Abstract: We provide experimental evidence for the existence of ferromagnetism in bilayers of Pd/C-60 which is supported by theoretical calculations based on density functional theory (DFT). The observed ferromagnetism is surprising as C-60 and Pd films are both non-ferromagnetic in the non-interacting limit. Magnetization (M) versus applied field (H) data acquired at different temperatures (T) show magnetic hysteresis with typical coercive fields (H-c) on the order of 50 Oe. From the temperature-dependent magnetization M(T) we extract a Curie temperature (T-c >= 550 K) using Bloch-like power law extrapolations to high temperatures. Using DFT calculations we investigated all plausible scenarios for the interaction between the C-60 molecules and the Pd slabs, Pd single atoms and Pd clusters. DFT shows that while the C-60 molecules are nonmagnetic, Pd films have a degenerate ground state that subject to a weak perturbation, can become ferromagnetic. Calculations also show that the interaction of C-60 molecules with excess Pd atoms and with sharp edges of a Pd slab is the most likely configuration that render the system ferromagnetic Interestingly, the calculated charge transfer (0.016 e per surface Pd atom, 0.064 e per Pd for intimate contact region) between C-60 and Pd does not appear to play an important role. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract: We apply the exact diagonalization technique to calculate the ground and excited states of a bipolar artificial molecule composed of two vertically coupled quantum dots containing different types of carriers electrons and holes in equilibrium. In this system, the magnetic field tunes the relative role of intra-dot Coulomb interaction while the inter-dot separation sets the strength of inter-dot correlations. We find an intricate pattern of the switching of the ground-state angular momentum with increasing magnetic field and a rearrangement of approximate single-particle levels as a function of the inter-dot coupling strength.

Abstract: We introduce a differential geometry description of the path lines, stream lines and particles contours in hydrodynamics. We present a generalized form of a Korteweg-de Vries type of equation for the exterior of a circle. Nonlinearities from the boundary conditions, surface tension and the Euler equations are taken into account, but the flow is considered inviscid and irrotational. For the circular case we describe the traveling waves shapes, solitons and the particles trajectories.

Abstract: The impact of interfacial chemistry occurring at dielectric/gate interface of P-MOS and N-MOS devices is reviewed through a quick literature survey. A specific emphasis is put on the way the bond polarization that occurs between a dielectric and a metal substrate impacts on the gate work function. First-principle simulations are then used to study the work function changes induced by dopant aggregation in nickel monosilicide metal gates. It is shown that the changes are a natural consequence of the variation of the interface polarization.

Abstract: Ab initio calculations within the density functional theory formalism are performed to investigate the stability and electronic properties of fluorinated bilayer graphene (bilayer fluorographene). A comparison is made to previously investigated graphane, bilayer graphane, and fluorographene. Bilayer fluorographene is found to be a much more stable material than bilayer graphane. Its electronic band structure is similar to that of monolayer fluorographene, but its electronic band gap is significantly larger (about 1 eV). We also calculate the effective masses around the Gamma-point for fluorographene and bilayer fluorographene and find that they are isotropic, in contrast to earlier reports. Furthermore, it is found that bilayer fluorographene is almost as strong as graphene, as its 2D Young's modulus is approximately 300 N m(-1).

Abstract: ZnAl2O4 (gahnite) is a ceramic which is considered a possible transparent conducting oxide (TCO) due to its wide band gap and transparency for UV. Defects play an important role in controlling the conductivity of a TCO material along with the dopant, which is the main source of conductivity in an otherwise insulating oxide. A comprehensive first-principles density functional theory study for point defects in ZnAl2O4 spinel is presented using the Heyd, Scuseria, and Ernzerhof hybrid functional (HSE06) to overcome the band gap problem. We have investigated the formation energies of intrinsic defects which include the Zn, Al, and O vacancy and the antisite defects: Zn at the Al site (ZnAl) and Al at the Zn site (AlZn). The antisite defect AlZn has the lowest formation energy and acts as a shallow donor, indicating possible n-type conductivity in ZnAl2O4 spinel by Al doping.

Abstract: Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is increasingly applied in the respiratory domain. The ability to simulate the flow through a bifurcating tubular system has increased the insight into the internal flow dynamics and the particular characteristics of respiratory flows such as secondary motions and inertial effects. The next step in the evolution is to apply the technique to patient-specific cases, in order to provide more information about pathological airways. This study presents a patient-specific approach where both the geometry and the boundary conditions (BC) are based on individual imaging methods using computed tomography (CT). The internal flow distribution of a 73-year-old female suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is assessed. The validation is performed through the comparison of lung ventilation with gamma scintigraphy. The results show that in order to obtain agreement within the accuracy limits of the gamma scintigraphy scan, both the patient-specific geometry and the BC (driving pressure) play a crucial role. A minimal invasive test (CT scan) supplied enough information to perform an accurate CFD analysis. In the end it was possible to capture the pathological features of the respiratory system using the imaging and computational fluid dynamics techniques. This brings the introduction of this new technique in the clinical practice one step closer.

Abstract: Many experiments have revealed that the surfaces of graphene and graphene-like structures can play an active role as a host surface for clusterization of transition metal atoms. Motivated by these observations, we investigate theoretically the adsorption, diffusion and magnetic properties of Pt clusters on three different two-dimensional atomic crystals using first principles density functional theory. We found that monolayers of graphene, molybdenum disulfide (1H-MoS2) and tantalum disulfide (1T-TaS2) provide different nucleation characteristics for Pt cluster formation. At low temperatures, while the bridge site is the most favorable site where the growth of a Pt cluster starts on graphene, top-Mo and top-Ta sites are preferred on 1H-MoS2 and 1T-TaS2, respectively. Ground state structures and magnetic properties of Pt-n clusters (n= 2,3,4) on three different monolayer crystal structures are obtained. We found that the formation of Pt-2 dimer and a triangle-shaped Pt-3 cluster perpendicular to the surface are favored over the three different surfaces. While bent rhombus shaped Pt-4 is formed on graphene, the formation of tetrahedral shaped clusters are more favorable on 1H-MoS2 and 1T-TaS2. Our study of the formation of Pt-n clusters on three different monolayers provides a gateway for further exploration of nanocluster formations on various surfaces.