Related papers: First-principles predicted low-energy structures o…
Low temperature structural and superfluid properties of $^4$He confined in cylindrical nanopores are theoretically investigated by means of first principle Quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) simulations. We vary the density of $^4$He inside the…
Understanding the sodium-storage mechanism in hard carbon (HC) anodes is crucial for advancing sodium-ion battery (SIB) technology. However, the intrinsic complexity of HC microstructures and their interactions with sodium remain not fully…
The fission of highly charged sodium clusters with fissilities X>1 is studied by {\em ab initio} molecular dynamics. Na_{24}^{4+} is found to undergo predominantly sequential Na_{3}^{+} emission on a time scale of 1 ps, while Na_{24}^{Q+}…
Since the $^4$He dimer supports only one weakly bound state with an average interatomic distance much larger than the van der Waals length and no deeply bound states, $^4$He$_N$ clusters with $N>2$ are a paradigmatic model system with which…
Helium is generally understood to be chemically inert and this is due to its extremely stable closed-shell electronic configuration, zero electron affinity and an unsurpassed ionization potential. It is not known to form thermodynamically…
We present a microscopic model for alpha'-NaV2O5. Using an extended Hubbard model for the vanadium layers we derive an effective low-energy model consisting of pseudospin Ising chains and Heisenberg chains coupled to each other. We find a…
Novel extended networks of C8, Si8 and silicon carbide Si4C4 are proposed based on crystal chemistry rationale and optimized structures to ground state energies and derived physical properties within the density functional theory (DFT). The…
Natural ceramic composites present complex microstructures that lead to tortuous crack paths and confer them high toughness. Current microreinforced composites do not yet reach the same level of complexity in their microstructures,…
We investigate the phase behaviour of a two-dimensional colloidal model system of ultra-soft particles on a substrate which varies periodically along one spatial direction. Our calculations are based on mean-field density functional theory…
In the last five years a large number of new high-temperature superconductors have been predicted and experimentally discovered among hydrogen-rich crystals, at pressures which are way too high to meet any practical application. In this…
Motivated by contradicting reports in the literature, we have investigated the structural stability of tungsten nanoparticles using density functional theory calculations. The comparison of BCC, FCC, A15, disordered, and icosahedral…
We employ an ab-initio structure search algorithm to explore the configurational space of Bi in quasi two dimensions. A confinement potential restricts the movement of atoms within a pre-defined thickness during structure search…
We study the structural and electronic properties of isolated single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) under hydrostatic pressure using a combination of theoretical techniques: Continuum elasticity models, classical molecular dynamics…
Sodium-ion batteries are a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to lithium-ion systems for large-scale energy storage. Hard carbon (HC) anodes, composed of disordered graphitic and amorphous domains, offer high capacity but exhibit…
The development of safe, efficient, and reversible hydrogen storage materials is critical for advancing hydrogen-based energy technologies and achieving carbon-neutral goals. Ennea-Graphene, a new 2D carbon allotrope made of 4-, 5-, 6-, and…
The layered sodium cobalt oxide NaxCoO2 is studied by electron diffraction for a wide range of sodium contents, 0.15<x<0.75. An extensive series of ordered Na ion-Na vacancy superlattices is found beyond the simple hexagonal average…
A nitridation annealing process is well employed to reduce interface trap states that degrade the channel mobility of 4H-SiC/SiO${}_2$ metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor. In recent experiments, the existence of high N-atom…
By means of the exact Path Integral Monte Carlo method we have performed a detailed microscopic study of $^4$He nanodroplets doped with an argon ion, Ar$^+$, at $T=0.5$ K. We have computed density profiles, energies, dissociation energies…
The kinetics of phase transition processes often governs the resulting material microstruc-ture. Using optical microscopy, we here investigate the formation and stabilization of a po-rous crystalline microstructure forming in low-salt…
Diffusion Monte Carlo calculations on the adsorption of $^4$He in open-ended single walled (10,10) nanotubes are presented. We have found a first order phase transition separating a low density liquid phase in which all $^4$He atoms are…