Related papers: The electronic-structure origin of cation disorder…
We investigate the local atomic and electronic structure, thermodynamic stability, and defect chemistry of $A_{6}B_{2}$O$_{17}$ ($A$ = Zr/Hf, $B$ = Nb/Ta) oxides using first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations. We…
Traditional approaches to identify ion-transport pathways often presume equal probability of occupying all hopping sites and focus entirely on finding the lowest migration barrier channels between them. Although this strategy has been…
Crystal structures play a vital role in determining materials properties. In Li-ion cathodes, the crystal structure defines the dimensionality and connectivity of interstitial sites, thus determining Li-ion diffusion kinetics. While a…
The choice that a solid system "makes" when adopting a crystal structure (stable or metastable) is ultimately governed by the interactions between electrons forming chemical bonds. By analyzing 6 prototypical binary transition-metal…
We present a theory of the metal-insulator transition in a disordered two-dimensional electron gas. A quantum critical point, separating the metallic phase which is stabilized by electronic interactions, from the insulating phase where…
Ion diffusion is a central part of materials physics of fabrication, deformation, phase transformation, structure stability and electrochemical devices. Conventional theory focuses on the defects that mediate diffusion and explains how…
V$_{2}$O$_{5}$ in its $\omega$ phase (Li$_{3}$V$_{2}$O$_{5}$) with excess lithium is a potential alternative to the graphite anode for lithium-ion batteries at low temperature and fast charging conditions due to its safer voltage (0.6 V vs…
Disorder-driven degradation phenomena, such as structural phase transformations and surface reconstructions, can significantly reduce the lifetime of Li-ion batteries, especially those with nickel-rich layered-oxide cathodes. We develop a…
Liquid electrolytes adsorbed at the surface of metallic electrodes display a multitude of structures that can largely differ from the parent bulk system, both in terms of composition and local organization. In particular, the existence of…
Twisted transition-metal dichalcogenides host highly tunable moir\'e potentials, flat bands, and correlated electronic phases, yet the role of disorder in shaping these emergent properties remains largely unresolved. Using scanning…
Recent experiments on Mn doped multiferroic $CoCr_{2}O_{4}$ indicate that a possible distribution of Mn atoms among tetrahedrally and octahedrally coordinated sites in the spinel lattice give rise to different variations in the structural…
The electronic properties of single- and multi-cation transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) are investigated using first-principles density functional approach. A detailed comparison of the electronic band structure of stoichiometric and…
Control of order-disorder phase transitions is a fundamental materials science challenge, underpinning the development of energy storage technologies such as solid oxide fuel cells and batteries, ultra-high temperature ceramics, and durable…
Due to a large discrepancy between theory and experiment, the electronic character of crystalline boron carbide B$_{13}$C$_{2}$ has been a controversial topic in the field of icosahedral boron-rich solids. We demonstrate that this…
The electronic orders appearing in condensed matter systems are originating from the precise arrangement of atoms constituting the crystal as well as their nature. This teneous relationship can lead to highly different phases in condensed…
Investigating LaNi(1-x)M(x)O3 (M = Mn and Fe), we identify a characteristic evolution of the spectral function with increasing disorder in presence of strong interaction effects across the metal-insulator transition. We discuss these…
Materials with coupled or competing order parameters display highly tunable ground states, where subtle perturbations reveal distinct electronic and magnetic phases. These phases generally are underpinned by complex crystal structures, but…
Order-disorder processes fundamentally determine the structure and properties of many important oxide systems for energy and computing applications. While these processes have been intensively studied in bulk materials, they are less…
We have evaluated the energies required to twist carbon nanotubes (NTs), and investigated the effects of these distortions on their electronic structure and electrical properties. The computed distortion energies are high, indicating that…
In this paper I discuss the electronic structure and properties of a specific, rather unconventional class of transition metal (TM) compounds, e.g. TM oxides, which formally have unusually high values of the oxidation state, or valence, of…