Abstract: The ground state energy and the extent of the wavefunction of a negatively charged donor (D − ) located near a semiconductormetal or a semiconductordielectric interface are obtained. We apply the effective mass approximation and use a variational two-electron wavefunction that takes into account the influence of all image charges that arise due to the presence of the interface, as well as the correlation between the two electrons bound to the donor. For a semiconductormetal interface, the D − binding energy is enhanced for donor positions d > 1.5aB (aB is the effective Bohr radius) due to the additional attraction of the electrons with their images. When the donor approaches the interface (i.e. d < 1.5aB) the D − binding energy drops and eventually it becomes unbound. For a semiconductordielectric (or a semiconductorvacuum) interface the D − binding energy is reduced for any donor position as compared to the bulk case and the system becomes rapidly unbound when the donor approaches the interface.

Abstract: In recent decades multifractal analysis has been successfully applied to characterize the complex temporal and spatial organization of such diverse natural phenomena as heartbeat dynamics, the dendritic shape of neurons, retinal vessels, rock fractures, and intricately shaped volcanic ash particles. The characterization of multifractal properties of closed contours has remained elusive because applying traditional methods to their quasi-one-dimensional nature yields ambiguous answers. Here we show that multifractal analysis can reveal meaningful and sometimes unexpected information about natural structures with a perimeter well-defined by a closed contour. To this end, we demonstrate how to apply multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis, originally developed for the analysis of time series, to an arbitrary shape of a given study object. In particular, we show the application of the method to fish otoliths, calcareous concretions located in fish's inner ear. Frequently referred to as the fish's “black box”, they contain a wealth of information about the fish's life history and thus have recently attracted increasing attention. As an illustrative example, we show that a multifractal approach can uncover unexpected relationships between otolith contours and size and age of fish at maturity.

Abstract: We study electron tunneling through a planar magnetic and electric barrier on the surface of a three-dimensional topological insulator. For the double barrier structures, we find (i) a directional-dependent tunneling which is sensitive to the magnetic field configuration and the electric gate voltage, (ii) a spin rotation controlled by the magnetic field and the gate voltage, (iii) many Fabry-Pérot resonances in the transmission determined by the distance between the two barriers, and (iv) the electrostatic potential can enhance the difference in the transmission between the two magnetization configurations, and consequently lead to a giant magnetoresistance. Points (i), (iii), and (iv) are alike with that in graphene stemming from the same linear-dispersion relations.

Abstract: Tailoring the properties of oxide-based nanocomposites is of great importance for a wide range of materials relevant for energy technology. YBa2Cu3O7−δ (YBCO) superconducting thin films containing nanosized BaHfO3 (BHO) particles yield a significant improvement of the magnetic flux pinning properties and a reduced anisotropy of the critical current density. These films were prepared by chemical solution deposition (CSD) on (100) SrTiO3 (STO) substrates yielding critical current densities up to 3.6 MA cm−2 at 77 K and self-field. Transport in-field J c measurements demonstrated a high pinning force maximum of around 6 GN/m3 for a sample annealed at T = 760 °C that has a doping of 12 mol% of BHO. This sample was investigated by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) in combination with electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) yielding strain and spectral maps. Spherical BHO nanoparticles of 15 nm in size were found in the matrix, whereas the particles at the interface were flat. A 2 nm diffusion layer containing Ti was found at the YBCO (BHO)/STO interface. Local lattice deformation mapping at the atomic scale revealed crystal defects induced by the presence of both sorts of BHO nanoparticles, which can act as pinning centers for magnetic flux lines. Two types of local lattice defects were identified and imaged: (i) misfit edge dislocations and (ii) Ba-Cu-Cu-Ba stacking faults (Y-248 intergrowths). The local electronic structure and charge transfer were probed by high energy resolution monochromated electron energy-loss spectroscopy. This technique made it possible to distinguish superconducting from non-superconducting areas in nanocomposite samples with atomic resolution in real space, allowing the identification of local pinning sites on the order of the coherence length of YBCO (~1.5 nm) and the determination of 0.25 nm dislocation cores.

Abstract: In this paper, two new monolayers, namely PtOS and PtOSe, are theoretically predicted using first-principles calculations. Structural, electronic, optical and thermoelectric properties are explored using full-potential linearized augmented plane-wave (FP-LAPW) method and the semiclassical Boltzmann transport theory. Predicted two-dimensional (2D) materials show good dynamical, thermodynamic and structural stability. Calculated electronic structures indicate the indirect gap semiconductor nature of the PtOS and PtOSe single layers with energy gap of 1.346(2.436) and 0.978(1.978) eV as calculated with the WC(HSE06) functional, respectively. Density of states spectra and valence charge distribution maps suggest a mix of covalent and ionic characters of the chemical bonds. 2D materials at hand exhibit good absorption property in the visible regime with coefficient value reaching the order of 105/cm, even much larger in the ultraviolet, suggesting the promising optoelectronic applicability. Finally, the thermoelectric parameters including electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, power factor and figure of merit are determined and analyzed. Results indicate prospective thermoelectric performance of both considered single layers as demonstrated by large figure of merit close to unity. Our work introduces two new 2D multifunctional materials that may possess potential applications in the optoelectronic and thermoelectric nano-devices.

Abstract: Dielectric properties of nano-confined water are important in several areas of science, i.e., it is relevant in the dielectric double layer that exists in practically all heterogeneous fluid-based systems. Molecular dynamics simulations are used to predict the in-plane dielectric properties of confined water in planar channels of width ranging from sub-nanometer to bulk. Because of suppressed rotational degrees of freedom near the confining walls, the dipole of the water molecules tends to be aligned parallel to the walls, which results in a strongly enhanced in-plane dielectric constant (epsilon (parallel to)) reaching values of about 120 for channels with height 8 angstrom < h < 10 angstrom. With the increase in the width of the channel, we predict that epsilon (parallel to) decreases nonlinearly and reaches the bulk value for h > 70 angstrom. A stratified continuum model is proposed that reproduces the h > 10 angstrom dependence of epsilon (parallel to). For sub-nanometer height channels, abnormal behavior of epsilon (parallel to) is found with two orders of magnitude reduction of epsilon (parallel to) around h similar to 7.5 angstrom, which is attributed to the formation of a particular ice phase that exhibits long-time (similar to mu s) stable ferroelectricity. This is of particular importance for the understanding of the influence of confined water on the functioning of biological systems.

Abstract: Atomistic simulation methods for the quantification of free energies are in wide use. These methods operate by sampling the probability density of a system along a small set of suitable collective variables (CVs), which is, in turn, expressed in the form of a free energy surface (FES). This definition of the FES can capture the relative stability of metastable states but not that of the transition state because the barrier height is not invariant to the choice of CVs. Free energy barriers therefore cannot be consistently computed from the FES. Here, we present a simple approach to calculate the gauge correction necessary to eliminate this inconsistency. Using our procedure, the standard FES as well as its gauge-corrected counterpart can be obtained by reweighing the same simulated trajectory at little additional cost. We apply the method to a number of systems—a particle solvated in a Lennard-Jones fluid, a Diels–Alder reaction, and crystallization of liquid sodium—to demonstrate its ability to produce consistent free energy barriers that correctly capture the kinetics of chemical or physical transformations, and discuss the additional demands it puts on the chosen CVs. Because the FES can be converged at relatively short (sub-ns) time scales, a free energy-based description of reaction kinetics is a particularly attractive option to study chemical processes at more expensive quantum mechanical levels of theory.

Abstract: Spin-dependent tunneling of electrons in a diluted magnetic semiconductor ZnSe/Zn1-xMnxSe/Zn1-yMnySe/ZnSe/Zn1-xMnxSe/ZnSe heterostructure is investigated theoretically in the presence of parallel magnetic and electric fields, but our modeling is appropriate for any dilute magnetic II-VI semiconductor system. In the studied asymmetric system the transmission of electrons and the degree of spin polarization depend on the strength of the magnetic and electric fields and on the direction of the applied bias. For suitable magnetic fields, the output current of the system exhibits a nearly 100% spin polarization and the device can be used as a spin filter. (C) 2005 American Institute of Physics.

Abstract: We investigate the magnetic field dependence of the Hall and the bend resistances for a ballistic Hall bar structure containing a pn-junction sculptured from a bilayer of graphene. The electric response is obtained using the billiard model, and we investigate the cases of bilayer graphene with and without a band gap. Two different conduction regimes are possible: (i) both sides of the junction have the same carrier type and (ii) one side of the junction is n-type while the other one is p-type. The first case shows Hall plateau-like features in the Hall resistance that fade away as the band gap opens. The second case exhibits a bend resistance that is asymmetric in magnetic field as a consequence of snake states along the pn-interface, where the maximum is shifted away from zero magnetic field.

Abstract: In this letter, CMOS-compatible Ni/HfO2/TiN resistive random access memory stacks demonstrated attractive unipolar switching properties, showing >10(3) endurance and long retention at 150 degrees C. The Ni bottom electrode (BE) improved the switching yield over the NiSiPt BE. To better understand the unipolar forming mechanism, ab initio simulation and time of flight-secondary ion mass spectroscopy were utilized. Compared to the NiSiPt BE, Ni BE gives larger Ni diffusion in the HfO2 and lower formation enthalpy of Ni2+ species during electrical forming. Both the electrical and physical results supported a Ni-injection mechanism for the filament formation. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3695078]

Abstract: Full ab initio techniques are applied to study the electronic and dynamical properties of free standing, hydrogen-passivated Si/Ge core-shell nanowires oriented along the [110] direction. All studied wires exhibit a direct band gap and are found to be structurally stable. The different contributions of the core and shell atoms to the phonon spectra are identified. The acoustic phonon velocities and the frequencies of some typical optical modes are compared with those of pure Si and Ge nanowires. These depend either on the concentration or on the type of core material. Optical modes are hardened and longitudinal acoustic velocities are softened with decreasing wire diameter.

Abstract: Resource recovery and reuse from domestic wastewater has become an important subject for the current development of sanitation technologies and infrastructures. Different technologies are available and combined into sanitation concepts, with different performances. This study provides a methodological approach to evaluate the sustainability of these sanitation concepts with focus on resource recovery and reuse. St. Eustatius, a small tropical island in the Caribbean, was used as a case study for the evaluation. Three source separation-communityon-site and two combined sewerage island-scale concepts were selected and compared in terms of environmental (net energy use, nutrient recovery/reuse, BOD/COD, pathogens, and GHG emission, land use), economic (CAPEX and OPEX), social cultural (acceptance, required competences and education), and technological (flexibility/ adaptability, reliability/continuity of service) indicators. The best performing concept, is the application of Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Bed (UASB) and Trickling Filter (TF) at island level for combined domestic wastewater treatment with subsequent reuse in agriculture. Its overall average normalised score across the four categories (i. e., average of average per category) is about 15% (0.85) higher than the values of the remaining systems and with a score of 0.73 (conventional activated sludge – centralised level), 0.77 (UASB-septic tank (ST)), 0.76 (UASB-TF – community level), and 0.75 (ST – household level). The higher score of the UASB-TF at community level is mainly due to much better performance in the environmental and economic categories. In conclusion, the case study provides a methodological approach that can support urban planning and decision-making in selecting more sustainable sanitation concepts, allowing resource recovery and reuse in small island context or in other contexts.

Abstract: STEM imaging is typically performed by raster scanning a focused electron probe over a sample. Here we investigate and compare three different scan patterns, making use of a programmable scan engine that allows to arbitrarily set the sequence of probe positions that are consecutively visited on the sample. We compare the typical raster scan with a so-called ‘snake’ pattern where the scan direction is reversed after each row and a novel Hilbert scan pattern that changes scan direction rapidly and provides an homogeneous treatment of both scan directions. We experimentally evaluate the imaging performance on a single crystal test sample by varying dwell time and evaluating behaviour with respect to sample drift. We demonstrate the ability of the Hilbert scan pattern to more faithfully represent the high frequency content of the image in the presence of sample drift. It is also shown that Hilbert scanning provides reduced bias when measuring lattice parameters from the obtained scanned images while maintaining similar precision in both scan directions which is especially important when e.g. performing strain analysis. Compared to raster scanning with flyback correction, both snake and Hilbert scanning benefit from dose reduction as only small probe movement steps occur.

Abstract: A recently developed healable Al-Mg2Si designed by the programmed damage and repair (PDR) strategy is studied considering the role microstructural defects play on precipitation, damage, and healing. The alloy incorporates sacrificial Mg2Si particles that precipitate after friction stir processing (FSP). They act as damage localization sites and are healable based on the solid-state diffusion of Al-matrix. A combination of different transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging techniques enabled the visualization and quantification of various crystallographic defects and the spatial distribution of Mg2Si precipitates. Intragrain nucleation is found to be the dominant mechanism for precipitation during FSP whereas grain boundaries and subgrain boundaries mainly lead to coarsening of the precipitates. The statistical and spatial analyses of the damaged particles have shown particle fracture as the dominant damage mechanism which is strongly dependent on the size and aspect ratio of the particles whereas the damage was not found to depend on the location of the precipitates within the matrix. The damaged particles are associated with dislocations accumulated around them. The interplay of these dislocations is directly visualized during healing based on in situ TEM heating which revealed recovery in the matrix as an operative mechanism during the diffusion healing of the PDR alloy.