This study depicts the influence of the Rashba effect on the band-edge exciton processes in all-inorganic CsPbBr3 perovskite single colloidal nanocrystal (NC). The study is based on magneto-optical measurements carried out at cryogenic temperatures under various magnetic field strengths in which discrete excitonic transitions were detected by linearly and circularly polarized measurements. Interestingly, the experiments show a nonlinear energy splitting between polarized transitions versus magnetic field strength, indicating a crossover between a Rashba effect (at the lowest fields) to a Zeeman effect at fields above 4 T. We postulate that the Rashba effect emanates from a lattice distortion induced by the Cs+ motion degree of freedom or due to a surface effect in nanoscale NCs. The unusual magneto-optical properties shown here underscore the importance of the Rashba effect in the implementation of such perovskite materials in various optical and spin-based devices.Keywords: magneto-optics; Metal halide perovskite; nanocrystal; Rashba spin−orbit coupling;

We show how the complex molecular structure of hybrid perovskites can be understood simply in terms of a few important intermolecular interactions. We deduce structural rules and coupling constants from an extensive density functional theory study of the structural energy landscape of methylammonium lead iodide. We have generated an unbiased structure–energy database, taking into account the orientations of molecular dipoles and inorganic lattice distortions. Analysis of this database shows that room-temperature structures are heavily dominated by a few hydrogen bonding patterns and lattice distortion modes. The molecule–molecule interactions, mediated by lattice distortions and hydrogen bonding, are shown to favor alignment of molecules at right angles to each other. We develop an effective Hamiltonian which shows that this interaction drives the cubic–tetragonal phase transition, explaining the temperature dependence of the tetragonal distortion observed in experiment.

Hydrocarbon tribopolymer, a type of polymer formed due to friction between surfaces, is a major impediment to the development of micro- and nanoelectromechanical system (MEMS/NEMS) devices for industrial application. Tribopolymer buildup can prevent MEMS and NEMS from making or breaking electrical contact. We describe the adsorption of benzene (C6H6) on the RuO2(110) surface using density functional theory. This adsorption is an important initial step in the mechanism of hydrocarbon tribopolymer layer formation on MEMS and NEMS devices. The adsorption interaction is studied by considering three oxygen coverages of RuO2(110) and all of the possible adsorption sites for benzene. We find that adsorption of benzene on O-poor RuO2(110) via C–Ru bonds is stronger than adsorption on the O-rich RuO2(110) via H–O bonds. For an in-depth study of the adsorption behavior, we include the van der Waals interaction for a holistic investigation. By incorporating the thermodynamic chemical potentials into the adsorption simulations, we describe a model that can provide guidance for realistic situations.

Hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites (HOIPs) are crystals with the structural formula ABX3, where A, B, and X are organic and inorganic ions, respectively. While known for several decades, HOIPs have only in recent years emerged as extremely promising semiconducting materials for solar energy applications. In particular, power-conversion efficiencies of HOIP-based solar cells have improved at a record speed and, after only little more than 6 years of photovoltaics research, surpassed the 20% threshold, which is an outstanding result for a solution-processable material. It is thus of fundamental importance to reveal physical and chemical phenomena that contribute to, or limit, these impressive photovoltaic efficiencies.To understand charge-transport and light-absorption properties of semiconducting materials, one often invokes a lattice of ions displaced from their static positions only by harmonic vibrations. However, a preponderance of recent studies suggests that this picture is not sufficient for HOIPs, where a variety of structurally dynamic effects, beyond small harmonic vibrations, arises already at room temperature.In this Account, we focus on these effects. First, we review structure and bonding in HOIPs and relate them to the promising charge-transport and absorption properties of these materials, in terms of favorable electronic properties. We point out that HOIPs are much “softer” mechanically, compared to other efficient solar-cell materials, and that this can result in large ionic displacements at room temperature. We therefore focus next on dynamic structural effects in HOIPs, going beyond a static band-structure picture. Specifically, we discuss pertinent experimental and theoretical findings as to phase-transition behavior and molecular/octahedral rearrangements. We then discuss atomic diffusion phenomena in HOIPs, with an emphasis on the migration of intrinsic and extrinsic ionic species. From this combined perspective, HOIPs appear as highly dynamic materials, in which structural fluctuations and long-range ionic motion have an unusually strong impact on charge-transport and optical properties. We highlight the potential implications of these effects for several intriguing phenomenological observations, ranging from scattering mechanisms and lifetimes of charge carriers to light-induced structural effects and ionic conduction.

Ferroelectricity and band topology are two extensively studied yet distinct properties of insulators. Nonetheless, their coexistence has never been observed in a single material. Using first-principles calculations, we demonstrate that a noncentrosymmetric perovskite structure of CsPbI3 allows for the simultaneous presence of ferroelectric and topological orders with appropriate strain engineering. Metallic topological surface states create an intrinsic short-circuit condition, helping stabilize bulk polarization. Exploring diverse structural phases of CsPbI3 under pressure, we identify that the key structural feature for achieving a ferroelectric topological insulator is to suppress PbI6 cage rotation in the perovskite structure, which could be obtained via strain engineering. Ferroelectric control over the density of topological surface states provides a new paradigm for device engineering, such as perfect-focusing Veselago lens and spin-selective electron collimator. Our results suggest that CsPbI3 is a simple model system for ferroelectric topological insulators, enabling future studies exploring the interplay between conventional symmetry-breaking and topological orders and their novel applications in electronics and spintronics.

In heterogeneous catalysis, catalyst synthesis precedes operation and, in most cases, is conducted in an altogether different chemical environment. Thus, determination of the structure and composition of the catalyst surface(s) due to fabrication is essential in accurately evaluating their eventual structure(s) during operation, which provides the origin of their catalytic activities and are therefore key to catalyst optimization. We explore the reconstructions of both Ni2P(0001) and Ni5P4(0001)/(0001̅) surfaces with first-principles density functional theory (DFT). Most of the stable terminations under realistic synthesis conditions are determined to be P-rich on both materials. A P-covered reconstruction of the Ni3P2 termination of Ni2P(0001) is found to be most stable, consistent with the current literature. By contrast, the most energetically favorable surfaces of Ni5P4 are found to be the Ni3P3 and Ni4P3 bulk-derived terminations with P-adatoms. The preferred excess P binding sites and their energies are identified on each surface. We find that the P3 site, which is present on Ni5P4, and the Ni3 site, which is present on both Ni2P and Ni5P4, strongly bind excess P. Additionally, we predict the presence of stable Pn (n = 2, 4) agglomerates on Ni5P4 at the P3-hollow and Ni–Ni bridge sites. This study highlights the importance of considering the aggregation behavior of nonmetal components in predicting the surface reconstruction of transition metal compounds.

Microelectromechanical system and nanoelectromechanical system (MEMS and NEMS) transistors are considered promising for size-reducing and power-maximizing electronic devices. However, the tribopolymer which forms due to the mechanical load to the contacts affects the conductivity dramatically. This is one of the challenging problems that prevents the widespread practical use of these otherwise promising devices. Here, we use density functional theory (DFT) to investigate the mechanisms of tribopolymer formation, including normal mechanical load and the catalytic effect, as well as the electrochemical effect of the metal contacts. We select benzene as the background gas, because it is one of the most common and severe hydrocarbon contaminants. Two adsorption cases are considered: one is benzene on the reactive metal surface, Pt(111), and the other is benzene on the noble metal, Au(111). We demonstrate that the formation of tribopolymer is induced by both the mechanical load and the catalytic effect of the contact. First, benzene molecules are adsorbed on the Pt surfaces. Then, due to the closure of the Pt contacts, stress is applied to the adsorbates, making the C–H bonds more fragile. As the stress increases further, H atoms are pressed close to the Pt substrate and begin to bond with Pt atoms. Thus, Pt acts as a catalyst, accelerating the dehydrogenation process. When there is voltage applied across the contacts, the catalytic effect is enhanced by electrochemistry. Finally, due to the loss of H atoms, C atoms become more reactive and link together or pile up to form tribopolymer. By understanding these mechanisms, we provide guidance on designing strategies for suppressing tribopolymer formation.Keywords: catalysis; mechanical load; Pt and Au contacts; reaction path; tribopolymer

Piezoelectrics play a critical role in various applications. The permanent dipole associated with the molecular cations in organometal halide perovskites (OMHPs) may lead to spontaneous polarization and thus piezoelectricity. Here we explore the piezoelectric properties of OMHPs with density functional theory. We find that the piezoelectric coefficient depends sensitively on the molecular ordering and that the experimentally observed light-enhanced piezoelectricity is likely due to a nonpolar to polar structural transition. By comparing OMHPs with different atomic substitutions in the ABX3 architecture, we find that the displacement of the B-site cation contributes to nearly all of the piezoelectric response and that the competition between A–X hydrogen bond and B–X metal–halide bond in OMHPs controls the piezoelectric properties. These results highlight the potential of the OMHP architecture for designing new functional photoferroelectrics and photopiezoelectrics.

Organometal halide perovskites are promising solar-cell materials for next-generation photovoltaic applications. The long carrier lifetime and diffusion length of these materials make them very attractive for use in light absorbers and carrier transporters. While these aspects of organometal halide perovskites have attracted the most attention, the consequences of the Rashba effect, driven by strong spin–orbit coupling, on the photovoltaic properties of these materials are largely unexplored. In this work, taking the electronic structure of CH3NH3PbI3 (methylammonium lead iodide) as an example, we propose an intrinsic mechanism for enhanced carrier lifetime in three-dimensional (3D) Rashba materials. On the basis of first-principles calculations and a Rashba spin–orbit model, we demonstrate that the recombination rate is reduced due to the spin-forbidden transition. These results are important for understanding the fundamental physics of organometal halide perovskites and for optimizing and designing the materials with better performance. The proposed mechanism including spin degrees of freedom offers a new paradigm of using 3D Rashba materials for photovoltaic applications.

In addition to composition, the structure of a catalyst is another fundamental determinant of its catalytic reactivity. Recently, anomalous Ti oxide-rich surface phases of ternary oxides have been stabilized as nonstoichiometric epitaxial overlayers. These structures give rise to different modes of oxygen binding, which may lead to different oxidative chemistry. Through density functional theory investigations and electrochemical measurements, we predict and subsequently show that such a TiO2 double-layer surface reconstruction enhances the oxygen evolving activity of the perovskite-type oxide SrTiO3. Our theoretical work suggests that the improved activity of the restructured TiO2(001) surface toward oxygen formation stems from (i) having two Ti sites with distinct oxidation activity and (ii) being able to form a strong O–O moiety (which reduces overbonding at Ti sites), which is a direct consequence of (iii) having a labile lattice O that is able to directly participate in the reaction. Here, we demonstrate the improvement of the catalytic performance of a well-known and well-studied oxide catalyst through more modern methods of materials processing, predicted through first-principles theoretical modeling.

Hybrid halide perovskites exhibit nearly 20% power conversion efficiency, but the origin of their high efficiency is still unknown. Here, we compute the shift current, a dominant mechanism of the bulk photovoltaic (PV) effect for ferroelectric photovoltaics, in CH3NH3PbI3 and CH3NH3PbI3–xClx from first-principles. We find that these materials give approximately three times larger shift current PV response to near-IR and visible light than the prototypical ferroelectric photovoltaic BiFeO3. The molecular orientations of CH3NH3+ can strongly affect the corresponding PbI3 inorganic frame so as to alter the magnitude of the shift current response. Specifically, configurations with dipole moments aligned in parallel distort the inorganic PbI3 frame more significantly than configurations with near-net-zero dipole, yielding a larger shift current response. Furthermore, we explore the effect of Cl substitution on shift current and find that Cl substitution at the equatorial site induces a larger response than does substitution at the apical site.

Organometal halide perovskites have been intensely studied in the past 5 years, inspired by their certified high photovoltaic power conversion efficiency. Some of these materials are room-temperature ferroelectrics. The presence of switchable ferroelectric domains in methylammonium lead triiodide, CH3NH3PbI3, has recently been observed via piezoresponse force microscopy. Here, we focus on the structural and electronic properties of ferroelectric domain walls in CH3NH3PbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I). We find that organometal halide perovskites can form both charged and uncharged domain walls due to the flexible orientational order of the organic molecules. The electronic band gaps for domain structures possessing 180 and 90° walls are estimated with density functional theory. It is found that the presence of charged domain walls will significantly reduce the band gap by 20–40%, while the presence of uncharged domain walls has no substantial impact on the band gap. We demonstrate that charged domain walls can serve as segregated channels for the motions of charge carriers. These results highlight the importance of ferroelectric domain walls in hybrid perovskites for photovoltaic applications and suggest a possible avenue for device optimization through domain patterning.

Organometal halide perovskites (OMHPs) have garnered much attention recently for their unprecedented rate of increasing power conversion efficiency (PCE), positioning them as a promising basis for the next-generation photovoltaic devices. However, the gap between the rapid increasing PCE and the incomplete understanding of the structure–property–performance relationship prevents the realization of the true potential of OMHPs. This Perspective aims to provide a concise overview of the current status of OMHP research, highlighting the unique properties of OMHPs that are critical for solar applications but still not adequately explained. Stability and performance challenges of OMHP solar cells are discussed, calling upon combined experimental and theoretical efforts to address these challenges for pioneering commercialization of OMHP solar cells. Various material innovation strategies for improving the performance and stability of OMHPs are surveyed, showing that the OMHP architecture can serve as a promising and robust platform for the design and optimization of materials with desired functionalities.

The instability of organometal halide perovskites when in contact with water is a serious challenge to their feasibility as solar cell materials. Although studies of moisture exposure have been conducted, an atomistic understanding of the degradation mechanism is required. Toward this goal, we study the interaction of water with the (001) surfaces of CH3NH3PbI3 under low and high water concentrations using density functional theory. We find that water adsorption is heavily influenced by the orientation of the methylammonium cations close to the surface. We demonstrate that, depending on methylammonium orientation, the water molecule can infiltrate into the hollow site of the surface and get trapped. Controlling dipole orientation via poling or interfacial engineering could thus enhance its moisture stability. No direct reaction between the water and methylammonium molecules is seen. Furthermore, calculations with an implicit solvation model indicate that a higher water concentration may facilitate degradation through increased lattice distortion.

We present a systematic evaluation of the effects of polarization switchability on surface structure and stoichiometry in BaTiO3 and PbTiO3 ferroelectric oxides. We show that charge passivation, mostly by ionic surface reconstructions, is the driving force for the stability of the surfaces, which suggests that varying the substrate polarization offers a new mechanism for controlling surface reconstructions in polar systems and inducing highly nonstoichiometric structures. Conversely, for thin-films the chemical environment can drive polarization switching via induced compositional changes on the surface. We find that the value of the oxygen partial pressure for the positive-to-negative polar transition is in good agreement with the recent experimental value for thin-film PbTiO3. For BaTiO3, we show that it is harder for oxygen control to drive polar transition because it is more difficult to reduce. This study opens up the possibility of real-time control of structure and composition of oxide surfaces.

A spin-forbidden reaction is a reaction in which the total electronic spin-state changes. The standard transition-state theory that assumes a reaction occurs on a single potential energy surface with spin-conservation cannot be applied to a spin-forbidden reaction directly. In this work, we derive the crossing coefficient based on the Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin (WKB) theory to quantify the effect of intersystem crossing on the kinetics of spin-forbidden reactions. Acrylates and methacrylates, by themselves, can generate free radicals that initiate polymerization at temperatures above 120 °C. Previous studies suggest that a triplet diradical is a key intermediate in the self-initiation. The formation of a triplet diradical from two closed-shell monomer molecules is a spin-forbidden reaction. This study provides a quantitative analysis of singlet–triplet spin crossover of diradical species in self-initiation of acrylates and methacrylates, taking into account the effect of intersystem crossing. The concept of crossing control is introduced and demonstrated computationally to be a new likely route to generate monoradicals via monomer self-initiation in high temperature polymerization.

Highly reduced surface reconstructions of BaTiO3 (001) have been found to be composed of a TiO2 surface covered with Ti adatoms occupying surface interstitial sites. We predict the reactivity of these highly oxophilic and reduced surface Ti species through density functional theory, where we calculate the adsorption of H2O on the (√5 × √5)R26.6° TiO2–Ti3/5 reconstruction. H2O serves as the primary O source and oxidizing agent. We demonstrate that H2O oxidizes some of the Ti adatoms, shifting their occupied 3d states to the surface conduction band edge. We find that, due to the high concentration of reduced Ti species on the surface, a dissociative adsorption of water on the reconstructed surface can also lead to the formation of surface hydrides, which serve as a precursor for H2 evolution. This suggests that the reconstructed surface may be an attractive single-phase hydrogen evolution catalyst.Keywords: barium titanate; hydrogen evolution; metal hydride; surface oxidation; surface reconstruction; water adsorption; water reduction;

This paper presents a systematic computational study of the mechanism of cyclohexanone–monomer co-initiation in high-temperature homopolymerization of methyl acrylate (MA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA). Previous experimental studies of spontaneous thermal homopolymerization of MA and MMA showed higher monomer conversion in the presence of cyclohexanone than xylene. However, these studies did not reveal the initiation mechanism(s) or the initiating species. To identify the initiation mechanism and the initiating species, we explore four different mechanisms, (1) Kaim, (2) Flory, (3) α-position hydrogen transfer, and (4) Mayo, using first-principles density functional theory (DFT) and second-order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) calculations. Transition-state geometries for each mechanism are determined using B3LYP/6-31G* and assessed with MP2/6-31G*. Activation energies and rate constants are calculated using transition-state theory. The harmonic oscillator approximation and tunneling corrections are applied to compute the reaction rate constants. This study indicates that α-position hydrogen transfer and Mayo mechanisms have comparable barriers and are capable of generating monoradicals for initiating polymerization of MA and MMA; these two mechanisms can cause cyclohexanone–monomer co-initiation in thermal polymerization of MA and MMA.

In this study, the mechanism of self-initiation in spontaneous thermal polymerization of ethyl and n-butyl acrylate is explored using first-principles calculations. Density functional theory (with B3LYP functional and 6-31G* basis set) was used to study [4 + 2] and [2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions on the singlet and triplet potential energy surfaces. Diels−Alder (DA) dimers of ethyl acrylate [6-ethoxy-2-ethoxycarbonyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran (EDP)] and of n-butyl acrylate [6-butoxy-2-butoxycarbonyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran (BDP)] were found to form on the singlet surface via the concerted pathway proposed by Mayo. The formation of diethyl cyclobutane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DECD) and dibutyl cyclobutane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DBCD) via a nonconcerted pathway was identified on the singlet surface of ethyl and n-butyl acrylate, respectively. The presence of a diradical transition state for the formation of the DECD and DBCD was predicted. Triplet potential energy surfaces for the formation of diradical dimer of ethyl and n-butyl acrylate were computed, and the presence of a triplet diradical intermediate was identified for each of the monomers. A low energy monoradical generation mechanism was identified to be involving hydrogen abstraction by a third acrylate monomer from the triplet diradical species. The molecular structure of the computed monoradical species was found to correlate with chain initiating species of the dominant series of peaks in previously reported electrospray ionization-Fourier transform mass spectra of spontaneously polymerized samples of ethyl and n-butyl acrylate. In view of these observations, it is concluded that this self-initiation mechanism is most likely the initiating mechanism in spontaneous thermal polymerization of alkyl acrylates.

The adsorption of three- and four-atom Ag and Pd clusters on the α-Al2O3 (0001) surface is explored with density functional theory. Within each adsorbed cluster, two different cluster−surface interactions are present. We find that clusters simultaneously form both ionic bonds with surface oxygen and intermetallic bonds with surface aluminum. The simultaneous formation of disparate electronic structure motifs within a single metal nanoparticle is termed a “dipolar nanocluster”. This coexistence is ascribed to a balance of geometric constraints and metal electronic structure, and its importance for nanoparticle catalysis is highlighted.

This computational study deals with the mechanism of spontaneous initiation in thermal polymerization of alkyl acrylates (e.g., methyl, ethyl, and n-butyl acrylate). The mechanism is presently still unknown. Density-functional theory (DFT) and Møller−Plesset (MP2) calculations are used to explore the Flory and Mayo mechanisms of self-initiation in methyl acrylate. On the singlet surface, a low-barrier, concerted [4 + 2] Diels−Alder mechanism for the formation of a dihydropyran adduct (DA) and a high-barrier nonconcerted [2 + 2] diradical (•M2s•) mechanism for the formation of dimethyl cyclobutane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DCD) were found using B3LYP/6-31G*. Several levels of theory were used to validate the transition states, and the pathways for the DA and DCD formations on the singlet surface were determined using intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) calculations. On the triplet surface, a triplet diradical intermediate (•M2t•) was identified that is structurally similar to •M2s• but lower in energy. The spin−orbit coupling constant for crossover of the diradical from singlet to triplet surface was calculated. Monoradical generation from the two intermediates, DA and •M2t• via hydrogen transfer to or from a third methyl acrylate was studied. It was found that generation of two monoradical species was possible from •M2t• and is proposed as a likely explanation for experimentally observed spontaneous-initiation.

The motion of domain walls is critical to many applications involving ferroelectric materials, such as fast high-density non-volatile random access memory1. In memories of this sort, storing a data bit means increasing the size of one polar region at the expense of another, and hence the movement of a domain wall separating these regions. Experimental measurements of domain growth rates in the well-established ferroelectrics PbTiO3 and BaTiO3 have been performed, but the development of new materials has been hampered by a lack of microscopic understanding of how domain walls move2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. Despite some success in interpreting domain-wall motion in terms of classical nucleation and growth models12, 13, 14, 15, 16, these models were formulated without insight from first-principles-based calculations, and they portray a picture of a large, triangular nucleus that leads to unrealistically large depolarization and nucleation energies5. Here we use atomistic molecular dynamics and coarse-grained Monte Carlo simulations to analyse these processes, and demonstrate that the prevailing models are incorrect. Our multi-scale simulations reproduce experimental domain growth rates in PbTiO3 and reveal small, square critical nuclei with a diffuse interface. A simple analytic model is also proposed, relating bulk polarization and gradient energies to wall nucleation and growth, and thus rationalizing all experimental rate measurements in PbTiO3 and BaTiO3.

The Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT) disordered solid solution is widely used in piezoelectric applications owing to its excellent electromechanical properties. Six different structural phases have been observed for PZT at ambient pressure, each with different lattice parameters and average electric polarization. It is of significant interest to understand the microscopic origin of the complicated phase diagram and local structure of PZT1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Here, using density functional theory calculations, we show that the distortions of the material away from the parent perovskite structure can be predicted from the local arrangement of the Zr and Ti cations. We use the chemical rules obtained from density functional theory to create a phenomenological model to simulate PZT structures. We demonstrate how changes in the Zr/Ti composition give rise to phase transitions in PZT through changes in the populations of various local Pb atom environments.

Perovskite BaCeO3 materials with low levels of substitution of Pd(II) on the Ce site and a corresponding number of oxygen vacancies were prepared by a high-temperature synthesis method. Although their surface areas are low (ca. 1.0 m2 g−1), their low-temperature (<200 °C) activity for CO oxidation is comparable to that of highly dispersed PdO/Al2O3. When the doped perovskites are reduced extensively in H2, causing extrusion of Pd(0) from the lattice, their catalytic activity declines dramatically. Consequently, activity is attributed to the presence of cationic Pd(II) in the perovskite lattice. Density functional theory was used to investigate the atomic and electronic character of the structures containing oxygen vacancies. Both experimental and theoretical evidence support a catalytic mechanism involving labilization of lattice and surface oxygen by cationic Pd(II).