Related papers: Dynamical Structure, Bonding, and Thermodynamics o…
Silver iodide (AgI) is a prototypical superionic conductor, undergoing a first-order phase transition at 147 Celsius that enables rapid ionic transport through its lattice, making it attractive for solid-state ionic devices. However, due to…
Basic understanding of the driving forces of ion conduction in solids is critical to the development of new solid-state ion conductors. Physical understanding of ion conduction is limited due to strong deviations from harmonic vibrational…
Matter under irradiation may enter unusual transient states, outside of its equilibrium phase diagram. One of such states is a superionic-like state, in which one sublattice of a compound liquifies, whereas another one remains solid. Here,…
In the superionic phase of silver iodide, we observe a distorted tetragonal structure characterized by symmetry breaking in the cation distribution. This phase competes with the well known bcc phase, with a symmetric cation distribution at…
${\beta}$- Eucryptite (LiAlSiO4) is a potential electrolyte for Li- ion battery due to its high Li- ion conductivity and very small volume thermal expansion coefficient. We have performed ab-initio molecular dynamics simulations of $\beta$-…
We report experiments on aluminum nanowires in ultra-high vacuum at room temperature that reveal a periodic spectrum of exceptionally stable structures. Two "magic" series of stable structures are observed: At low conductance, the formation…
The highly unusual divalent silver in silver difluoride (AgF$_2$) features a nearly square lattice of Ag$^{+2}$ bridged by fluorides. As a structural and electronic analogue of cuprates, its superconducting properties are yet to be…
Despite decades of research, the microscopic origin of sublattice melting and fast ion transport in superionic conductors remains elusive. Here, we introduce a chemically neutral minimal binary model consisting of a rigid host lattice…
We demonstrate that it is possible to distinguish two conductance switching mechanisms in silver sulfide devices at room temperature. Experiments were performed using a Ag$_2$S thin film deposited on a wide Ag bottom electrode, which was…
$\delta$-Bi$_2$O$_3$ is one of the fastest known solid oxide ion conductors owing to its intrinsically defective fluorite-like structure with 25\% vacant sites in the O sub-lattice. Numerous diffraction measurements and molecular dynamics…
The superconducting and structural properties of a series of Mg1-xAlxB2 samples have been investigated. X-ray diffraction results confirmed the existence of a structural transition associated with the significant change in inter-boron layer…
Heat conduction of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) isotope-superlattice is investigated by means of classical molecular dynamics simulations. Superlattice structures were formed by alternately connecting SWNTs with different masses.…
We report zero-resistivity transition and the details of magnetic transition of a layered silver oxide Ag$_5$Pb$_2$O$_6$ single crystal, which make definitive evidence of superconductivity in this compound. In the AC susceptibility of a…
In the context of novel solid electrolytes for solid-state batteries, first-principles calculations are becoming increasingly more popular due to their ability to reproduce and predict accurately the energy, structural, and dynamical…
The ion-ion interactions become exponentially screened for ions confined in ultranarrow metallic pores. To study the phase behaviour of an assembly of such ions, called a superionic liquid, we develop a statistical theory formulated on…
In superionic compounds one component pre-melts providing high ionic conductivity to solid state electrolytes. Here, we find sublattice melting in colloidal crystals of oppositely charged particles that are highly asymmetric in size and…
Solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) require ionic conductivities that are competitive with liquid electrolytes to realize applications in all-solid state batteries. Although numerous materials have been discovered, the underlying mechanisms…
The mechanism of electron pairing in high-temperature superconductors is still the subject of intense debate. Here, we provide direct evidence of the role of structural dynamics, with selective atomic motions (buckling of copper-oxygen…
The density functional plus U method is used to obtain the electronic structure, lattice relaxation and metal-insulator phase diagram of superlattices consisting of $m$ layers of Gadolinium Titanate (GdTiO$_{3}$) alternating with $n$ layers…
The superionic state is a phase of matter in which liquid-like ionic mobility coexists with a solid crystalline lattice. Recently identified in Earth's inner core (IC), this state has attracted considerable attention for its unique kinetic…