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Journal ArticleDOI

Anisotropic and High-Mobility C3S Monolayer as a Photocatalyst for Water Splitting.

TL;DR: In this article, a novel semiconducting C3S monolayer is identified, consisting of well-known n-biphenyl and S atom linked benzenes, exhibiting an obvious direction-dependent atomic arrangement.
Abstract: Taking into account the high conductivity and stability of carbon materials, such as graphene, and the strong polar covalent bonding character of main-group compounds, we explore potential 2D materials in the C-S binary system through first-principles structure search calculations. Herein, a hitherto unknown semiconducting C3S monolayer is identified, consisting of well-known n-biphenyl and S atom linked benzenes, exhibiting an obvious direction-dependent atomic arrangement. Thus, it exhibits anisotropic mechanical properties and carrier mobility. Its electron mobility reaches 2.14 × 104 cm2 V-1 s-1 in the b direction, along which n-biphenyl units are arranged, and is much higher than that in the well-used MoS2 monolayer and black phosphorus. Meanwhile, the C3S monolayer has high optical absorption coefficients (105 cm-1), high thermal and dynamical stabilities, and a moderate ability to split water. All these desirable properties make the C3S monolayer a promising candidate for applications in novel optoelectronic devices.
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper , the essential properties of 2D photocatalysts and the recent advances in the theoretical engineering of two-dimensional materials for the improvement in photocatalysis overall water-splitting are summarized.
Abstract: Splitting of water with the help of photocatalysts has gained a strong interest in the scientific community for producing clean energy, thus requiring novel semiconductor materials to achieve high-yield hydrogen production. The emergence of 2D nanoscale materials with remarkable electronic and optical properties has received much attention in this field. Owing to the recent developments in high-end computation and advanced electronic structure theories, first principles studies offer powerful tools to screen photocatalytic systems reliably and efficiently. This review is organized to highlight the essential properties of 2D photocatalysts and the recent advances in the theoretical engineering of 2D materials for the improvement in photocatalytic overall water-splitting. The advancement in the strategies including (i) single-atom catalysts, (ii) defect engineering, (iii) strain engineering, (iv) Janus structures, (v) type-II heterostructures (vi) Z-scheme heterostructures (vii) multilayer configurations (viii) edge-modification in nanoribbons and (ix) the effect of pH in overall water-splitting are summarized to improve the existing problems for a photocatalytic catalytic reaction such as overcoming large overpotential to trigger the water-splitting reactions without using cocatalysts. This review could serve as a bridge between theoretical and experimental research on next-generation 2D photocatalysts.

28 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Based on first principles calculations, Wang et al. as mentioned in this paper showed that 2D PdX$_2$ (X = S, Te) monolayer possesses excellent stabilities and great potentials in solar energy conversion applications.
Abstract: The search for highly effective and environmentally safe photocatalysts for water splitting and photovoltaic solar cells is essential for renewable solar energy conversion and storage. Based on first principles calculations, we show that novel 2D $\beta$-PdX$_2$ (X = S, Te) monolayer possesses excellent stabilities and great potentials in solar energy conversion applications. Comprehensive studies show that the $\beta$-PdX$_2$ monolayer exhibits semiconductor characteristics with an indirect gap, suitable band alignment, efficient carrier separation, and high solar to hydrogen (STH) efficiencies, supporting its good photoelectronic performance. The surface catalytic and adsorption/intercalation energies calculation reveals that the photogenerated holes have adequate driving forces to render hydrogen reduction half-reactions to proceed spontaneously and the ability to cover and incorporate water molecules on $\beta$-PdX$_2$ monolayer. Besides, the $\beta$-PdX$_2$ monolayer is promising donor material for excitonic solar cells with high photovoltaic performance. More importantly, due to suitable donor band gap and small conduction band offset in the proposed type-II heterostructure, the calculated power conversion efficiencies (PCE) is calculated up to ~23% ($\beta$-PdX$_2$/WTe$_2$), ~21% ($\beta$-PdX$_2$/ MoTe$_2$) and ~18% ($\beta$-PdTe2/$\beta$-PdX$_2$), making it a promising candidate for solar energy conversion applications.

13 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the formation of two-dimensional (2D) P-rich P-S compounds was proposed to improve the stability of phosphorene while maintaining its original properties, and two previously unkonwn P3S and P2S monolayers were revealed.
Abstract: Phosphorene has offered an additional advantage for developing new optoelectronic devices due to its anisotropic and high carrier mobility. However, its instability in air causes a rapid degradation of the performance of the device. Thus, improving the stability of phosphorene while maintaining its original properties has become the key to the development of high-performance electronic devices. Herein, we propose that the formation of two-dimensional (2D) P-rich P-S compounds could achieve this goal. First-principles swarm-structural searches revealed two previously unkonwn P3S and P2S monolayers. The P3S monolayer, consisting of n-bicyclo-P6 units along the armchair direction, exhibits anisotropic and wide band gap characteristics. Interestingly, its carrier mobility reaches 1.11 × 104 cm2 V-1 s-1 and is much higher than in phosphorene. Its electronic band gap and optical absorption coefficients in the ultraviolet region reach 2.71 eV and 105 cm-1, respectively. Additionally, the P3S monolayer has a high structural stability and resistance to air oxidation.

6 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article , structural, electronic, and optical properties of an experimentally unexplored 2D material, i.e., gold telluride iodide (AuTeI) monolayer using density functional theory and Bethe-Salpeter equation approaches were systematically investigated.
Abstract: Two-dimensional materials promise great potential for photochemical water splitting due to the abundant active sites and large surface area, but few of the known materials meet the rigorous requirements. In this work, we systematically investigate structural, electronic, and optical properties of an experimentally unexplored 2D material, i.e., gold telluride iodide (AuTeI) monolayer using density functional theory and Bethe–Salpeter equation approaches. Bulk AuTeI is a layered material and was realized in experiments a few decades ago. However, its bandgap is relatively small for water splitting. We find the exfoliation of monolayer AuTeI from the bulk phase is highly favorable, and 2D AuTeI is dynamically stable. The bandgap of 2D AuTeI becomes larger due to the quantum confinement effect. Importantly, the edge positions of the conduction band minimum and valence band maximum of 2D AuTeI perfectly fit the water oxidation and reduction potentials, enabling it a promising photocatalyst for water splitting. Additionally, the exciton binding energy of 2D AuTeI is calculated to be 0.35 eV, suggesting efficient electron-hole separation. Our results highlight a new and experimentally accessible 2D material for potential application in photocatalytic water splitting.

4 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article , a metallic C3NS monolayer with high stability, high storage capacity, a low diffusion barrier, and a low open-circuit voltage of 0.36 V was identified.
Abstract: K-ion batteries (KIBs) have been considered as appealing alternatives to Li ion batteries due to the high abundance of K, their high working voltages, and allowing the use of mature LIB technology. Thus far, anode materials that can meet the rigorous requirements of KIBs are still rather rare. Here, we have identified a desirable anode material, a metallic C3NS monolayer with high stability, a high storage capacity of 980 mAh/g, a low diffusion barrier of 0.24 eV, and a low open-circuit voltage of 0.36 V, through first-principles calculations. Metallic C3NSKn (n = 1-3) can ensure a high electron conductivity during the charge/discharge process. Valence electrons of the N atom in a triangular bipyramid configuration favor the formation of a planar edge-sharing hexagonal C4N2 unit and delocalized π bonding with C 2p electrons. The lone pair electrons of the S atom induce strong interactions with K atoms, facilitating storage capacity. These interesting properties make the C3NS monolayer a promising anode for KIBs.

3 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a new hybrid density functional based on a screened Coulomb potential for the exchange interaction is proposed, which enables fast and accurate hybrid calculations, even of usually difficult metallic systems.
Abstract: Hybrid density functionals are very successful in describing a wide range of molecular properties accurately. In large molecules and solids, however, calculating the exact (Hartree–Fock) exchange is computationally expensive, especially for systems with metallic characteristics. In the present work, we develop a new hybrid density functional based on a screened Coulomb potential for the exchange interaction which circumvents this bottleneck. The results obtained for structural and thermodynamic properties of molecules are comparable in quality to the most widely used hybrid functionals. In addition, we present results of periodic boundary condition calculations for both semiconducting and metallic single wall carbon nanotubes. Using a screened Coulomb potential for Hartree–Fock exchange enables fast and accurate hybrid calculations, even of usually difficult metallic systems. The high accuracy of the new screened Coulomb potential hybrid, combined with its computational advantages, makes it widely applicable to large molecules and periodic systems.

13,446 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a few-layer black phosphorus crystals with thickness down to a few nanometres are used to construct field effect transistors for nanoelectronic devices. But the performance of these materials is limited.
Abstract: Two-dimensional crystals have emerged as a class of materials that may impact future electronic technologies. Experimentally identifying and characterizing new functional two-dimensional materials is challenging, but also potentially rewarding. Here, we fabricate field-effect transistors based on few-layer black phosphorus crystals with thickness down to a few nanometres. Reliable transistor performance is achieved at room temperature in samples thinner than 7.5 nm, with drain current modulation on the order of 10(5) and well-developed current saturation in the I-V characteristics. The charge-carrier mobility is found to be thickness-dependent, with the highest values up to ∼ 1,000 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) obtained for a thickness of ∼ 10 nm. Our results demonstrate the potential of black phosphorus thin crystals as a new two-dimensional material for applications in nanoelectronic devices.

6,924 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
21 Mar 2014-ACS Nano
TL;DR: In this paper, the 2D counterpart of layered black phosphorus, which is called phosphorene, is introduced as an unexplored p-type semiconducting material and the authors find that the band gap is direct, depends on the number of layers and the in-layer strain, and significantly larger than the bulk value of 0.31-0.36 eV.
Abstract: We introduce the 2D counterpart of layered black phosphorus, which we call phosphorene, as an unexplored p-type semiconducting material. Same as graphene and MoS2, single-layer phosphorene is flexible and can be mechanically exfoliated. We find phosphorene to be stable and, unlike graphene, to have an inherent, direct, and appreciable band gap. Our ab initio calculations indicate that the band gap is direct, depends on the number of layers and the in-layer strain, and is significantly larger than the bulk value of 0.31–0.36 eV. The observed photoluminescence peak of single-layer phosphorene in the visible optical range confirms that the band gap is larger than that of the bulk system. Our transport studies indicate a hole mobility that reflects the structural anisotropy of phosphorene and complements n-type MoS2. At room temperature, our few-layer phosphorene field-effect transistors with 1.0 μm channel length display a high on-current of 194 mA/mm, a high hole field-effect mobility of 286 cm2/V·s, and an...

5,233 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the tetragonal to orthorhombic ferroelastic phase transition between rutile- and CaCl-type phonon modes at high pressures is studied using first-principles calculations and the Landau free-energy expansion.
Abstract: The tetragonal to orthorhombic ferroelastic phase transition between rutile- and ${\text{CaCl}}_{2}$-type ${\text{SiO}}_{2}$ at high pressures is studied using first-principles calculations and the Landau free-energy expansion. The phase transition is systematically investigated in terms of characteristic phonon modes with ${\text{B}}_{1g}$ and ${\text{A}}_{g}$ symmetries, shear moduli, transverse-acoustic mode, rotation angle of the ${\text{SiO}}_{6}$ octahedra, spontaneous symmetry-breaking and volume strains, and enthalpy. The results show that these physical behaviors at the transition are well described using the Landau free-energy expansion parametrized by the first-principles calculations.

4,196 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a modification of the Nose-Hoover dynamics is proposed which includes not a single thermostat variable but a chain of variables, Nose chains, which gives the canonical distribution where the simple formalism fails.
Abstract: Nose has derived a set of dynamical equations that can be shown to give canonically distributed positions and momenta provided the phase space average can be taken into the trajectory average, i.e., the system is ergodic [S. Nose, J. Chem. Phys. 81, 511 (1984), W. G. Hoover, Phys. Rev. A 31, 1695 (1985)]. Unfortunately, the Nose–Hoover dynamics is not ergodic for small or stiff systems. Here a modification of the dynamics is proposed which includes not a single thermostat variable but a chain of variables, Nose–Hoover chains. The ‘‘new’’ dynamics gives the canonical distribution where the simple formalism fails. In addition, the new method is easier to use than an extension [D. Kusnezov, A. Bulgac, and W. Bauer, Ann. Phys. 204, 155 (1990)] which also gives the canonical distribution for stiff cases.

4,053 citations