Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Cong Wang, Huimin Wang, Wenda Yao, Sheng Meng, Jinglan Qiu, Ying Liu
Summary: This study investigates the adsorption behavior of potassium atoms on silicene using experimental and computational methods. The results reveal an intriguing structural phase transition and high mobility of potassium atoms on silicene, indicating a weak interaction between them. Additionally, the study confirms the characteristic properties of silicene through experimental measurements.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Simona Achilli, Daya Sagar Dhungana, Federico Orlando, Carlo Grazianetti, Christian Martella, Alessandro Molle, Guido Fratesi
Summary: The synthesis of silicene on silver leads to multiple phases and domains, which hinders the conduction of charge for electronic transport devices. Two different approaches were used to engineer the silicene/silver interface: decorating with Sn atoms to form an Ag2Sn surface alloy and buffering the interface with a stanene layer. Raman spectroscopy confirms the presence of typical features of silicene, while electron diffraction reveals a well-ordered 4x4 monolayer silicene for the decorated surface and a sharp root 3 x root 3 phase for the buffered interface. Both interfaces also promote the growth of a root 3 x root 3 phase in the multilayer range. Theoretical models support these experimental findings and suggest new ways to manipulate the silicene structure for wafer-scale fabrication.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yuuki Adachi, Runnan Zhang, Xinbo Wang, Masahiro Fukuda, Taisuke Ozaki, Yoshiaki Sugimoto
Summary: The placement of a silicon impurity atom on monolayer silicene forms a two-dimensional island, which can be manipulated to achieve atomic-scale control over silicon structures. Density functional theory calculations confirm the local reconstruction of monolayer silicene induced by the silicon impurity atom. Our findings indicate that controlling the buckling structure of monolayer silicene can tune the band structures and functionalities, which is significant for applications.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
S. Colonna, R. Flammini, F. Ronci
Summary: This paper reviews the research activity of the author's group in the field of silicene synthesis and properties, focusing on the interaction between silicon deposition and silicon substrate, and discussing the debated formation of silicene from unsaturated silicon compounds.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Daniele Nazzari, Jakob Genser, Viktoria Ritter, Ole Bethge, Emmerich Bertagnolli, Georg Ramer, Bernhard Lendl, Kenji Watanabe, Takashi Taniguchi, Riccardo Rurali, Miroslav Kolibal, Alois Lugstein
Summary: Graphene and silicene exhibit unique electronic properties with potential applications. Silicene maintains its Dirac cone characteristics even when interacting with an Au(111) substrate. Comparison of Raman spectroscopy and first-principles calculations reveals a highly strained structure in the silicene phase.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Buddhika S. A. Gedara, Mark Muir, Arephin Islam, Dairong Liu, Michael Trenary
Summary: The study found that Ag atoms can migrate to cover Pd islands at room temperature, leading to vacancies in the middle of the islands and second layer growth. Upon annealing, most Pd islands are encapsulated by Ag atoms to form an Ag/Pd/Ag(111) structure.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jakob Genser, Daniele Nazzari, Viktoria Ritter, Ole Bethge, Kenji Watanabe, Takashi Taniguchi, Emmerich Bertagnolli, Friedhelm Bechstedt, Alois Lugstein
Summary: Silicene shows promising potential for high-performance devices due to its unique electronic and optical properties, but its outstanding characteristics are not preserved on certain growth templates.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Caimei Gong, Yuyang Zhang, Yan Lu, Zhongping Wang, Shizhang Fu, Sheng Wei, Xiaoqing Liu, Li Wang
Summary: The water-induced assembly structures of 4-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) on Au(111) and Ag(111) surfaces were studied using scanning tunneling microscopy and density functional theory calculations. Water molecules can break the weak-hydrogen bonded Kagome' structure on Au(111) and the four-leaf clover structure formed by intermediate hydrogen bonds between PABA molecules, leading to the release of water molecules. The adsorption energy of the hydrated structure formed on Ag(111) is significantly lower than that on Au(111), resulting in the selective formation of the water-involved structure on Ag(111).
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Mitsuo Kimura, Yoshiaki Sugimoto
Summary: This study observes a monolayer of O2 adsorbed on an Ag(111) surface at low temperatures, with different regions having different rotation angles. The shape of the O2 lattice is found to correlate with the rotation angle between the monolayer and the substrate. Additionally, the study reveals that regions with rotation angles near 0 degrees have smaller lattice distortions and still exhibit antiferromagnetic order.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ying Xu, Xiaoyu Xuan, Tingfan Yang, Zhuhua Zhang, Si-Dian Li, Wanlin Guo
Summary: The bilayer borophene on Ag(111) has the same ground state and semiconductor properties as its freestanding counterpart, and it can partially decouple from the substrate.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
David L. Molina, Mark Muir, Mohammed K. Abdel-Rahman, Michael Trenary
Summary: The study investigated the selective hydrogenation of acetylene on both a clean Ag(111) surface and on a Pd/Ag(111) single-atom-alloy surface using RAIRS and TPR techniques. By exposing the surfaces to atomic hydrogen generated by a hot filament, hydrogen atoms were found to react with acetylene to produce adsorbed ethylene at 85 K. The formation of ethylene and ethane was detected, but no acetylene coupling products, such as benzene, were found.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Buddhika S. A. Gedara, Michael Trenary
Summary: Scanning tunneling microscopy was used to compare the evolution of Pd islands on Ag(111) and Au(111) surfaces. Different behaviors were observed, with large Pd islands and vacancy pits forming on Ag(111), while smaller Pd islands and no vacancy pits were observed on Au(111). The annealing process resulted in Pd diffusion into the subsurface for both surfaces, but the behavior on Au(111) was significantly different due to the herringbone reconstruction providing higher binding energy sites.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ruoning Li, Xue Zhang, Na Xue, Jie Li, Tianhao Wu, Zhen Xu, Yifan Wang, Na Li, Hao Tang, Shimin Hou, Yongfeng Wang
Summary: Metal-organic nanostructures on surfaces are structurally stable and have potential applications. Metal atoms can come from externally deposited metals or native surface atoms. Currently, these nanostructures mainly consist of Au or Cu, with fewer consisting of Ag. Further investigations are needed for accurate control of the desired nanostructures.
ACTA PHYSICO-CHIMICA SINICA
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Naoya Kawakami, Ryuichi Arafune, Emi Minamitani, Kazuaki Kawahara, Noriaki Takagi, Chun-Liang Lin
Summary: In this study, we demonstrate the growth process of novel two-dimensional silicene on Ag(111) and reveal the mechanism, including the dewetting phenomenon and the influence of activation energy differences. This is crucial for understanding the kinetic process of growing metastable two-dimensional materials.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Benjamin W. McDowell, Jon M. Mills, Motoaki Honda, George V. Nazin
Summary: On the Ag(111) surface, RbI forms islands with hexagonally coordinated atomic structures instead of the usual rock-salt structures. At near-complete coverage, we observe the coexistence of the hexagonal phase and a rock-salt-like phase similar to other alkali halides.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Tofik Ahmed Shifa, Alessandro Gradone, Khabib Yusupov, Kassa Belay Ibrahim, Matteo Jugovac, Polina Makarovna Sheverdyaeva, Johanna Rosen, Vittorio Morandi, Paolo Moras, Alberto Vomiero
Summary: In this study, a highly efficient catalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) was developed using a CrOx-CuS heterostructure, which exhibited a low over potential and long-term durability.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
S. Kazim, D. Mastrippolito, P. Moras, M. Jugovac, T. Klimczuk, M. Ali, L. Ottaviano, R. Gunnella
Summary: We investigated the challenging CrCl3 surface using photon energy dependent photoemission (PE). By studying the core and valence electrons of cleaved single crystals in either ultra-high vacuum (UHV) or air, we confirmed the atomic composition with respect to the expected bulk atomic structure. The presence of a stable, but only partially ordered Cl-O-Cr surface was revealed by a common spectroscopic denominator. Through analysis of multiplet components, we quantified the electron charge transfer and the reduced crystal field due to the established polarization field. The methodology used in this study can have a significant impact on determining the structure of ordered sub-oxide phases in mono or bi-layer Cr trihalides.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kassa Belay Ibrahim, Tofik Ahmed Shifa, Paolo Moras, Elisa Moretti, Alberto Vomiero
Summary: A heterointerface catalyst with strong metal support interaction (SMSI) between WMn2O4 and TiO2 is designed for efficient and stable oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The engineered heterointerface exhibits a low onset overpotential and long-term durability.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Letizia Liccardo, Matteo Bordin, Polina M. Sheverdyaeva, Matteo Belli, Paolo Moras, Alberto Vomiero, Elisa Moretti
Summary: Defect-engineered nanostructured TiO2 photocatalysts were obtained by hydrogenation strategy to extend its light absorption into the near-infrared region. The hydrogenation process enhanced the photocatalytic activity and resulted in significant degradation of organic pollutants.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Valeria Milotti, Stefania Cacovich, Davide Raffaele Ceratti, Daniel Ory, Jessica Barichello, Fabio Matteocci, Aldo Di Carlo, Polina M. Sheverdyaeva, Philip Schulz, Paolo Moras
Summary: This study tracks the evolution of the chemical and optoelectronic properties of FAPbBr(3) films under soft X-ray irradiation using photoemission spectroscopy and micro-photoluminescence. Two contrasting processes are observed during irradiation: material degradation and self-healing. The degradation is characterized by the formation of Pb-0 metallic clusters, loss of gaseous Br-2, and decrease and shift of the photoluminescence emission. The recovery of the photoluminescence signal is attributed to self-healing through the re-oxidation of Pb-0 and migration of FA(+) and Br- ions. This degradation/self-healing effect has the potential to extend the lifetime of perovskite-based X-ray detectors.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Turgut Yilmaz, Xuance Jiang, Deyu Lu, Polina M. Sheverdyaeva, Andrey V. Matetskiy, Paolo Moras, Federico Mazzola, Ivana Vobornik, Jun Fujii, Kenneth Evans-Lutterodt, Elio Vescovo
Summary: Transition metal dichalcogenides host interesting electronic order states intertwined with non-trivial band topology. Photoemission experiments on 1T-VSe2 reveal a Dirac nodal arc emerging from band inversion, supporting spin-momentum locked topological surface states. The combination of these properties with a non-trivial band topology opens the possibility of additional exotic states.
COMMUNICATIONS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Elena Salagre, Pilar Segovia, Miguel Aïngel Gonzalez-Barrio, Matteo Jugovac, Paolo Moras, Igor Pis, Federica Bondino, Justin Pearson, Richmond Shiwei Wang, Ichiro Takeuchi, Elliot J. Fuller, Alec A. Talin, Arantzazu Mascaraque, Enrique G. Michel
Summary: We have developed a novel delithiation process for thin film lithium cobalt oxide cathodes. By using ion sputtering and annealing cycles, we can achieve delithiation without chemical byproducts and electrolyte interaction. This method allows for the identification of the effects of lithium extraction and provides detailed information on the role of oxygen and cobalt atoms in charge compensation.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Polina M. Sheverdyaeva, Conor Hogan, Gustav Bihlmayer, Jun Fujii, Ivana Vobornik, Matteo Jugovac, Asish K. Kundu, Sandra Gardonio, Zipporah Rini Benher, Giovanni Di Santo, Sara Gonzalez, Luca Petaccia, Carlo Carbone, Paolo Moras
Summary: Topological insulators are bulk insulators with metallic and fully spin-polarized surface states exhibiting Dirac-like band dispersion. By using spin-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we show that the topological surface states of a topological insulator interfaced with an antimonene bilayer exhibit nearly full out-of-plane spin polarization within the substrate gap. This phenomenon is connected to a symmetry-protected band crossing of the spin-polarized surface states. The nearly full out-of-plane spin polarization of the topological surface states occurs along a continuous path in the energy-momentum space, and the spin polarization within the gap can be reversibly tuned from nearly full out-of-plane to nearly full in-plane by electron doping. These findings pave the way for advanced spintronics applications that exploit the giant out-of-plane spin polarization of topological surface states.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Julien Dangbegnon, Nadia Garino, Matteo Angelozzi, Marco Laurenti, Francesco Seller, Mara Serrapede, Pietro Zaccagnini, Paolo Moras, Matteo Cocuzza, Thierry Ouisse, Hanna Pazniak, Jesus Gonzalez-Julian, Polina M. Sheverdyaeva, Alessia Di Vito, Alessandro Pedico, Candido Fabrizio Pirri, Andrea Lamberti
Summary: We developed a novel fiber-shaped supercapacitor by using electrophoretically deposited Ti3C2Tx MXenens and microwave-assisted nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube yarns as electrodes. With a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane coating, short-circuit issues were completely prevented during cell assembly. The assembled cell demonstrated a large operating voltage window, excellent stability, and high energy density, making it a promising flexible wired-shaped energy storage unit for wearable devices.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY STORAGE
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Sherif Kamal, Insung Seo, Pantelis Bampoulis, Matteo Jugovac, Carlo Alberto Brondin, Tevfik Onur Mentes, Iva Scaric Jankovic, Andrey V. Matetskiy, Paolo Moras, Polina M. Sheverdyaeva, Thomas Michely, Yoshihiro Gohda, Andrea Locatelli, Marko Kralj, Marin Petrovic
Summary: This study investigates the electronic characteristics of a high-coverage, single-layer borophene on the Ir(111) substrate using photoemission spectroscopies, scanning probe techniques, and theoretical calculations. The results show that the binding of borophene to Ir(111) exhibits one-dimensional modulation and transforms borophene into a nanograting. The binding modulation also affects the chemical reactivity and aging effect of borophene.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Andrey V. Matetskiy, Valeria Milotti, Polina M. Sheverdyaeva, Paolo Moras, Carlo Carbone, Alexey N. Mihalyuk
Summary: Dimensionality strongly affects the magnetic structure of solid systems. In this study, the antiferromagnetic ground state of ultrathin gadolinium germanide metalloxene films was theoretically predicted and experimentally confirmed. Calculations and experiments revealed the magnetic properties and band splitting in ultrathin GdGe2 films and compared them with other metalloxene films.