Calculated sp-electron and spd-hybridization effects on the magnetic properties of small FeN clusters

Cation doping and oxygen vacancies in the orthorhombic FeNbO4 material for solid oxide fuel cell applications: A density functional theory study

The orthorhombic phase of FeNbO4, a promising anode material for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), exhibits good catalytic activity toward hydrogen oxidation. However, the low electronic conductivity of the material specifically in the pure structure without defects or dopants limits its practical applications as an SOFC anode. In this study, we have employed density functional theory (DFT + U) calculations to explore the bulk and electronic properties of two types of doped structures, Fe0.9375A0.0625NbO4 and FeNb0.9375B0.0625O4 (A, B = Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni) and the oxygen-deficient structures Fe0.9375A0.0625NbO3.9375 and FeNb0.9375B0.0625O3.9375, where the dopant is positioned in the first nearest neighbor site to the oxygen vacancy. Our DFT simulations have revealed that doping in the Fe sites is energetically favorable compared to doping in the Nb site, resulting in significant volume expansion. The doping process generally requires less energy when the O-vacancy is surrounded by one Fe and two Nb ions. The simulated projected density of states of the oxygen-deficient structures indicates that doping in the Fe site, particularly with Ti and V, considerably narrows the bandgap to ∼0.5 eV, whereas doping with Co at the Nb sites generates acceptor levels close to 0 eV. Both doping schemes, therefore, enhance electron conduction during SOFC operation.

Toward Planar Iodine 2D Crystal Materials

Usually, the octet rule determines whether an elemental 2D material can only be set by one of the elements in groups IIIA-VA, whose outmost electrons can form hybridized orbits from an s-wave and a p-wave. The hybridized orbits can accommodate all of the outermost electrons and form robust σ bonds. As for the elements in VIA-VIIA, the outermost electrons seem too abundant to be accommodated in hybridized orbits. Here, we show a spd² hybridization rule, accommodating all of the outermost electrons of halogen elements. Each atom can be connected to a contiguous atom by a robust σ bond and carries one dangling unpaired electron, implying that the formation of a π bond is possible. One iodine atomic layer can be robustly locked by the σ bond, forming an iodiene sheet by spd² hybridized orbits. With application of compression strain, the π bond forms, and further compression drives the band inversion successively at the valence band and the conduction band. The appearance of Dirac points (arc or hoop) suggests that the transformation of a normal semimetal into a Dirac semimetal occurs.

The Behavior of Magnetic Properties in the Clusters of 4d Transition Metals

The current focus of material science researchers is on the magnetic behavior of transition metal clusters due to its great hope for future technological applications. It is common knowledge that the 4d transition elements are not magnetic at their bulk size. However, studies indicate that their magnetic properties are strongly dependent on their cluster sizes. This study attempts to identify magnetic properties of 4d transition metal clusters. Using a tight-binding Friedel model for the density of d-electron states, we investigated the critical size for the magnetic-nonmagnetic transition of 4d transition-metal clusters. Approaching to the critical point, the density of states of the cluster near the Fermi level is higher than 1/J and the discrete energy levels form a quasi-continuous band. Where J is correlation integral. In order to determine the critical size, we considered a square shape band and fcc, bcc, icosahedral and cuboctahedral close-packed structures of the clusters. We also investigated this size dependent magnetic behavior using Heisenberg model. Taking some quantum mechanical approximations in to consideration, we determined magnetic behavior of the clusters. For practicality, we considered three clusters of transition metals (Ru, Rh and Pd) and the obtained results are in line with the results of previous studies.

Antiferromagnetic-like coupling in the cationic iron cluster of thirteen atoms

We explore, within the density functional theory in the generalized gradient approximation to exchange and correlation, the map of spin isomers of the cationic Fe13(+) cluster in connection with recent X-ray magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy experiments [M. Niemeyer et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 2012, 108, 057201] which showed an anomalous low magnetic moment per number of 3d holes in this cluster. We systematically explore the low-lying magnetic excitations and correlate them with structural rearrangements and stability indicators. We obtain the observed low magnetic moment per 3d hole as the ground state of Fe13(+) and we demonstrate that, as supposed by the experimentalists, the cluster undergoes a magnetic transition from a ferromagnetic-like configuration to an antiferromagnetic-like one upon ionization. We unravel this unexpected magnetic behavior showing that it is concomitant with a Th-deformation of the icosahedral structure together with the electronic filling of this particular iron cluster. The spin-orbit interaction preserves this magnetic configuration which is essentially due to the spin. Our computed magnetic anisotropy energy supports the experimental interpretation of the cluster as fluxional due to the very weak coupling of the magnetic moment to an easy axis.

Calculation of spin and orbital magnetizations in Fe slab systems at finite temperature

The temperature dependence of spin and orbital local magnetizations is theoretically determined for the non-bulk atomic region of (001) and (110) Fe slab systems. A d band Hamiltonian, including spin-orbit coupling terms, was used to model the slabs, which were emulated by using Fe films of sufficient thickness to reach a bulk behavior at their most inner atomic layers. The temperature effects were considered within the static approximation and a simple mean field theory was used to integrate the local magnetic moment and charge thermal fluctuations. The results reflect a clear interplay between electronic itinerancy and the local atomic environment and they can be physically interpreted from the local small charge transfers occurring in the superficial region of the slabs. For recovering the experimental behavior on the results for the (001) slab system, the geometrical relaxations at its non-bulk atomic layers and a d band filling variation are required. A study on the magnetic anisotropy aspects in the superficial region of the slabs is additionally performed by analyzing the results for the orbital local magnetization calculated along two different magnetization directions in both slab systems.

Homonuclear transition-metal trimers

Density-functional theory has been used to determine the ground-state geometries and electronic states for homonuclear transition-metal trimers constrained to equilateral triangle geometries. This represents the first application of consistent theoretical methods to all of the ten 3d block transition-metal trimers, from scandium to zinc. A search of the potential surfaces yields the following electronic ground states and bond lengths: Sc3(2A1',2.83 A), Ti3(7E',2.32 A), V3(2E",2.06 A), Cr3(17E',2.92 A), Mn3(16A2',2.73 A), Fe3(11E",2.24 A), Co3(6E",2.18 A), Ni3(3A2",2.23 A), Cu3(2E',2.37 A), and Zn3(1A1',2.93 A). Vibrational frequencies, several low-lying electronic states, and trends in bond lengths and atomization energies are discussed. The predicted dissociation energies DeltaE(M3-->M2+M) are 49.4 kcal mol(-1)(Sc3), 64.3 kcal mol(-1)(Ti3), 60.7 kcal mol(-1)(V3), 11.5 kcal mol(-1)(Cr3), 32.4 kcal mol(-1)(Mn3), 61.5 kcal mol(-1)(Fe3), 78.0 kcal mol(-1)(Co3), 86.1 kcal mol(-1)(Ni3), 26.8 kcal mol(-1)(Cu3), and 4.5 kcal mol(-1)(Zn3).

Supported fe nanoclusters: evolution of magnetic properties with cluster size

Using a density functional approach, we study structural and magnetic properties of small Fe(n) clusters (n<or=8) deposited on a MgO(100) substrate. Upon deposition, the clusters closely preserve their gas-phase structure. The magnetic moments for the adsorbed clusters exceed the value for bulk Fe. Compared to the gas phase, significant reductions in the magnetic moments are found for Fe(n) clusters with n<or=6. These reductions result from intracluster charge rearrangements caused by interaction with O 2p orbitals, rather than from structural deformations or charge transfer from the surface. As the cluster size increases, the gas-phase magnetic moments are recovered.