Abstract: Using highly efficient simulations of the tight-binding Bogoliubov-de-Gennes model, we solved self-consistently for the pair correlation and the Josephson current in a superconducting-bilayer graphene-superconducting Josephson junction. Different doping levels for the non-superconducting link are considered in the short- and long-junction regimes. Self-consistent results for the pair correlation and superconducting current resemble those reported previously for single-layer graphene except at the Dirac point, where remarkable differences in the proximity effect are found, as well as a suppression of the superconducting current in the long-junction regime. Inversion symmetry is broken by considering a potential difference between the layers and we found that the supercurrent can be switched if the junction length is larger than the Fermi length.

Abstract: The Tomasch effect (TE) is due to quasiparticle interference (QPI) as induced by a nonuniform superconducting order parameter, which results in oscillations in the density of states (DOS) at energies above the superconducting gap. Quantum confinement in nanoscale superconductors leads to an inhomogenerous distribution of the Cooperpair condensate, which, as we found, triggers the manifestation of a new TE. We investigate the electronic structure of nanoscale superconductors by solving the Bogoliubov-de Gennes (BdG) equations self-consistently and describe the TE determined by two types of processes, involving two-or three-subband QPIs. Both types of QPIs result in additional BCS-like Bogoliubov-quasiparticles and BCS-like energy gaps leading to oscillations in the DOS and modulated wave patterns in the local density of states. These effects are strongly related to the symmetries of the system. A reduced 4 x 4 inter-subband BdG Hamiltonian is established in order to describe analytically the TE of two-subband QPIs. Our study is relevant to nanoscale superconductors, either nanowires or thin films, Bose-Einsten condensates, and confined systems such as two-dimensional electron gas interface superconductivity.

Abstract: Intercalation of lithium in the ribbon structure Li4Mo5O17 has been achieved, using both electrochemistry and soft chemistry. The ab initio structure determination of the ¡°Mo−O¡± framework of Li12Mo5O17 shows that the [Mo5O17]¡Þ ribbons keep the same arrangement of edge sharing MoO6 octahedra and the same orientation as in the parent structure but that a topotactic antidistortion of the ribbons appears, as a result of the larger size of Mo4+ in ¡°Li12¡± compared to Mo6+ in ¡°Li4¡±. On the basis of bond valence calculations, it is observed that 12 octahedral sites are available for Li+ in the new structure so that an ordered hypothetical rock salt type structure can be proposed for Li12Mo5O17. After the first Li insertion, a stable reversible capacity of 100 mA¡¤h/g is maintained after 20 cycles. A complete structural reversibility leading back to the ribbon type Li4Mo5O17 structure is obtained using a very low rate of C/100. The exploration of the Li mobility in those oxides shows that Li4Mo5O17 is a cationic conductor with ¦Ò = 10−3.5 S/cm at 500 ¡ãC and Ea = 0.35 eV.

Abstract: The cubic perovskite Ba(0.5)Sr(0.5)Co(0.8)Fe(0.2)O(3-delta) (denoted BSCF) is the state-of-the-art ceramic membrane material used for oxygen separation technologies above 1150 K. BSCF is a mixed oxygen-ion and electron conductor (MIEC) and exhibits one of the highest oxygen permeabilities reported so far for dense oxides. Additionally, it has excellent phase stability above 1150 K. In the intermediate temperature range (750-1100 K), however, BSCF suffers from a slow decomposition of the cubic perovskite into variants with hexagonal stacking that are barriers to oxygen transport. To elucidate details of the decomposition process, both sintered BSCF ceramic and powder were annealed for 180-240 h in ambient air at temperatures below 1123 K and analyzed by different transmission electron microscopy techniques. Aside from hexagonal perovskite Ba(0.5)Sr(0.5)CoO(3-delta) , the formation of lamellar noncubic phases was observed in the quenched samples. The structure of the lamellae with the previously unknown composition Ba(1-x)Sr(x)Co(2-y)Fe(y)O(5-delta) was found to be related to the 15R hexagonal perovskite polytype. The valence and spin-state transition of cobalt leading to a considerable diminution of its ionic radius can be considered a reason for BSCF's inherent phase instability at intermediate temperatures.

Abstract: A novel triple ion beam cutting technique was employed to prepare high-quality surfaces of diamond/Al composites for interfacial characterization, which has been unachievable so far. Near-perfect and artifact-free surfaces were obtained without mechanical pre-polishing. Hence, the as-prepared surfaces are readily available for further study and also, ready to be employed in a focus ion beam system for preferential selection of transmission electron microscopy samples. Dramatically different diamond/Al interface configurations – sub-micrometer Al2O3 particles and clean interfaces were unambiguously revealed.

Abstract: Using the tight-binding formalism, we study spin and charge transport through a zigzag silicene ribbon subject to an external electric field E-z. The effect of an exchange field M-z is also taken into account and its consequences on the band structure as well as spin transport are evaluated. We show that the band structure lacks spin inversion symmetry in the presence of intrinsic spin-orbit interaction in combination of E-z and M-z fields. Our quantum transport calculations indicate that for certain energy ranges of the incoming electrons the silicene ribbon can act as a controllable high-efficiency spin polarizer. The polarization maxima occur simultaneously with the van Hove singularities of the local density of states. In this case, the combination of electric and exchange fields is the key to achieving nearly perfect spin polarization, which also leads to the appearance of additional narrow plateaus in the quantum conductance. Moreover, we demonstrate that the output current still remains completely spin-polarized for low-energy carriers even when a few edge vacancies are present.

Abstract: Metalorganic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as new porous materials for capture and separation of binary gas mixtures. Tuning the metal sites in MOF structures has an impact on properties, which enhance affinity of gas adsorption and selectivity (e.g., surface area, cavity, electric field, etc.). The synthesis and characterization of a M-DABCO series (M = Ni, Co, Cu, Zn) of MOFs are described in this study. The experiments were conducted using multicomponent gas mixtures and the Ideal Adsorbed Solution Theory (IAST) was applied to determine the CO2/CH4 selectivity. Experimental adsorption isotherms were fitted with a model equation to evaluate the characteristic adsorption energy (Isosteric, Qst) of this series. The Ni metal in the M-DABCO series reveals the best performance concerning CO2 adsorption and CH4/CO2 selectivity at ambient conditions based on IAST calculations. The combination of characterizations, calculations and adsorption experiments were used to discuss the metal impact on the adsorption sites in the M-DABCO series at ambient conditions.

Abstract: Using first principles calculations we showed that the electronic and optical properties of single-layer black phosphorus (BP) depend strongly on the applied strain. Due to the strong anisotropic atomic structure of BP, its electronic conductivity and optical response are sensitive to the magnitude and the orientation of the applied strain. We found that the inclusion of many body effects is essential for the correct description of the electronic properties of monolayer BP; for example, while the electronic gap of strainless BP is found to be 0.90 eV by using semilocal functionals, it becomes 2.31 eV when many-body effects are taken into account within the G(0)W(0) scheme. Applied tensile strain was shown to significantly enhance electron transport along zigzag direction of BP. Furthermore, biaxial strain is able to tune the optical band gap of monolayer BP from 0.38 eV (at -8% strain) to 2.07 eV (at 5.5%). The exciton binding energy is also sensitive to the magnitude of the applied strain. It is found to be 0.40 eV for compressive biaxial strain of -8%, and it becomes 0.83 eV for tensile strain of 4%. Our calculations demonstrate that the optical response of BP can be significantly tuned using strain engineering which appears as a promising way to design novel photovoltaic devices that capture a broad range of solar spectrum.

Abstract: The effect of the Coulomb interaction on the energy spectrum and anisotropic distribution of two electron states in a quantum ring in the presence of Rashba spin-orbit interaction (RSOI) and Dresselhaus SOI (DSOI) is investigated in the presence of a perpendicular magnetic field. We find that the interplay between the RSOI and DSOI makes the single quantum ring behaves like a laterally coupled quantum dot and the interdot coupling can be tuned by changing the strengths of the SOIs. The interplay can lead to singlet-triplet state mixing and anticrossing behavior when the singlet and triplet states meet with increasing magnetic field. The two electron ground state displays a bar-bell-like spatial anisotropic distribution in a quantum ring at a specific crystallographic direction, i.e., [110] or [11̅ 0], which can be switched by reversing the direction of the perpendicular electric field. The ground state exhibits a singlet-triplet state transition with increasing magnetic field and strengths of RSOI and DSOI. An anisotropic electron distribution is predicted which can be detected through the measurement of its optical properties.

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to provide a thorough study on the occurrence and importance of deformation twinning in simple shear deformed pure α-Ti. A statistically relevant inspection of the morphology of the deformation twins in relation to the applied strain/deformation is performed. The investigated microstructural aspects are the twin volume fraction, the twin thickness distribution and the resolved shear stress distribution on the twin plane. All these aspects are examined as a function of the twin types and two initial textures. Monotonic simple shear experiments are carried out for three different loading directions with respect to a direction linked to the initial crystallographic texture. EBSD and TEM observations reveal the presence of View the MathML source and View the MathML source twins. The statistical analysis reveals that View the MathML source and View the MathML source twins have a similar average thickness around 1.9 nm, but the View the MathML source twins show a far larger spread on their thickness and can grow to almost the size of the original parent grain. Correlation of the twin fractions with the RSS analysis shows that RSS is an acceptable method explaining the difference in twin fractions for different textures and orientations. A detailed analysis shows that View the MathML source twins occur in average with a smaller volume fraction but with a higher RSS, indicating they are more difficult to nucleate or grow compared to View the MathML source twinning. In general a higher RSS value on the twin plane is not connected to a higher twin thickness; only in the case of View the MathML source twins the highest RSS values show clearly thicker twins.