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Huiyang Gou
- Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Beijing 100094, China
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4
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Cai W, He X, Ye TN, Hu X, Liu C, Sasase M, Kitano M, Kamiya T, Hosono H, Wu J. Discovery of Self-Assembled 2D Ru/Si Superlattices Boosting Hydrogen Evolution. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2402357. [PMID: 38881321 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202402357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
2D heterostructuring is a versatile methodology for designing nanoarchitecture catalytic systems that allow for reconstruction and modulation of interfaces and electronic structures. However, catalysts with such structures are extremely scarce due to limited synthetic strategies. Here, a highly ordered 2D Ru/Si/Ru/Si… nano-heterostructures (RSHS) is reported by acid etching of the LaRuSi electride. RSHS shows a superior electrocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution with an overpotential of 14 mV at 10 mA cm-2 in alkaline media. Both experimental analysis and first-principles calculations demonstrate that the electronic states of Ru can be tuned by strong interactions of the interfacial Ru-Si, leading to an optimized hydrogen adsorption energy. Moreover, due to the synergistic effect of Ru and Si, the energy barrier of water dissociation is significantly reduced. The well-organized superlattice structure will provide a paradigm for construction of efficient catalysts with tunable electronic states and dual active sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weizheng Cai
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Micro/Nano-Porous Functional Materials, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Xinyi He
- MDX Research Center for Element Strategy, International Research Frontiers Initiative, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, 226-8503, Japan
| | - Tian-Nan Ye
- Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Xinmeng Hu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Micro/Nano-Porous Functional Materials, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Chuanlong Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Micro/Nano-Porous Functional Materials, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Masato Sasase
- MDX Research Center for Element Strategy, International Research Frontiers Initiative, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, 226-8503, Japan
| | - Masaaki Kitano
- MDX Research Center for Element Strategy, International Research Frontiers Initiative, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, 226-8503, Japan
| | - Toshio Kamiya
- MDX Research Center for Element Strategy, International Research Frontiers Initiative, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, 226-8503, Japan
| | - Hideo Hosono
- MDX Research Center for Element Strategy, International Research Frontiers Initiative, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, 226-8503, Japan
| | - Jiazhen Wu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Micro/Nano-Porous Functional Materials, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Oxide Materials and Devices, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Institute of Innovative Materials, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
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5
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Jiang J, Meng W, Jin L, Gao H, Zhang X. Electride pure α-Zr: interstitial electrons induced type-II nodal line. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2024; 36:305702. [PMID: 38660983 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/ad3ac2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Electrides have attracted significant attention in the fields of physics, materials science, and chemistry due to their distinctive electron properties characterized by weak nuclear binding. In this study, based on first-principles calculations and symmetry analysis, we report that the pure zirconium with alpha-phase (α-Zr) is expected to be the electrically neutral electride with topological nodal loop. Furthermore, the nodal loop located at thekz= 0 plane exhibits a clear drumhead-like surface state. The energy levels of the topological nodal loop can be regulated by applying uniaxial strain, resulting in the topological nodal loop being closer to the Fermi level. Remarkably, the work function of the electride Zr shows a significant anisotropy along the (001), (100), and (110) directions, particularly with a low work function of 3.14 eV along the (110) surface. Therefore, we predict thatα-Zr provides a promising platform for future research on topological electrides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayu Jiang
- Hebei Engineering Laboratory of Photoelectronic Functional Crystals, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, People's Republic of China
| | - Weizhen Meng
- College of Physics, Hebei Key Laboratory of Photophysics Research and Application, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, People's Republic of China
| | | | - Hongli Gao
- School of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, No.100, Pingleyuan, Chaoyang District, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoming Zhang
- Hebei Engineering Laboratory of Photoelectronic Functional Crystals, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, People's Republic of China
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6
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Wang Z, Gong Y, Evans ML, Yan Y, Wang S, Miao N, Zheng R, Rignanese GM, Wang J. Machine Learning-Accelerated Discovery of A2BC2 Ternary Electrides with Diverse Anionic Electron Densities. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:26412-26424. [PMID: 37988742 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c10538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
This study combines machine learning (ML) and high-throughput calculations to uncover new ternary electrides in the A2BC2 family of compounds with the P4/mbm space group. Starting from a library of 214 known A2BC2 phases, density functional theory calculations were used to compute the maximum value of the electron localization function, indicating that 42 are potential electrides. A model was then trained on this data set and used to predict the electride behavior of 14,437 hypothetical compounds generated by structural prototyping. Then, the stability and electride features of the 1254 electride candidates predicted by the model were carefully checked by high-throughput calculations. Through this tiered approach, 41 stable and 104 metastable new A2BC2 electrides were predicted. Interestingly, all three kinds of electrides, i.e., electron-deficient, electron-neutral, and electron-rich electrides, are present in the set of predicted compounds. Three of the most promising new electrides (two electron-rich, Nd2ScSi2 and La2YbGe2, and one electron-deficient Y2LiSi2) were then successfully synthesized and characterized experimentally. Furthermore, the synthesized electrides were found to exhibit high catalytic activities for NH3 synthesis under mild conditions when Ru-loaded. The electron-deficient Y2LiSi2, in particular, was seen to exhibit a good balance of catalytic activity and chemical stability, suggesting its future application in catalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710072, People's Republic of China
| | - Yutong Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710072, People's Republic of China
| | - Matthew L Evans
- IMCN-MODL, Université Catholique de Louvain, Chemin des Étoiles, 8, Louvain-la-Neuve B-1348, Belgium
| | - Yujing Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710072, People's Republic of China
| | - Shiyao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710072, People's Republic of China
| | - Nanxi Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710072, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruiheng Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710072, People's Republic of China
| | - Gian-Marco Rignanese
- State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710072, People's Republic of China
- IMCN-MODL, Université Catholique de Louvain, Chemin des Étoiles, 8, Louvain-la-Neuve B-1348, Belgium
| | - Junjie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710072, People's Republic of China
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7
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Weaver SM, Sundberg JD, Slamowitz CC, Radomsky RC, Lanetti MG, McRae LM, Warren SC. Counting Electrons in Electrides. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:26472-26476. [PMID: 37975588 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c10876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
The selection and design of charge integration methods remain an outstanding challenge in materials chemistry. In complex materials like electrides, this challenge is amplified by the small charge and complex shape of electride wave functions. For these reasons, popular integration methods, such as the Bader method, usually fail to assign any charge to the bare electrons in an electride. To address this challenge, we developed an algorithm that instead partitions the charge based on the electron localization function (ELF), a popular scheme for visualizing chemically important features in molecules and solids. The algorithm uses Bader segmentation of the ELF to find the electride electrons and Voronoi segmentation of the ELF to identify atoms. We apply this method, "BadELF", to the quantification of atomic radii and oxidation states in both ionic compounds and electrides. For ionic compounds, we find that the BadELF method yields radii that agree closely with Shannon crystal radii, while the oxidation states agree closely with the Bader method. When they are applied to electrides, however, only the BadELF algorithm yields chemically meaningful charges. We argue that the BadELF method provides a useful strategy to identify electrides and obtain new insight into their most essential property: the quantity of electrons within them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel M Weaver
- Department of Chemistry, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, United States
| | - Jack D Sundberg
- Department of Chemistry, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, United States
| | - Connor C Slamowitz
- Department of Chemistry, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, United States
| | - Rebecca C Radomsky
- Department of Chemistry, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, United States
| | - Matthew G Lanetti
- Department of Chemistry, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, United States
| | - Lauren M McRae
- Department of Chemistry, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, United States
| | - Scott C Warren
- Department of Chemistry, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, United States
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8
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Chen Y, Xie T, Chen Z, Cui Z, Wen C, Sa B. Predicted superconductivity in one-dimensional A 3Hf 2B 3-type electrides. RSC Adv 2023; 13:34400-34409. [PMID: 38024995 PMCID: PMC10667593 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra07383a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Inorganic electrides are considered potential superconductors due to the unique properties of their anionic electrons. However, most electrides require external high-pressure conditions to exhibit considerable superconducting transition temperatures (Tc). Therefore, searching for superconducting electrides under low or moderate external pressures is of significant research interest and importance. In this work, a series of A3Hf2B3-type compounds (A = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba; B = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb) were constructed and systematically studied based on density functional theory calculations. According to the analysis of the electronic structures and phonon dispersion spectrums, stable one-dimensional electrides Ca3Hf2Ge3, Ca3Hf2Sn3, and Sr3Hf2Pb3, were screened out. Interestingly, the superconductivity of these electrides were predicted from electron phonon coupling calculations. It is highlighted that Sr3Hf2Pb3 showed the highest Tc, reaching 4.02 K, while the Tc values of Ca3Hf2Ge3 and Ca3Hf2Sn3 were 1.16 K and 1.04 K, respectively. Moreover, the Tc value of Ca3Hf2Ge3 can be increased to 1.96 K under 20 GPa due to the effect of phonon softening. This work enriches the types of superconducting electrides and has important guiding significance for the research on constructing electrides and related superconducting materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulong Chen
- Multiscale Computational Materials Facility & Materials Genome Institute, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University Fuzhou 350108 P. R. China
| | - Teng Xie
- Multiscale Computational Materials Facility & Materials Genome Institute, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University Fuzhou 350108 P. R. China
| | - Ziqiang Chen
- Multiscale Computational Materials Facility & Materials Genome Institute, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University Fuzhou 350108 P. R. China
| | - Zhou Cui
- Multiscale Computational Materials Facility & Materials Genome Institute, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University Fuzhou 350108 P. R. China
| | - Cuilian Wen
- Multiscale Computational Materials Facility & Materials Genome Institute, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University Fuzhou 350108 P. R. China
| | - Baisheng Sa
- Multiscale Computational Materials Facility & Materials Genome Institute, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University Fuzhou 350108 P. R. China
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9
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Rumson AF, Johnson ER. Low thermal expansion of layered electrides predicted by density-functional theory. J Chem Phys 2023; 159:174701. [PMID: 37909456 DOI: 10.1063/5.0171959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Layered electrides are a unique class of materials with anionic electrons bound in interstitial regions between thin, positively charged atomic layers. While density-functional theory is the tool of choice for computational study of electrides, there has to date been no systematic comparison of density functionals or dispersion corrections for their accurate simulation. There has also been no research into the thermomechanical properties of layered electrides, with computational predictions considering only static lattices. In this work, we investigate the thermomechanical properties of five layered electrides using density-functional theory to evaluate the magnitude of thermal effects on their lattice constants and cell volumes. We also assess the accuracy of five popular dispersion corrections with both planewave and numerical atomic orbital calculations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian F Rumson
- Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, 6274 Coburg Rd., Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Erin R Johnson
- Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, 6274 Coburg Rd., Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
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10
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Qi S, Li C, Wang J, Song X, Zhao M, Chen G. Deciphering the Influence of Anionic Electrons of Surface-Functionalized Two-Dimensional Electrides in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries. J Phys Chem Lett 2023; 14:7992-7999. [PMID: 37650655 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c01975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Using transition metal compounds as sulfur hosts is regarded as a promising approach to suppress the polysulfide shuttle and accelerate redox kinetics for lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. Herein, we report that a new kind of compound, electrides (exotic ionic crystalline materials in which electrons serve as anions), is efficient sulfur hosts for Li-S batteries for the first time. Based on the first-principles calculations, we found that two-dimensional (2D) electrides M2C (M = Sc, Y) exhibit unprecedentedly strong binding strength toward sulfur species and surface functionalization is necessary to passivate their activity. The 2D electrides modified with the F-functional group exhibit the best performance in terms of the adsorption energy and sulfur reduction process. A comparative study with a nonelectride reveals that the anionic electrons (AEs) of electrides aid in anchoring the soluble polysulfides. These results open an avenue for the application of electrides in Li-S batteries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyun Qi
- School of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China
| | - Chuanchuan Li
- Qingdao Industrial Energy Storage Research Institute, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266101, China
| | - Junru Wang
- Department of Physics, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
| | - Xiaohan Song
- Shandong Institute of Advanced Technology, Jinan, 250100, China
| | - Mingwen Zhao
- School of Physics & State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Gang Chen
- School of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China
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11
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Zhang X, Meng W, Liu Y, Dai X, Liu G, Kou L. Magnetic Electrides: High-Throughput Material Screening, Intriguing Properties, and Applications. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:5523-5535. [PMID: 36823736 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c00284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Electrides are a unique class of electron-rich materials where excess electrons are localized in interstitial lattice sites as anions, leading to a range of unique properties and applications. While hundreds of electrides have been discovered in recent years, magnetic electrides have received limited attention, with few investigations into their fundamental physics and practical applications. In this work, 51 magnetic electrides (12 antiferromagnetic, 13 ferromagnetic, and 26 interstitial-magnetic) were identified using high-throughput computational screening methods and the latest Materials Project database. Based on their compositions, these magnetic electrides can be classified as magnetic semiconductors, metals, or half-metals, each with unique topological states and excellent catalytic performance for N2 fixation due to their low work functions and excess electrons. The novel properties of magnetic electrides suggest potential applications in spintronics, topological electronics, electron emission, and as high-performance catalysts. This work marks the beginning of a new era in the identification, investigation, and practical applications of magnetic electrides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China.,School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China
| | - Weizhen Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China.,School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China
| | - Ying Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China.,School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China
| | - Xuefang Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China.,School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China
| | - Guodong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China.,School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China
| | - Liangzhi Kou
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Garden Point Campus, Brisbane 4001, Queensland, Australia
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McTaggart DH, Sundberg JD, McRae LM, Warren SC. Assessing ternary materials for fluoride-ion batteries. Sci Data 2023; 10:90. [PMID: 36774371 PMCID: PMC9922283 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-023-01954-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Although lithium-ion batteries have transformed energy storage, there is a need to develop battery technologies with improved performance. Fluoride-ion batteries (FIBs) may be promising alternatives in part due to their high theoretical energy density and natural elemental abundance. However, electrode materials for FIBs, particularly cathodes, have not been systematically evaluated, limiting rapid progress. Here, we evaluate ternary fluorides from the Materials Project crystal structure database to identify promising cathode materials for FIBs. Structures are further assessed based on stability and whether fluorination/defluorination occurs without unwanted disproportionation reactions. Properties are presented for pairs of fluorinated/defluorinated materials including theoretical energy densities, cost approximations, and bandgaps. We aim to supply a dataset for extracting property and structural trends of ternary fluoride materials that may aid in the discovery of next-generation battery materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Don H McTaggart
- Department of Chemistry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Jack D Sundberg
- Department of Chemistry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Lauren M McRae
- Department of Chemistry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Scott C Warren
- Department of Chemistry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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Li B, Bai H, Shen S, Ng KW, Pan H. Tunable interstitial anionic electrons in layered MXenes. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2022; 51:034001. [PMID: 36323002 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/ac9f93] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Electrides with spatial electrons serving as 'anions' in the cavities or channels exhibit intriguing properties which can be applied in electron injection/emission and high-speed devices. Here, we report a new group of layered electrides, M2X (M = Ti, V, and Cr; X = C and N) with electrons distributed in the interlayer spacings. We find that the interstitial electrons tend to be delocalized from the Ti-based structures to the Cr-based ones. We show that the interstitial electrons originate from thed-electrons of transition metal atoms. Our findings prove the existence of tunable interstitial electrons with rich electronic properties in layered MXenes and provide valuable insights into the design and fabrication of new materials with multiple applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Li
- Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, People's Republic of China
| | - Haoyun Bai
- Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, People's Republic of China
| | - Shiying Shen
- Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, People's Republic of China
| | - Kar Wei Ng
- Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Pan
- Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, People's Republic of China
- Department of Physics and Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, People's Republic of China
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