Category: 2019

Mar 29 2019

Can Europium Atoms form Luminescent Centres in Diamond: A combined Theoretical-Experimental Study

Authors: Danny E. P. Vanpoucke, Shannon S. Nicley, Jorne Raymakers, Wouter Maes, and Ken Haenen
Journal: Diam. Relat. Mater 94, 233-241 (2019)
doi: 10.1016/j.diamond.2019.02.024
IF(2019): 2.650
export: bibtex
pdf: <DiamRelatMater>

 

Spin polarization around the various Eu-defect models in diamond. Blue and red represent the up and down spin channels respectively
Graphical Abstract: Spin polarization around the various Eu-defect models in diamond. Blue and red represent the up and down spin channels respectively.

Abstract

The incorporation of Eu into the diamond lattice is investigated in a combined theoretical-experimental study. The large size of the Eu ion induces a strain on the host lattice, which is minimal for the Eu-vacancy complex. The oxidation state of Eu is calculated to be 3+ for all defect models considered. In contrast, the total charge of the defect-complexes is shown to be negative: -1.5 to -2.3 electron. Hybrid-functional electronic-band-structures show the luminescence of the Eu defect to be strongly dependent on the local defect geometry. The 4-coordinated Eu substitutional dopant is the most promising candidate to present the typical Eu3+ luminescence, while the 6-coordinated Eu-vacancy complex is expected not to present any luminescent behaviour. Preliminary experimental results on the treatment of diamond films with Eu-containing precursor indicate the possible incorporation of Eu into diamond films treated by drop-casting. Changes in the PL spectrum, with the main luminescent peak shifting from approximately 614 nm to 611 nm after the growth plasma exposure, and the appearance of a shoulder peak at 625 nm indicate the potential incorporation. Drop-casting treatment with an electronegative polymer material was shown not to be necessary to observe the Eu signature following the plasma exposure, and increased the background
luminescence.

Nov 20 2018

Synthesis, characterization and thermodynamic stability of nanostructured ε-iron carbonitride powder prepared by a solid-state mechanochemical route

Authors: Seyyed Amin Rounaghi, Danny E. P. Vanpoucke, Elaheh Esmaeili, Sergio Scudino, and Jürgen Eckert
Journal: J. Alloys Compd. 778, 327-336 (2019)
doi: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2018.11.007
IF(2019): 4.650
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pdf: <JAlloysCompd>

Abstract

Nanostructured epsilon iron carbonitride (ε-Fe3CxN1-x, x ∼ 0.05) powder with high purity (>97 wt%) was synthesized through a simple mechanochemical reaction between metallic iron and melamine. Various characterization techniques were employed to investigate the chemical and physical characteristics of the milling intermediates and the final products. The thermodynamic stability of the different phases in the Fe-C-N ternary system, including nitrogen and carbon doped structures were studied through density functional theory (DFT) calculations. A Boltzmann-distribution model was developed to qualitatively assess the stability and the proportion of the different milling products vs. milling energy. The theoretical and experimental results revealed that the milling products mainly comprise the ε-Fe3CxN1-xphase with a mean crystallite size of around 15 nm and a trace of amorphous carbonmaterial. The thermal stability and magnetic properties of the milling products were thoroughly investigated. The synthesized ε-Fe3CxN1-x exhibited thermal stabilities up to 473 K and 673 K in air and argon atmospheres, respectively, and soft magnetic properties with a saturation magnetization of around 125 emu/g.

Nov 13 2018

Predicting Partial Atomic Charges in Siliceous Zeolites

Authors: Jarod J. Wolffis, Danny E. P. Vanpoucke, Amit Sharma, Keith V. Lawler, and Paul M. Forster
Journal: Microporous Mesoporous Mater. 277, 184-196 (2019)
doi: 10.1016/j.micromeso.2018.10.028
IF(2019): 4.551
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pdf: <MicroporousMesoporousMater>

 

Partial charges in zeolites for force fields.
Graphical Abstract: Partial charges in zeolites for force fields.

Abstract

Partial atomic charge, which determines the magnitude of the Coulombic non-bonding interaction, represents a critical parameter in molecular mechanics simulations. Partial charges may also be used as a measure of physical properties of the system, i.e. covalency, acidic/catalytic sites, etc. A range of methods, both empirical and ab initio, exist for calculating partial charges in a given solid, and several of them are compared here for siliceous (pure silica) zeolites. The relationships between structure and the predicted partial charge are examined. The predicted partial charges from different methods are also compared with related experimental observations, showing that a few of the methods offer some guidance towards identifying the T-sites most likely to undergo substitution or for proton localization in acidic framework forms. Finally, we show that assigning unique calculated charges to crystallographically unique framework atoms makes an appreciable difference in simulating predicting N2 and O2 adsorption with common dispersion-repulsion parameterizations.