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Using density-functional theory (DFT) we investigate the incorporation of oxygen directly below the Rh(111) surface. We show that oxygen incorporation will only commence after nearly completion of a dense O adlayer (\theta_tot = 1.0…
The interface chemistry of silicon nanocrystals (NCs) embedded in amorphous oxide matrix is studied through molecular dynamics simulations with the chemical environment described by the reactive force field model. Our results indicate that…
Catalytic conversion of CO$_2$ into useful chemicals is an attractive alternative to expensive physical carbon sequestration methods. However, this approach is challenging because current chemical conversion methods employ high temperatures…
Understanding the acid-base behavior of silica surfaces is critical for many nanoscience and bio-nano interface applications. Silanol groups (SiOH) on silica surfaces exhibit two acidity constants--one as acidic as vinegar--but their…
Interfaces between (110) and (111)SrTiO3 (STO) single crystalline substrates and amorphous oxide layers, LaAlO3 (a-LAO), Y:ZrO2 (a-YSZ), and SrTiO3 (a-STO) become conducting above a critical thickness tc. Here we show that tc for a-LAO is…
Density functional theory is used to investigate the interactions between a layer of magnesium hydroxide, Mg(OH)2, the magnesium (Mg) surface Mg(0001), and the three amino acids glycine, proline and glutamine. The aim is to improve the…
Silicon carbide (SiC) is an attractive semiconductor material for applications in power electronic devices. However, fabrication of a high-quality SiC/SiO${}_2$ interface has been a challenge. It is well-known that there is a great…
Silicon thin films for coverages ($\theta$) between 0.3 and 3 monolayers have been grown on rutile \ce{TiO2}(110)-(1x1) at room temperature and studied by x-ray and ultra-violet photoelectron spectroscopies, Auger electron spectroscopy, and…
We investigate segregation behavior of additive elements M (= Ni, Cr) at the C11b/D8m interface for MoSi2- Mo5Si3 alloys, based on first-principles calculation. We first find energetically stable interface structure with interface energy of…
We report that annealing in low-oxygen-partial-pressure (low-p$_{\rm O2}$) ambient is effective in reducing the interface state density (D$_{\rm IT}$) at a SiC (0001)/SiO$_{\rm 2}$ interface near the conduction band edge (E$_{\rm C}$) of…
Copper oxide (CuO) thin films have been deposited on glass substrates by a facile sol-gel dip-coating technique with varying withdrawal speeds from 0.73 to 4.17 mm/s. The variation of film thickness manifested by dip-coating withdrawal…
The discovery of interface-enhanced superconductivity in single-layer FeSe/oxides has generated intensive research interests. Beyond the family of FeSe interfaced with various TiO$_2$ terminated oxides, high pairing temperature up to 80~K…
Understanding the interaction between dopants and semiconductor-oxide interfaces is an increasingly important concern in the drive to further miniaturize modern transistors. To this end, using a combination of first-principles…
Recent reports on the spontaneous formation of H2O2(aq) at the air-water interface and the solid-water interface have been sensational. The speculated mechanism at the air-water interface is based on instantaneous ultrahigh electric fields…
Recently, it was established that a two-dimensional electron system can arise at the interface between two oxide insulators LaAlO3 and SrTiO3. This paradigmatic example exhibits metallic behaviour and magnetic properties between…
It has been reported that the {\alpha}-Al2O3, a promising tritium permeation barrier material for a fusion reactor, can be grown at low temperatures on the {\alpha}-Cr2O3 template, and that {\alpha}-Al2O3/{\alpha}-Cr2O3 composite films have…
The oxygen dissociation and the oxidized structure on the pristine C3N monolayer in exposure to air are the inevitably critical issues for the C3N engineering and surface functionalization yet have not been revealed in detail. Using the…
In this paper we investigate by means of first-principles density functional theory calculations the (111) surface of the Ag-Cu alloy under varying conditions of pressure of the surrounding oxygen atmosphere and temperature. This alloy has…
We have investigated the properties of interfaces between LaAlO3 films grown on SrTiO3 substrates singly terminated by TiO2. We used RF sputtering in a high-pressure oxygen atmosphere. The films are smooth, with flat surfaces. Transmission…
Interfacial water on transition metal oxides such as TiO$_2$ has been widely studied because of their structural complexity and scientific relevance in e.g. photocatalysis and ice growth. Using ab initio molecular dynamics, we find that…