Abstract: RuCp2 (ruthenocene) and RuCpPy (cyclopentadienyl pyrrolyl ruthenium) complexes are used in ruthenium (Ru) atomic layer deposition (ALD) but exhibit a markedly different reactivity with respect to the substrate and co-reactant. In search of an explanation, we report here the results of a comparative study of the heterolytic and homolytic dissociation enthalpy of these two ruthenium complexes, making use of either density functional theory (DFT) or multiconfigurational perturbation theory (CASPT2). While both methods predict distinctly different absolute dissociation enthalpies, they agree on the relative values between both molecules. A reduced heterolytic dissociation enthalpy is obtained for RuCpPy compared to RuCp2, although the difference obtained from CASPT2 (19.9 kcal/mol) is slightly larger than the one obtained with any of the DFT functionals (around 17 kcal/mol). Both methods also agree on the more pronounced stability of the Cp- ligand in RuCpPy than in RuCp2 (by around 9 kcal/mol with DFT and by 6 kcal/mol with CASPT2).

Abstract: The plasmonic properties of metal nanoparticles have acquired great importance because of their potential applications in very diverse fields. Metal nanoparticles with localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPR) in the near-infrared (NIR, 7501300 nm) are of particular interest because tissues, blood, and water display low absorption in this spectral range, thus facilitating biomedical applications. Cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) was used to induce the seedless formation of highly anisotropic, twisted single crystalline Au nanoparticles in a single step. The LSPR of the obtained particles can be tuned from 600 nm up to 1400 nm by simply changing the reaction temperature or the reagents concentrations. The tunability of the LSPR is closely associated with significant changes in the final particle morphology, which was studied by advanced electron microscopy techniques (3D Tomography and HAADF-STEM). Kinetic experiments were carried out to establish the growth mechanism, suggesting that slow kinetics together with the complexation of the gold salt precursor to CTAC are key factors favoring the formation of these anisotropic particles.

Abstract: Both geometrical and electrical asymmetry effects in capacitive argon discharges are investigated using a two-dimensional particle-in-cell coupled with Monte Carlo collision model. When changing the ratio of the top and bottom electrode surface areas and the phase shift between the two applied harmonics, the induced self-bias was found to develop separately. By adjusting the ratio between the high and low harmonic amplitudes, the electrical asymmetry effect at a fixed phase shift can be substantially optimized. However, the self-bias caused by the geometrical asymmetry hardly changed. Moreover, the separate control of these two asymmetry effects can also be demonstrated from their power absorption profiles. Both the axial and radial plasma density distributions can be modulated by the electrical asymmetry effect.

Abstract: We present a comprehensive study of the crystal structure, magnetic structure, and microscopic magnetic model of (CuBr)LaNb2O7, the Br analog of the spin-gap quantum magnet (CuCl) LaNb2O7. Despite similar crystal structures and spin lattices, the magnetic behavior and even peculiarities of the atomic arrangement in the Cl and Br compounds are very different. The high- resolution x-ray and neutron data reveal a split position of Br atoms in (CuBr) LaNb2O7. This splitting originates from two possible configurations developed by [CuBr] zigzag ribbons. While the Br atoms are locally ordered in the ab plane, their arrangement along the c direction remains partially disordered. The predominant and energetically more favorable configuration features an additional doubling of the c lattice parameter that was not observed in (CuCl) LaNb2O7. (CuBr) LaNb2O7 undergoes long-range antiferromagnetic ordering at T-N = 32 K, which is nearly 70% of the leading exchange coupling J4 similar or equal to 48 K. The Br compound does not show any experimental signatures of low-dimensional magnetism because the underlying spin lattice is three-dimensional. The coupling along the c direction is comparable to the couplings in the ab plane, even though the shortest Cu-Cu distance along c (11.69 angstrom) is three times larger than nearest-neighbor distances in the ab plane (3.55 angstrom). The stripe antiferromagnetic long-range order featuring columns of parallel spins in the ab plane and antiparallel spins along c is verified experimentally and confirmed by the microscopic analysis.

Abstract: We report on the dynamical properties of interacting colloids confined to one dimension and subjected to external periodic energy landscapes. We particularly focus on the influence of hydrodynamic interactions on the mean-square displacement. Using Brownian dynamics simulations, we study colloidal systems with two types of repulsive interparticle interactions, namely, Yukawa and superparamagnetic potentials. We find that in the homogeneous case, hydrodynamic interactions lead to an enhancement of the particle mobility and the mean-square displacement at long times scales as t(alpha), with alpha = 1/2 + epsilon and epsilon being a small correction. This correction, however, becomes much more important in the presence of an external field, which breaks the homogeneity of the particle distribution along the line and, therefore, promotes a richer dynamical scenario due to the hydrodynamical coupling among particles. We provide here the complete dynamical scenario in terms of the external potential parameters: amplitude and commensurability.

Abstract: We describe two synthesis approaches to colloidal Cu3P nanocrystals using trioctylphosphine (TOP) as phosphorus precursor. One approach is based on the homogeneous nucleation of small Cu3P nanocrystals with hexagonal plate-like morphology and with sizes that can be tuned from 5 to 50 nm depending on the reaction time. In the other approach, metallic Cu nanocrystals are nucleated first and then they are progressively phosphorized to Cu3P. In this case, intermediate Janus-like dimeric nanoparticles can be isolated, which are made of two domains of different materials, Cu and Cu3P, sharing a flat epitaxial interface. The Janus-like nanoparticles can be transformed back to single-crystalline copper particles if they are annealed at high temperature under high vacuum conditions, which makes them an interesting source of phosphorus. The features of the Cu Cu3P Janus-like nanoparticles are compared with those of the Wiped microstructure discovered more than two decades ago in the rapidly quenched Cu Cu3P eutectic of the Cu P alloy, suggesting that other alloy/eutectic systems that display similar behavior might give origin to nanostructures with flat, epitaxial Interface between domains of two diverse materials. Finally, the electrochemical properties of the copper phosphide plates are studied, and they are found to be capable of undergoing lithiation/delithiation through a displacement reaction, while the Janus-like Cu Cu3P particles do not display an electrochemical behavior that would make them suitable for applications in batteries.

Abstract: The Hall (R-H) and bend (R-B) resistances of a graphene Hall bar structure containing a pn-junction are calculated when in the ballistic regime. The simulations are done using the billiard model. Introducing a pn-junction-dividing the Hall bar geometry in two regions-leads to two distinct regimes exhibiting very different physics: (1) both regions are of n-type and (2) one region is n-type and the other p-type. In regime (1), a “Hall plateau”-an enhancement of the resistance-appears for R-H. On the other hand, in regime (2), we found a negative R-H, which approaches zero for large B. The bend resistance is highly asymmetric in regime (2) and the resistance increases with increasing magnetic field B in one direction while it reduces to zero in the other direction. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4704667]

Abstract: A Langmuir probe and an ICCD are employed to study the discharge mode transition in Ar inductively coupled plasma. Electron density and plasma emission intensity are measured during the E (capacitive discharge) to H (inductive discharge) mode transitions at different pressures. It is found that plasma exists with a low electron density and a weak emission intensity in the E mode, while it has a high electron density and a strong emission intensity in the H mode. Meanwhile, the plasma emission intensity spatial (2D image) profile is symmetrical in the H mode, but the 2D image is an asymmetric profile in the E mode. Moreover, the electron density and emission intensity jump up discontinuously at high pressure, but increase almost continuously at the E to H mode transition under low pressure.

Abstract: Spin selectivity in angle-resolved Auger photoelectron coincidence spectroscopy (AR-APECS) is used to probe electron correlation in ferromagnetic thin films. In particular, exploiting the AR-APECS capability to discriminate Auger electron emission events characterized by valence hole pairs created either in the high or in the low total spin state, a strong correlation effect in the Fe M2,3VV Auger line shape (measured in coincidence with the Fe 3p photoelectrons) of Fe/Cu(001) thin films is detected and ascribed to interactions within the majority spin subband. Such an assignment follows from a close comparison of the experimental AR-APECS line shapes with the predictions of a model based on spin polarized density functional theory and the Cini-Sawatzky approach.

Abstract: A multi-species Monte Carlo (MC) model, combined with an analytical surface model, has been developed in order to investigate the general plasma processes occurring during the sputter deposition of complex oxide films in a dual-magnetron sputter deposition system. The important plasma species, such as electrons, Ar+ ions, fast Ar atoms and sputtered metal atoms (i.e. Mg and Al atoms) are described with the so-called multi-species MC model, whereas the deposition of MgxAlyOz films is treated by an analytical surface model. Targetsubstrate distances for both magnetrons in the dual-magnetron setup are varied for the purpose of growing stoichiometric complex oxide thin films. The metal atoms are sputtered from pure metallic targets, whereas the oxygen flux is only directed toward the substrate and is high enough to obtain fully oxidized thin films but low enough to avoid target poisoning. The calculations correspond to typical experimental conditions applied to grow these complex oxide films. In this paper, some calculation results are shown, such as the densities of various plasma species, their fluxes toward the targets and substrate, the deposition rates, as well as the film stoichiometry. Moreover, some results of the combined model are compared with experimental observations. Note that this is the first complete model, which can be applied for large and complicated magnetron reactor geometries, such as dual-magnetron configurations. With this model, we are able to describe all important plasma species as well as the deposition process. It can also be used to predict film stoichiometries of complex oxide films on the substrate.

Abstract: The η-M6C, γ-M23C6, and π-M11C2 phases (M = Cr, Mn and Fe) have complex cubic lattices with lattice parameters of approximately 1.0 nm. They belong to the CFCC-TmC family (complex face-centered cubic transition metal carbides), display a rich variety of crystal structures, and play in important role in iron alloys and steels. Here we show that first-principles calculations predict high stability for the γ-M23C6 and η-M6C phases, and instability for the π-M11C2 phases, taking into account various compositional and structural possibilities. The calculations also show a wide variety in magnetic properties. The Cr-containing phases were found to be non-magnetic and the Fe-phases to be ferromagnetic, while the Mn-containing phases were found to be either ferrimagnetic or non-magnetic. Details of the local atomic structures, and the formation and stability of these precipitates in alloys are discussed.

Abstract: Using an effective one-dimensional cluster expansion in combination with first-principles electronic structure calculations we have studied the energetics and electronic properties of Sb-Te layered systems. For a Te concentration between 0 and 60 at. % an almost continuous series of metastable structures is obtained consisting of consecutive Sb bilayers next to consecutive Sb2Te3 units, with the general formula (Sb-2)(n)(Sb2Te3)(m) (n, m = 1,2, ... ). Between 60 and 100 at.% no stable structures are found. We account explicitly for the weak van derWaals bonding between Sb bilayers and Sb2Te3 units by using a recently developed functional, which strongly improves the interlayer bonding distances. At T = 0 K, no evidence is found for the existence of two separate single-phase regions delta and gamma and a two-phase region delta + gamma. Metastable compounds with a Te concentration between 0 and 40 at. % are semimetallic, whereas compounds with a Te concentration between 50 and 60 at. % are semiconducting. Compounds with an odd number of Sb layers are metallic and have a much higher formation energy than those with an even number of consecutive Sb layers, thereby favoring the formation of Sb bilayers.

Abstract: In the formation of colloidal molecules, directional interactions are crucial for controlling the spatial distribution of the building blocks. Anisotropic nanoparticles facilitate directional clustering via steric constraints imposed by each specific shape, thereby restricting assembly along certain directions. We show in this Letter that the combination of patchiness (attraction) and shape (steric hindrance) allows assembling gold nanodumbbell building blocks into crosslike dimers with well-controlled interparticle distance and relative orientation. Steric hindrance between interacting dumbbell-like particles opens up a new synthetic approach toward low-symmetry plasmonic clusters, which may significantly contribute to understand complex plasmonic phenomena.

Abstract: The strain-induced pseudomagnetic field in supported graphene deposited on top of a nanostructured substrate is investigated by using atomistic simulations. A step, an elongated trench, a one-dimensional barrier, a spherical bubble, a Gaussian bump, and a Gaussian depression are considered as support structures for graphene. From the obtained optimum configurations we found very strong induced pseudomagnetic fields which can reach up to similar to 1000 T due to the strain-induced deformations in the supported graphene. Different magnetic confinements with controllable geometries are found by tuning the pattern of the substrate. The resulting induced magnetic fields for graphene on top of a step, barrier, and trench are calculated. In contrast to the step and trench the middle part of graphene on top of a barrier has zero pseudomagnetic field. This study provides a theoretical background for designing magnetic structures in graphene by nanostructuring substrates. We found that altering the radial symmetry of the deformation changes the sixfold symmetry of the induced pseudomagnetic field.

Abstract: The electronic properties of two-dimensional honeycomb structures of molybdenum disulfide (MoS(2)) subjected to biaxial strain have been investigated using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. On applying compressive or tensile bi-axial strain on bi-layer and mono-layer MoS(2), the electronic properties are predicted to change from semiconducting to metallic. These changes present very interesting possibilities for engineering the electronic properties of two-dimensional structures of MoS(2).