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Sikorska C. Design and Investigation of Superatoms for Redox Applications: First-Principles Studies. MICROMACHINES 2023; 15:78. [PMID: 38258197 PMCID: PMC10820084 DOI: 10.3390/mi15010078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
A superatom is a cluster of atoms that acts like a single atom. Two main groups of superatoms are superalkalis and superhalogens, which mimic the chemistry of alkali and halogen atoms, respectively. The ionization energies of superalkalis are smaller than those of alkalis (<3.89 eV for cesium atom), and the electron affinities of superhalogens are larger than that of halogens (>3.61 eV for chlorine atom). Exploring new superalkali/superhalogen aims to provide reliable data and predictions of the use of such compounds as redox agents in the reduction/oxidation of counterpart systems, as well as the role they can play more generally in materials science. The low ionization energies of superalkalis make them candidates for catalysts for CO2 conversion into renewable fuels and value-added chemicals. The large electron affinity of superhalogens makes them strong oxidizing agents for bonding and removing toxic molecules from the environment. By using the superatoms as building blocks of cluster-assembled materials, we can achieve the functional features of atom-based materials (like conductivity or catalytic potential) while having more flexibility to achieve higher performance. This feature paper covers the issues of designing such compounds and demonstrates how modifications of the superatoms (superhalogens and superalkalis) allow for the tuning of the electronic structure and might be used to create unique functional materials. The designed superatoms can form stable perovskites for solar cells, electrolytes for Li-ion batteries of electric vehicles, superatomic solids, and semiconducting materials. The designed superatoms and their redox potential evaluation could help experimentalists create new materials for use in fields such as energy storage and climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celina Sikorska
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Fahrenheit Union of Universities in Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland;
- Department of Physics, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
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Pandey SK, Arunan E, Das R, Roy A, Mishra AK. Recent advances in in silico design and characterization of superalkali-based materials and their potential applications: A review. Front Chem 2022; 10:1019166. [PMID: 36419589 PMCID: PMC9676666 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.1019166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
In the advancement of novel materials, chemistry plays a vital role in developing the realm where we survive. Superalkalis are a group of clusters/molecules having lower ionization potentials (IPs) than that of the cesium atom (3.89 eV) and thus, show excellent reducing properties. However, the chemical industry and material science both heavily rely on such reducing substances; an in silico approach-based design and characterization of superalkalis have been the focus of ongoing studies in this area along with their potential applications. However, although superalkalis have been substantially sophisticated materials over the past couple of decades, there is still room for enumeration of the recent progress going on in various interesting species using computational experiments. In this review, the recent developments in designing/modeling and characterization (theoretically) of a variety of superalkali-based materials have been summarized along with their potential applications. Theoretically acquired properties of some novel superalkali cations (Li3 +) and C6Li6 species, etc. for capturing and storing CO2/N2 molecules have been unveiled in this report. Additionally, this report unravels the first-order polarizability-based nonlinear optical (NLO) response features of numerous computationally designed novel superalkali-based materials, for instance, fullerene-like mixed-superalkali-doped B12N12 and B12P12 nanoclusters with good UV transparency and mixed-valent superalkali-based CaN3Ca (a high-sensitivity alkali-earth-based aromatic multi-state NLO molecular switch, and lead-founded halide perovskites designed by incorporating superalkalis, supersalts, and so on) which can indeed be used as a new kind of electronic nanodevice used in designing hi-tech NLO materials. Understanding the mere interactions of alkalides in the gas and liquid phases and the potential to influence how such systems can be extended and applied in the future are also highlighted in this survey. In addition to offering an overview of this research area, it is expected that this review will also provide new insights into the possibility of expanding both the experimental synthesis and the practical use of superalkalis and their related species. Superalkalis present the intriguing possibility of acting as cutting-edge construction blocks of nanomaterials with highly modifiable features that may be utilized for a wide-ranging prospective application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarvesh Kumar Pandey
- Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Elangannan Arunan
- Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Ratnesh Das
- Department of Chemistry, Dr. Harisingh Gour University (A Central University), Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Atish Roy
- Department of Chemistry, Dr. Harisingh Gour University (A Central University), Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Arunesh Kumar Mishra
- Department of Chemistry, Dr. Harisingh Gour University (A Central University), Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, India
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Weng J, Xu M, Wang X, Wang F, Shen J, Zhang B. Self-powered, ultraviolet-to-near infrared broadband photodetector based on Ag-doped CsPbI 3/PEDOT:PSS heterojunction. OPTICS EXPRESS 2022; 30:37261-37271. [PMID: 36258317 DOI: 10.1364/oe.469541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Metal halide perovskites are studied for photodetection applications because of their outstanding optical and electrical properties. A self-powered ultraviolet-to-near infrared broadband photodetector based on a Ag-doped CsPbI3/PEDOT:PSS heterojunction was investigated. The photodetector using a CsPbI3:Ag/PEDOT:PSS heterostructure with a planar photoconductive structure operated over a broad 355-1560 nm wavelength range in self-powered mode. A terahertz signal was modulated with the CsPbI3:Ag/PEDOT:PSS structure at low optical excitation intensity to investigate its photodetection mechanism. The experimentally designed detector can present images of the letters "C", "N" and "U" in the visible and near-infrared wavelengths, indicating a potential broadband imaging application.
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Sikorska C, Gaston N. Bimetallic superalkali substitution in the CsPbBr 3 perovskite: Pseudocubic phases and tunable bandgap. J Chem Phys 2021; 155:174307. [PMID: 34742223 DOI: 10.1063/5.0067708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Perovskites attract attention as efficient light absorbers for solar cells due to their high-power conversion efficiency (up to 24%). The high photoelectric conversion efficiency is greatly affected by a suitable band structure. Cation substitution can be an effective approach to tune the electronic band structure of lead halide perovskites. In this work, superalkali cations were introduced to replace the Cs+ cation in the CsPbBr3 material. The bimetallic superalkalis (LiMg, NaMg, LiCa, and NaCa) were inserted since they are structurally simple systems and have a strong tendency to lose one electron to achieve a closed-shell cation. The cation substitution in the lead halide perovskite leads to changes in the shape of both valence and conduction bands compared to CsPbBr3. Introducing superalkali cations produces extra electronic states close to the Fermi level, which arise from the formation of alkali earth metal states at the top of the valence band. Our first-principles computations reveal that bimetallic superalkali substitution decreases the bandgap of the perovskite. The bandgaps of MgLi-PbBr3 (1.35 eV) and MgNa-PbBr3 (1.06 eV) are lower than the bandgap of CsPbBr3 (2.48 eV) and within the optimal bandgap (i.e., 1.1-1.4 eV) for single-junction solar cells. Thus, the MgLi-PbBr3 and MgNa-PbBr3 inorganic perovskites are promising candidates for high-efficiency solar cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celina Sikorska
- The MacDiarmid Institute of Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, A New Zealand Centre of Research Excellence, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Nicola Gaston
- The MacDiarmid Institute of Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, A New Zealand Centre of Research Excellence, Wellington, New Zealand
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Almishal SSI, Rashwan O. New accurate molecular dynamics potential function to model the phase transformation of cesium lead triiodide perovskite (CsPbI 3). RSC Adv 2020; 10:44503-44511. [PMID: 35517159 PMCID: PMC9058495 DOI: 10.1039/d0ra08434d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Inorganic metallic halide perovskites and cesium lead triiodide, CsPbI3, in particular, have gained enormous attention recently due to their unique photovoltaic properties and low processing temperatures. However, their structural stability and phase transition still need an in-depth investigation to better optimize their optoelectronic properties. For sake of time and cost, Classical Molecular Dynamics (CMD) and first principles calculations are being used to predict the structure stability and phase transition of CsPbI3. The major challenge of CMD is the choice of proper interatomic potential functions. In this paper, a new hybrid force field is being introduced, which integrates the embedded atomic potentials of Cs-Cs and Pb-Pb with Buckingham-Coulomb potentials. The Buckingham-Coulomb interatomic potential was solely employed as well. The outputs from both force fields were reported and compared to the experimental values. In fact, the new Hybrid Embedded Atomic Buckingham-Coulomb (EABC) potential reproduces, with a great degree of accuracy (within 2.5%), the structural properties, such as the radial distribution functions, interatomic separation distances, and the density. Also, it detects the phase transformation from an orthorhombic into a cubic crystal structure and the melting temperature at 594 K and 750 K respectively which agrees with the experimental values to within 1%. The new proposed hybrid potential proved to be accurate so it could potentially be used to infer the structure stability and the mechanical and thermal properties of the pure inorganic halide perovskites and the mixed halide perovskites as well which are used in various applications.
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Liang J, Chen D, Yao X, Zhang K, Qu F, Qin L, Huang Y, Li J. Recent Progress and Development in Inorganic Halide Perovskite Quantum Dots for Photoelectrochemical Applications. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2020; 16:e1903398. [PMID: 31583803 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201903398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Inorganic halide perovskite quantum dots (IHPQDs) have recently emerged as a new class of optoelectronic nanomaterials that can outperform the existing hybrid organometallic halide perovskite (OHP), II-VI and III-V groups semiconductor nanocrystals, mainly due to their relatively high stability, excellent photophysical properties, and promising applications in wide-ranging and diverse fields. In particular, IHPQDs have attracted much recent attention in the field of photoelectrochemistry, with the potential to harness their superb optical and charge transport properties as well as spectacular characteristics of quantum confinement effect for opening up new opportunities in next-generation photoelectrochemical (PEC) systems. Over the past few years, numerous efforts have been made to design and prepare IHPQD-based materials for a wide range of applications in photoelectrochemistry, ranging from photocatalytic degradation, photocatalytic CO2 reduction and PEC sensing, to photovoltaic devices. In this review, the recent advances in the development of IHPQD-based materials are summarized from the standpoint of photoelectrochemistry. The prospects and further developments of IHPQDs in this exciting field are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhui Liang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Da Chen
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xin Yao
- College of Optical and Electronic Technology, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Kaixiang Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Fengli Qu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, 273165, Shandong, China
| | - Laishun Qin
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuexiang Huang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jinghong Li
- Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
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Sun WM, Wu D. Recent Progress on the Design, Characterization, and Application of Superalkalis. Chemistry 2019; 25:9568-9579. [PMID: 31025432 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201901460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Superalkalis are clusters or molecules featuring lower ionization energies (IEs) than that of cesium atoms, and thus exhibit excellent reducing properties. Such special species have great potential to be used in the synthesis of unusual charge-transfer salts and cluster-assembled nanomaterials with tailored properties, in the reduction of carbon dioxide, or as hydrogen storage materials and noble-gas-trapping agents, etc. In this regard, ongoing efforts have been devoted to designing and characterizing superalkalis of new types. The recent progress on the study of superalkalis in terms of theoretical design, characterization, and potential application is summarized in this minireview. We hope this review will not only provide a broad overview of this research field, but also highlight the prospect of further extending the experimental synthesis and practical application of superalkalis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Ming Sun
- Department of Basic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350108, P. R. China
| | - Di Wu
- Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, 130023, P. R. China
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Hernández-Haro N, Ortega-Castro J, Martynov YB, Nazmitdinov RG, Frontera A. DFT prediction of band gap in organic-inorganic metal halide perovskites: An exchange-correlation functional benchmark study. Chem Phys 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphys.2018.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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