Structure prediction methods have been widely used as a state-of-the-art tool for structure searches and materials discovery, leading to many theory-driven breakthroughs on discoveries of new materials. These methods ...Structure prediction methods have been widely used as a state-of-the-art tool for structure searches and materials discovery, leading to many theory-driven breakthroughs on discoveries of new materials. These methods generally involve the exploration of the potential energy surfaces of materials through various structure sampling techniques and optimization algorithms in conjunction with quantum mechanical calculations. By taking advantage of the general feature of materials potential energy surface and swarm-intelligence-based global optimization algorithms, we have developed the CALYPSO method for structure prediction, which has been widely used in fields as diverse as computational physics, chemistry, and materials science. In this review, we provide the basic theory of the CALYPSO method, placing particular emphasis on the principles of its various structure dealing methods. We also survey the current challenges faced by structure prediction methods and include an outlook on the future developments of CALYPSO in the conclusions.展开更多
Cluster science as a bridge linking atomic molecular physics and condensed matter inspired the nanomaterials development in the past decades, ranging from the single-atom catalysis to ligand-protected noble metal clus...Cluster science as a bridge linking atomic molecular physics and condensed matter inspired the nanomaterials development in the past decades, ranging from the single-atom catalysis to ligand-protected noble metal clusters. The corresponding studies not only have been restricted to the search for the geometrical structures of clusters, but also have promoted the development of cluster-assembled materials as the building blocks. The CALYPSO cluster prediction method combined with other computational techniques have significantly stimulated the development of the cluster-based nanomaterials. In this review, we will summarize some good cases of cluster structure by CALYPSO method, which have also been successfully identified by the photoelectron spectra experiments. Beginning with the alkali-metal clusters, which serve as benchmarks, a series of studies are performed on the size-dependent elemental clusters which possess relatively high stability and interesting chemical physical properties. Special attentions are paid to the boron-based clusters because of their promising applications. The NbSi12 and BeB16 clusters, for example, are two classic representatives of the silicon-and boron-based clusters, which can be viewed as building blocks of nanotubes and borophene. This review offers a detailed description of the structural evolutions and electronic properties of medium-sized pure and doped clusters, which will advance fundamental knowledge of cluster-based nanomaterials and provide valuable information for further theoretical and experimental studies.展开更多
Silicene, a two-dimensional(2D) silicon counterpart of graphene with attractive electronic properties, has attracted increasing attention. Understanding of its interaction with oxygen is of fundamental importance for ...Silicene, a two-dimensional(2D) silicon counterpart of graphene with attractive electronic properties, has attracted increasing attention. Understanding of its interaction with oxygen is of fundamental importance for nano-electronics in silicon-based technology. Here, we have systematically studied the structural,electronic and magnetic properties of silicene with oxygen atoms adsorption by using an unbiased structure search method coupled with First-principles calculations. The results show that the most favorable oxygen adsorption site on silicene surface is bridge site and oxygen atoms tend to chemisorb on silicene.A detailed analysis of the electronic band structure and density of state(DOS) suggests that there is a band gap opening near Fermi level after oxygen adsorption, which lead to pristine silicene changing from a gapless semiconductor to a direct or indirect bandgap semiconductor. The important finding is that two and six oxygen atoms adsorbed silicene are more advantageous due to the relatively large direct band gaps at the K point. The calculated magnetic moments and spin density isosurfaces reveal that the total magnetic moments are mostly localized on silicene sheet. This finding provides new insights for further materials design based on two-dimensional silicon systems.展开更多
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.11534003 and 11604117)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2016YFB0201201)+1 种基金the Program for JLU Science and Technology Innovative Research Team(JLUSTIRT)of Chinathe Science Challenge Project of China(Grant No.TZ2016001)
文摘Structure prediction methods have been widely used as a state-of-the-art tool for structure searches and materials discovery, leading to many theory-driven breakthroughs on discoveries of new materials. These methods generally involve the exploration of the potential energy surfaces of materials through various structure sampling techniques and optimization algorithms in conjunction with quantum mechanical calculations. By taking advantage of the general feature of materials potential energy surface and swarm-intelligence-based global optimization algorithms, we have developed the CALYPSO method for structure prediction, which has been widely used in fields as diverse as computational physics, chemistry, and materials science. In this review, we provide the basic theory of the CALYPSO method, placing particular emphasis on the principles of its various structure dealing methods. We also survey the current challenges faced by structure prediction methods and include an outlook on the future developments of CALYPSO in the conclusions.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.U1804121 and 11304167)
文摘Cluster science as a bridge linking atomic molecular physics and condensed matter inspired the nanomaterials development in the past decades, ranging from the single-atom catalysis to ligand-protected noble metal clusters. The corresponding studies not only have been restricted to the search for the geometrical structures of clusters, but also have promoted the development of cluster-assembled materials as the building blocks. The CALYPSO cluster prediction method combined with other computational techniques have significantly stimulated the development of the cluster-based nanomaterials. In this review, we will summarize some good cases of cluster structure by CALYPSO method, which have also been successfully identified by the photoelectron spectra experiments. Beginning with the alkali-metal clusters, which serve as benchmarks, a series of studies are performed on the size-dependent elemental clusters which possess relatively high stability and interesting chemical physical properties. Special attentions are paid to the boron-based clusters because of their promising applications. The NbSi12 and BeB16 clusters, for example, are two classic representatives of the silicon-and boron-based clusters, which can be viewed as building blocks of nanotubes and borophene. This review offers a detailed description of the structural evolutions and electronic properties of medium-sized pure and doped clusters, which will advance fundamental knowledge of cluster-based nanomaterials and provide valuable information for further theoretical and experimental studies.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 11604194, 11804212 and 21671114)The 973 Program of China (No. 2014CB660804)+2 种基金the Natural Science Foundations of Shaanxi Province (Nos. 2016JQ1028 and 2016JQ1003)the Shaanxi University of Science & Technology Key Research Grant (Nos. 2016BJ-01 and BJ15-07)the Program for Science & Technology Innovation Talents in Universities of Henan Province (No. 15HASTIT020)
文摘Silicene, a two-dimensional(2D) silicon counterpart of graphene with attractive electronic properties, has attracted increasing attention. Understanding of its interaction with oxygen is of fundamental importance for nano-electronics in silicon-based technology. Here, we have systematically studied the structural,electronic and magnetic properties of silicene with oxygen atoms adsorption by using an unbiased structure search method coupled with First-principles calculations. The results show that the most favorable oxygen adsorption site on silicene surface is bridge site and oxygen atoms tend to chemisorb on silicene.A detailed analysis of the electronic band structure and density of state(DOS) suggests that there is a band gap opening near Fermi level after oxygen adsorption, which lead to pristine silicene changing from a gapless semiconductor to a direct or indirect bandgap semiconductor. The important finding is that two and six oxygen atoms adsorbed silicene are more advantageous due to the relatively large direct band gaps at the K point. The calculated magnetic moments and spin density isosurfaces reveal that the total magnetic moments are mostly localized on silicene sheet. This finding provides new insights for further materials design based on two-dimensional silicon systems.
