Related papers: Observation of molecular and polymeric nitrogen st…
Superconductivity in the two-dimensional (2D) limit is a fertile ground for exotic quantum phenomena-many of which remain elusive in their 3D counterparts. While studies of 2D superconductivity have predominantly focused on mono- or…
There is a strong interest to attach nanoparticles non-covalently to one-dimensional systems like boron nitride nanotubes to form composites. The combination of those materials might be used for catalysis, in solar cells, or for water…
We use ab initio simulations to study the static and dynamic properties of a sodium borosilicate liquid with composition 3Na_2O-B_2O_3-6SiO_2, i.e. a system that is the basis of many glass-forming materials. In particular we focus on the…
At interfaces between insulating oxides LaAlO$_3$ and SrTiO$_3$, a two dimensional electron gas (2DEG) has been observed and well studied, while the predicted hole gas (2DHG) has not been realized due to the strong tendency of holes in…
We report on the high-pressure synthesis of a CrS$_2$ phase in the form of single-crystalline nanorods. A structural refinement of Precession Electron Diffraction Tomography data confirms the nominal CrS$_2$ composition and unveils a…
Based on its simple valence electron configuration, we may expect lithium to have straightforward physical properties that are easily explained. However, solid lithium, when cooled below 77 K, develops a complex structure that has been…
Sodium atoms and clusters (N<5) on graphite (0001) are studied using density functional theory, pseudopotentials and periodic boundary conditions. A single Na atom is observed to bind at a hollow site 2.45 A above the surface with an…
Soda-lime-silica is a glassy system of strong industrial interest. In order to characterize its liquid state properties, we performed molecular dynamics simulations employing an aspherical ion model that includes atomic polarization and…
In this review, we address the issue of the electrostatic complexation between charged-neutral diblock copolymers and oppositely charged nanocolloids. We show that nanocolloids such as surfactant micelles and iron oxide magnetic…
The long theorized two-dimensional allotrope of SiC has remained elusive amid the exploration of graphenelike honeycomb structured monolayers. It is anticipated to possess a large direct band gap (2.5 eV), ambient stability, and chemical…
We map the high-pressure phase diagram of nitrogen hydrate up to 16 GPa at room temperature by combining neutron diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and crystal structure prediction. We reveal a rich sequence of structural transformations,…
High-pressure powder x-ray diffraction experiments have revealed that sodium and gold react at room temperature and form new Na-Au intermetallic compounds under high pressure. We have identified four intermetallic phases up to 60 GPa. The…
We study the spontaneous nucleation and growth of sodium chloride crystals induced by controlled evaporation in confined geometries (microcapillaries) spanning several orders of magnitude in volume. In all experiments, the nucleation…
We have used electron and neutron powder diffraction to elucidate the structural properties of superconducting \NaD. Our measurements show that our superconducting sample exhbits a number of supercells ranging from ${1/3}a^{*}$ to…
Predictive first-principles calculations suggest graphitic-like GaN to be theoretically possible. Thus far, it has not been experimentally reported. We report on GaN monolayer in a buckled geometry obtained in confinement at graphene/SiC…
Comparison is made of the electronic structure of the little-studied layered transition metal oxide LiNbO$_2$ with that of Na$_x$CoO$_2$, which has attracted tremendous interest since superconductivity was discovered in its hydrate.…
A quaternary compound Bi3O2S2Cl, which consists of novel [BiS2Cl]2-layers, is reported. It adopts a layered structure of the space group I4/mmm (No. 139) with lattice parameters: a = 3.927(1) {\AA}, c = 21.720(5) {\AA}. In this compound,…
In this letter, we predict the emergence of non-trivial band topology in the family of XX'Bi compounds having $P\overline{6}2m$ (\# 189) space group. Using first principles calculations within hybrid functional framework, we demonstrate…
When pristine material surfaces are exposed to air, highly reactive broken bonds can promote the formation of surface oxides with structures and properties differing greatly from bulk. Determination of the oxide structure, however, is often…
Diatomic nitrogen is an archetypal molecular system known for its exceptional stability and complex behavior at high pressures and temperatures, including rich solid polymorphism, formation of energetic states, and an insulator-to-metal…