Cesare Franchini

Bio: Cesare Franchini is an academic researcher from University of Bologna. The author has contributed to research in topics: Density functional theory & Physics. The author has an hindex of 40, co-authored 185 publications receiving 7544 citations. Previous affiliations of Cesare Franchini include University of Cagliari & Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Dirac semimetal and topological phase transitions in A 3 Bi ( A = Na , K, Rb)

Abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) Dirac point, where two Weyl points overlap in momentum space, is usually unstable and hard to realize. Here we show, based on the first-principles calculations and effective model analysis, that crystalline A(3)Bi (A = Na, K, Rb) are Dirac semimetals with bulk 3D Dirac points protected by crystal symmetry. They possess nontrivial Fermi arcs on the surfaces and can be driven into various topologically distinct phases by explicit breaking of symmetries. Giant diamagnetism, linear quantum magnetoresistance, and quantum spin Hall effect will be expected for such compounds.

Stacking effects on the electronic and optical properties of bilayer transition metal dichalcogenides MoS 2 , MoSe 2 , WS 2 , and WSe 2

Abstract: Employing the random phase approximation we investigate the binding energy and Van der Waals (vdW) interlayer spacing between the two layers of bilayer transition metal dichalcogenides ${\mathrm{MoS}}_{2}$, ${\mathrm{MoSe}}_{2}$, ${\mathrm{WS}}_{2}$, and ${\mathrm{WSe}}_{2}$ for five different stacking patterns, and examine the stacking-induced modifications on the electronic and optical/excitonic properties within the GW approximation with a priori inclusion of spin-orbit coupling and by solving the two-particle Bethe-Salpeter equation. Our results show that for all cases, the most stable stacking order is the high symmetry $A{A}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ type, distinctive of the bulklike $2H$ symmetry, followed by the $AB$ stacking fault, typical of the $3R$ polytypism, which is by only 5 meV/formula unit less stable. The conduction band minimum is always located in the midpoint between K and $\ensuremath{\Gamma}$, regardless of the stacking and chemical composition. All $M{X}_{2}$ undergo an direct-to-indirect optical gap transition going from the monolayer to the bilayer regime. The stacking and the characteristic vdW interlayer distance mainly influence the valence band splitting at K and its relative energy with respect to $\ensuremath{\Gamma}$, as well as, the electron-hole binding energy and the values of the optical excitations.

Role of self-trapping in luminescence and p -type conductivity of wide-band-gap oxides

Abstract: We investigate the behavior of holes in the valence band of a range of wide-band-gap oxides including ZnO, MgO, In${}_{2}$O${}_{3}$, Ga${}_{2}$O${}_{3}$, Al${}_{2}$O${}_{3}$, SnO${}_{2}$, SiO${}_{2}$, and TiO${}_{2}$. Based on hybrid functional calculations, we find that, due to the orbital composition of the valence band, holes tend to form localized small polarons with characteristic lattice distortions, even in the absence of defects or impurities. These self-trapped holes (STHs) are energetically more favorable than delocalized, free holes in the valence band in all materials but ZnO and SiO${}_{2}$. Based on calculated optical absorption and emission energies we show that STHs provide an explanation for the luminescence peaks that have been observed in many of these oxides. We demonstrate that polaron formation prohibits $p$-type conductivity in this class of materials.

Direct view at excess electrons in TiO2 rutile and anatase.

Abstract: A combination of scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy and density functional theory is used to characterize excess electrons in TiO2 rutile and anatase, two prototypical materials with identical chemical composition but different crystal lattices. In rutile, excess electrons can localize at any lattice Ti atom, forming a small polaron, which can easily hop to neighboring sites. In contrast, electrons in anatase prefer a free-carrier state, and can only be trapped near oxygen vacancies or form shallow donor states bound to Nb dopants. The present study conclusively explains the differences between the two polymorphs and indicates that even small structural variations in the crystal lattice can lead to a very different behavior.

Ground-state properties of multivalent manganese oxides: Density functional and hybrid density functional calculations

Abstract: We present density functional theory (DFT) calculations for MnO, ${\mathrm{Mn}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$, $\ensuremath{\alpha}\text{\ensuremath{-}}{\mathrm{Mn}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, and $\ensuremath{\beta}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{Mn}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$, using different gradient corrected functionals, such as Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE), $\mathrm{PBE}+\mathrm{U}$, and the two hybrid density functional Hartree-Fock methods PBE0 and Heyd-Scuseria-Ernzerhof (HSE). We investigate the structural, electronic, magnetic, and thermodynamical properties of the mentioned compounds. Despite the lack of sufficient experimental information allowing for a comprehensive comparison of our results, we find overall that hybrid functionals provide a more consistent picture than standard PBE. Although $\mathrm{PBE}+\mathrm{U}$ is limited due to the uncertainty of choosing the parameter U, it nevertheless provides satisfactory results in terms of magnetic properties and energies of formation. This is in line with results of PBE0 and HSE calculations, but the $\mathrm{PBE}+\mathrm{U}$ approach tends to overestimate the equilibrium volumes, and also it favors a half-metallic state for the more reduced oxides ${\mathrm{Mn}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$, $\ensuremath{\alpha}\text{\ensuremath{-}}{\mathrm{Mn}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, and $\ensuremath{\beta}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{Mn}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$, rather than an insulating character as derived from the hybrid functional approaches. The comparison of measured valence-band spectra with the HSE density of states offers a further assessment of the capability of hybrid approaches in overcoming the deficiencies of DFT in treating these kinds of materials.

I and i

Abstract: There is, I think, something ethereal about i —the square root of minus one. I remember first hearing about it at school. It seemed an odd beast at that time—an intruder hovering on the edge of reality. Usually familiarity dulls this sense of the bizarre, but in the case of i it was the reverse: over the years the sense of its surreal nature intensified. It seemed that it was impossible to write mathematics that described the real world in …

疟原虫var基因转换速率变化导致抗原变异[英]／Paul H, Robert P, Christodoulou Z, et al//Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Abstract: 抗原变异可使得多种致病微生物易于逃避宿主免疫应答。表达在感染红细胞表面的恶性疟原虫红细胞表面蛋白1（PfPMP1）与感染红细胞、内皮细胞、树突状细胞以及胎盘的单个或多个受体作用，在黏附及免疫逃避中起关键的作用。每个单倍体基因组var基因家族编码约60种成员，通过启动转录不同的var基因变异体为抗原变异提供了分子基础。

Weyl and Dirac semimetals in three-dimensional solids

Abstract: Weyl and Dirac semimetals are three-dimensional phases of matter with gapless electronic excitations that are protected by topology and symmetry. As three-dimensional analogs of graphene, they have generated much recent interest. Deep connections exist with particle physics models of relativistic chiral fermions, and, despite their gaplessness, to solid-state topological and Chern insulators. Their characteristic electronic properties lead to protected surface states and novel responses to applied electric and magnetic fields. The theoretical foundations of these phases, their proposed realizations in solid-state systems, and recent experiments on candidate materials as well as their relation to other states of matter are reviewed.

Universality in Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalysis on Oxide Surfaces

Abstract: Trends in electrocatalytic activity of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are investigated on the basis of a large database of HO* and HOO* adsorption energies on oxide surfaces. The theoretical overpotential was calculated by applying standard density functional theory in combination with the computational standard hydrogen electrode (SHE) model. We showed that by the discovery of a universal scaling relation between the adsorption energies of HOO* vs HO*, it is possible to analyze the reaction free energy diagrams of all the oxides in a general way. This gave rise to an activity volcano that was the same for a wide variety of oxide catalyst materials and a universal descriptor for the oxygen evolution activity, which suggests a fundamental limitation on the maximum oxygen evolution activity of planar oxide catalysts.

Ab-initio simulations of materials using VASP: Density-functional theory and beyond.

Abstract: During the past decade, computer simulations based on a quantum-mechanical description of the interactions between electrons and between electrons and atomic nuclei have developed an increasingly important impact on solid-state physics and chemistry and on materials science—promoting not only a deeper understanding, but also the possibility to contribute significantly to materials design for future technologies. This development is based on two important columns: (i) The improved description of electronic many-body effects within density-functional theory (DFT) and the upcoming post-DFT methods. (ii) The implementation of the new functionals and many-body techniques within highly efficient, stable, and versatile computer codes, which allow to exploit the potential of modern computer architectures. In this review, I discuss the implementation of various DFT functionals [local-density approximation (LDA), generalized gradient approximation (GGA), meta-GGA, hybrid functional mixing DFT, and exact (Hartree-Fock) exchange] and post-DFT approaches [DFT + U for strong electronic correlations in narrow bands, many-body perturbation theory (GW) for quasiparticle spectra, dynamical correlation effects via the adiabatic-connection fluctuation-dissipation theorem (AC-FDT)] in the Vienna ab initio simulation package VASP. VASP is a plane-wave all-electron code using the projector-augmented wave method to describe the electron-core interaction. The code uses fast iterative techniques for the diagonalization of the DFT Hamiltonian and allows to perform total-energy calculations and structural optimizations for systems with thousands of atoms and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations for ensembles with a few hundred atoms extending over several tens of ps. Applications in many different areas (structure and phase stability, mechanical and dynamical properties, liquids, glasses and quasicrystals, magnetism and magnetic nanostructures, semiconductors and insulators, surfaces, interfaces and thin films, chemical reactions, and catalysis) are reviewed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2008