Tag: PhysRevB

Oct 28 2014

Density functional theory study of La2Ce2O7: disordered fluorite vs pyrochlore structure

Authors: Danny E. P. Vanpoucke, Patrick Bultinck, Stefaan Cottenier, Veronique Van Speybroeck and Isabel Van Driessche,
Journal: Phys. Rev. B 84, 054110 (2011)
doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.84.054110
IF(2011): 3.691
export: bibtex
pdf: <Phys.Rev.B.> <arXiv>

Abstract

The crystal structure of lanthanum cerium oxide (La2Ce2O7) is investigated using ab initio density functional theory calculations. The relative stability of fluorite- and pyrochlore-like structures is studied through comparison of their formation energies. These formation energies show the pyrochlore structure to be favored over the fluorite structure, apparently contradicting the conclusions based on experimental neutron and x-ray diffraction (XRD).
By calculating and comparing XRD spectra for a set of differently ordered and random structures, we show that the pyrochlore structure is consistent with diffraction experiments. For these reasons, we suggest the pyrochlore structure as the ground-state crystal structure for La2Ce2O7.

Oct 28 2014

CO adsorption on Pt-induced Ge nanowires

Authors: Danny E. P. Vanpoucke and Geert Brocks
Journal: Phys. Rev. B 81, 235434 (2010)
doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.81.235434
IF(2010): 3.774
export: bibtex
pdf: <Phys.Rev.B> <arXiv>

Abstract

Using density-functional theory, we investigate the possible adsorption sites of CO molecules on the recently discovered Pt-induced Ge nanowires (NWs) on Ge(001). Calculated scanning tunneling microscope (STM) images are compared to experimental STM images to identify the experimentally observed adsorption sites. The CO molecules are found to adsorb preferably onto the Pt atoms between the Ge nanowire dimer segments. This adsorption site places the CO molecule in between two nanowire dimers, pushing them outward along the NW direction, blocking the nearest equivalent adsorption sites. This explains the observed long-range repulsive interaction between CO molecules on these Pt-induced nanowires.

Oct 28 2014

Pt-induced nanowires on Ge(001): A density functional theory study

Authors: Danny E. P. Vanpoucke and Geert Brocks
Journal: Phys. Rev. B 81, 085410 (2010)
doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.81.085410
IF(2010): 3.774
export: bibtex
pdf: <Phys.Rev.B> <arXiv>

Abstract

We study formation of the nanowires formed after deposition of Pt on a Ge(001) surface. The nanowires form spontaneously after high-temperature annealing. They are thermodynamically stable, only one atom wide and up to a few hundred atoms long. Ab initio density functional theory calculations are performed to identify possible structures of the Pt-Ge(001) surface with nanowires on top. A large number of structures are studied. With nanowires that are formed out of Pt or Ge dimers or mixed Pt-Ge dimers. By comparing simulated scanning tunneling microscopy images (STM) with experimental ones we model the formation of the nanowires and identify the geometries of the different phases in the formation process. We find that the formation of nanowires on a Pt-Ge(001) surface is a complex process based on increasing the Pt density in the top layers of the Ge(001) surface. Most remarkably we find the nanowires to consist of germanium dimers placed in troughs lined by mixed Pt-Ge dimer rows.

Oct 28 2014

Density functional theory study of Pt-induced Ge(001) reconstructions

Authors: Danny E. P. Vanpoucke and Geert Brocks
Journal: Phys. Rev. B 81, 035333 (2010)
doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.81.035333
IF(2010): 3.774
export: bibtex
pdf: <Phys.Rev.B> <arXiv>

Abstract

Pt deposited on a Ge(001) surface spontaneously forms nanowire arrays. These nanowires are thermodynamically stable and can be hundreds of atoms long. The nanowires only occur on a reconstructed Pt-Ge-surface where they fill the troughs between the dimer rows on the surface. This unique connection between the nanowires and the underlying substrate make a thorough understanding of the latter necessary for understanding the growth of the nanowires. In this paper we study possible surface reconstructions containing 0.25 and 0.5 of a monolayer of Pt. Comparison of calculated scanning tunneling microscope (STM) images to experimental STM images of the surface reconstruction reveal that the Pt atoms are located in the top layer, creating a structure with rows of alternating Pt-Ge and Ge-Ge dimers in a c(4×2) arrangement. Our results also show that Pt atoms in the second or third layer cannot be responsible for the experimentally observed STM images.

Oct 28 2014

Formation of Pt-induced Ge atomic nanowires on Pt/Ge(001): A density functional theory study

Authors: Danny E. P. Vanpoucke and Geert Brocks
Journal: Phys. Rev. B 77, 241308 (2008)
doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.77.241308
IF(2008): 3.322
export: bibtex
pdf: <Phys.Rev.B> <arXiv> <UTwentePublications>

Abstract

Pt deposited onto a Ge(001) surface gives rise to the spontaneous formation of atomic nanowires on a mixed Pt-Ge surface after high-temperature annealing. We study possible structures of the mixed surface and the nanowires by total energy density functional theory calculations. Experimental scanning-tunneling microscopy images are compared to the calculated local densities of states. On the basis of this comparison and the stability of the structures, we conclude that the formation of nanowires is driven by an increased concentration of Pt atoms in the Ge surface layers. Surprisingly, the atomic nanowires consist of Ge instead of Pt atoms.