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Bi T, Eggers BT, Cohen RE, Campbell BJ, Strobel T. Computational Screening and Stabilization of Boron-Substituted Type-I and Type-II Carbon Clathrates. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:7985-7997. [PMID: 38051138 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c08362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Boron substitution represents a promising approach to stabilize carbon clathrate structures, but no thermodynamically stable substitution schemes have been identified for frameworks other than the type-VII (sodalite) structure type. To investigate the possibility for additional tetrahedral carbon-based clathrate networks, more than 5000 unique boron decoration schemes were investigated computationally for type-I and type-II carbon clathrates with a range of guest elements including Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba. Density functional theory calculations were performed at 10 and 50 GPa, and the stability and impact of boron substitution were evaluated. The results indicate that the boron-substituted carbon clathrates are stabilized under high-pressure conditions. Full cage occupancies of intermediate-sized guest atoms (e.g., Na, Ca, and Sr) are the most favorable energetically. Clathrate stability is maximized when the boron atoms are substituted within the hexagonal rings of the large [51262]/[51264] cages. Several structures with favorable formation enthalpies <-200 meV/atom were predicted, and type-I Ca8B16C30 is on the convex hull at 50 GPa. This structure represents the first thermodynamically stable type-I clathrate identified and suggests that boron-substituted carbon clathrates may represent a large family of diamond-like framework materials with a range of structure types and guest/framework substitutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiange Bi
- Earth and Planets Laboratory, Carnegie Institution for Science, 5241 Broad Branch Road, Northwest, Washington, D.C., Washington 20015, United States
| | - Bryce T Eggers
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602, United States
| | - R E Cohen
- Earth and Planets Laboratory, Carnegie Institution for Science, 5241 Broad Branch Road, Northwest, Washington, D.C., Washington 20015, United States
| | - Branton J Campbell
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602, United States
| | - Timothy Strobel
- Earth and Planets Laboratory, Carnegie Institution for Science, 5241 Broad Branch Road, Northwest, Washington, D.C., Washington 20015, United States
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Cerqueira TFT, Sanna A, Marques MAL. Sampling the Materials Space for Conventional Superconducting Compounds. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2307085. [PMID: 37985412 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202307085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
A large scale study of conventional superconducting materials using a machine-learning accelerated high-throughput workflow is performed, starting by creating a comprehensive dataset of around 7000 electron-phonon calculations performed with reasonable convergence parameters. This dataset is then used to train a robust machine learning model capable of predicting the electron-phonon and superconducting properties based on structural, compositional, and electronic ground-state properties. Using this machine, the transition temperatures (Tc ) of approximately 200 000 metallic compounds are evaluated, all of which are on the convex hull of thermodynamic stability (or close to it) to maximize the probability of synthesizability. Compounds predicted to have Tc values exceeding 5 K are further validated using density-functional perturbation theory. As a result, 541 compounds with Tc values surpassing 10 K, encompassing a variety of crystal structures and chemical compositions, are identified. This work is complemented with a detailed examination of several interesting materials, including nitrides, hydrides, and intermetallic compounds. Particularly noteworthy is LiMoN2 , which is predicted to be superconducting in the stoichiometric trigonal phase, with a Tc exceeding 38 K. LiMoN2 has previously been synthesized in this phase, further heightening its potential for practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago F T Cerqueira
- CFisUC, Department of Physics, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Coimbra, 3004-516, Portugal
| | - Antonio Sanna
- Max-Planck-Institut für Mikrostrukturphysik, Weinberg 2, D-06120, Halle, Germany
| | - Miguel A L Marques
- Research Center Future Energy Materials and Systems of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44801, Bochum, Germany
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Wang Q, Li H, Wei J, Zhong T, Zhu L, Zhang X, Liu H, Zhang S. Hardness and superconductivity in tetragonal LiB4 and NaB4. J Chem Phys 2023; 159:234707. [PMID: 38126624 DOI: 10.1063/5.0180248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Boron-based compounds have triggered substantial attention due to their multifunctional properties, incorporating excellent hardness and superconductivity. While tetragonal metal borides LiB4 and NaB4 with BaAl4-type structure and striking clathrate boron motif have been induced under compression, there is still a lack of deep understanding of their potential properties at ambient pressure. We herein conduct a comprehensive study on I4/mmm-structured LiB4 and NaB4 under ambient pressure via first-principles calculations. Remarkably, both LiB4 and NaB4 are found to possess high Vickers hardness of 39 GPa, which is ascribed to the robust boron framework with strong covalency. Furthermore, their high hardness values together with distinguished stability make them highly potential superhard materials. Meanwhile, electron-phonon coupling analysis reveals that both LiB4 and NaB4 are conventional phonon-mediated superconductors, with critical temperatures of 6 and 8 K at 1 atmosphere pressure (atm), respectively, mainly arising from the coupling of B 2p electronic states and the low-frequency phonon modes associated with Li-, Na-, and B-derived vibrations. This work provides valuable insights into the mechanical and superconducting behaviors of metal borides and will boost further studies of emergent borides with multiple functionalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianyi Wang
- Key Laboratory of UV-Emitting Materials and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Physics, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Honggang Li
- Key Laboratory of UV-Emitting Materials and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Physics, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Jiahui Wei
- Key Laboratory of UV-Emitting Materials and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Physics, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Ting Zhong
- Key Laboratory of UV-Emitting Materials and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Physics, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Li Zhu
- Department of Physics, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey 07102, USA
| | - Xinxin Zhang
- College of Science, Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, Shenyang 110142, China
| | - Hanyu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Material Simulation Methods and Software of Ministry of Education and State Key Laboratory of Superhard Materials, College of Physics, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Shoutao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of UV-Emitting Materials and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Physics, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
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Zheng F, Sun Y, Wang R, Fang Y, Zhang F, Wu S, Lin Q, Wang CZ, Antropov V, Ho KM. Prediction of superconductivity in metallic boron-carbon compounds from 0 to 100 GPa by high-throughput screening. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:32594-32601. [PMID: 38009068 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp03844k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
Boron-carbon compounds have been shown to have feasible superconductivity. In our earlier paper [Zheng et al., Phys. Rev. B, 2023, 107, 014508], we identified a new conventional superconductor of LiB3C at 100 GPa. Here, we aim to extend the investigation of possible superconductivity in this structural framework by replacing Li atoms with 27 different cations from periods 3, 4, and 5 under pressures ranging from 0 to 100 GPa. Using the high-throughput screening method of zone-center electron-phonon interaction, we found that ternary compounds like CaB3C, SrB3C, TiB3C, and VB3C are promising candidates for superconductivity. The consecutive calculations using the full Brillouin zone confirm that they have a Tc of <31 K at moderate pressures. Our study demonstrates that fast screening of superconductivity by calculating zone-center electron-phonon coupling strength is an effective strategy for high-throughput identification of new superconductors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Zheng
- School of Science, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China.
- Department of Physics, OSED, Key Laboratory of Low Dimensional Condensed Matter Physics (Department of Education of Fujian Province), Jiujiang Research Institute, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
| | - Yang Sun
- Department of Physics, OSED, Key Laboratory of Low Dimensional Condensed Matter Physics (Department of Education of Fujian Province), Jiujiang Research Institute, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
| | - Renhai Wang
- School of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yimei Fang
- Department of Physics, OSED, Key Laboratory of Low Dimensional Condensed Matter Physics (Department of Education of Fujian Province), Jiujiang Research Institute, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
| | - Feng Zhang
- Department of Physics, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
- Ames Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
| | - Shunqing Wu
- Department of Physics, OSED, Key Laboratory of Low Dimensional Condensed Matter Physics (Department of Education of Fujian Province), Jiujiang Research Institute, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
| | - Qiubao Lin
- School of Science, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China.
| | - Cai-Zhuang Wang
- Department of Physics, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
- Ames Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
| | - Vladimir Antropov
- Department of Physics, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
- Ames Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
| | - Kai-Ming Ho
- Department of Physics, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
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Cui X, Zhang M, Gao L. Exploration of AB 3Si 3 (A = Na/K/Rb/Cs) compounds under moderate pressure. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:23847-23854. [PMID: 37641862 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp02930a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
We discovered the composition of ternary AB3Si3 (A = Na/K/Rb/Cs) compounds in the moderate pressure range of 0-100 GPa using first-principles structural prediction and systematically analyzed their structures, stability, electronic and optical properties within the framework of density functional theory. The AB3Si3 compounds exhibit a diverse phase diagram, including nine structures that are selected based on formation energies, along with a known clathrate RbB3Si3 structure with Pm3̄n symmetry. All predicted phases are thermodynamically and dynamically stable within the studied pressure range. In particular, the KB3Si3 compound with a direct band gap of 1.0 eV is identified as a promising candidate for photovoltaic materials beyond silicon-based materials, among which boron atoms form a unique regular octahedral structure; in contrast, NaB3Si3 and RbB3Si3 compounds are shown to have metallicity. Our findings enrich crystal structures of alkali-metal borosilicides and provide valuable insights into their potential applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyue Cui
- Department of Physics, School of Sciences, Beihua University, Jilin 132013, China.
- Joint Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Miao Zhang
- Department of Physics, School of Sciences, Beihua University, Jilin 132013, China.
| | - Lili Gao
- Department of Physics, School of Sciences, Beihua University, Jilin 132013, China.
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He Y, Shi JJ. Few-Hydrogen High- Tc Superconductivity in (Be 4) 2H Nanosuperlattice with Promising Ductility under Ambient Pressure. NANO LETTERS 2023; 23:8126-8131. [PMID: 37602837 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c02213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
The multi-hydrogen lanthanum hydride LaH10 is well recognized as having the highest critical temperature (Tc) of 250-260 K under unrealistically ultrahigh pressures of about 170-200 GPa. Here, we propose a novel idea for designing a new ambient-pressure high-Tc superconductor by inserting a hexagonal H-monolayer into two close-packed Be monolayers to form a new and stable few-hydrogen metal-bonded layered beryllium hydride (Be4)2H nanosuperlattice, with better ductility than multi-hydrogen, cuprate, and iron-based superconductors, completely contrary to the conventional design strategy for multi-hydrogen covalent high-Tc superconductors with poor ductility at several hundred GPa. We find that (Be4)2H is a phonon-mediated Eliashberg superconductor with a large electron-phonon coupling constant of 1.41 and a high Tc of 84-72 K with Coulomb repulsion pseudopotential μ* = 0.07-0.13. Importantly, (Be4)2H is the only new high-Tc superconductor and fills the gap in the absence of ambient-pressure superconductors around the liquid-nitrogen temperature with good ductility, which is highly beneficial for practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong He
- State Key Laboratory for Artificial Microstructures and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Peking University Yangtze Delta Institute of Optoelectronics, Peking University, 5 Yiheyuan Street, Beijing, 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun-Jie Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Artificial Microstructures and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Peking University Yangtze Delta Institute of Optoelectronics, Peking University, 5 Yiheyuan Street, Beijing, 100871, People's Republic of China
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