Structural properties of alpha -quartz under high pressure and amorphization effects

Direct Evidence of Electronic Interaction at the Atomic-Layer-Deposited MoS2 Monolayer/SiO2 Interface

The electronic structure of an atomic-layer-deposited MoS₂ monolayer on SiO₂ was investigated using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and synchrotron X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The angle-dependent evolution of the XAS spectra and the photon-energy-dependent evolution of the XPS spectra were analyzed in detail using an ab initio electronic structure simulation. Although similar to the theoretical spectra of an ideal free-standing MoS₂ ML, the experimental spectra exhibit features that are distinct from those of an ideal ML, which can be interpreted as a consequence of S-O van der Waals (vdW) interactions. The strong consensus among the experimental and theoretical spectra suggests that the vdW interactions between MoS₂ and adjacent SiO₂ layers can influence the electronic structure of the system, manifesting a substantial electronic interaction at the MoS₂-SiO₂ interface.

Amorphization induced by pressure: results for zeolites and general implications

We report an ab initio study of pressure-induced amorphization (PIA) in zeolites, which are model systems for this phenomenon. We confirm the occurrence of recently reported low-density amorphous phases that preserve the crystalline topology, and explain the role of the zeolite composition regarding PIA. Our results support the correctness of existing models for the basic PIA mechanism, but suggest that energetic, rather than kinetic, factors determine the irreversibility of the transition.

Density Functional Energetics of α-Quartz for Calibration of SiO2 Interatomic Potentials

All-electron, Gaussian basis density functional theory (DFT) total energies for alpha-quartz were generated on a substantial grid of points for eventual use in a first-principles check of calibration of a widely used effective interionic potential for SiO2. Unlike a previous all-electron, Gaussian basis calculation, we do not find a weak double minimum with respect to cell volume. Rather there is a weak double minimum with respect to internal cell parameters that is at the margins of numerical precision and, hence, may only be the signal of a very flat potential surface. The results show typical dependence on the choice of approximate DFT functional and differ from experimental values enough that both aspects may be problematic for parametrization of potentials.