Electronic and optical properties of thiogermanate AgGaGeS4: theory and experiment.

The electronic and optical properties of an AgGaGeS4 crystal were studied by first-principles calculations, where the full-potential augmented plane-wave plus local orbital (APW+lo) method was used together with exchange-correlation pseudopotential described by PBE, PBE+U, and TB-mBJ+U approaches. To verify the correctness of the present theoretical calculations, we have measured for the AgGaGeS4 crystal the XPS valence-band spectrum and the X-ray emission bands representing the energy distribution of the electronic states with the biggest contributions in the valence-band region and compared them on a general energy scale with the theoretical results. Such a comparison indicates that, the calculations within the TB-mBJ+U approach reproduce the electron-band structure peculiarities (density of states - DOS) of the AgGaGeS4 crystal which are in fairly good agreement with the experimental data based on measurements of XPS and appropriate X-ray emission spectra. In particular, the DOS of the AgGaGeS4 crystal is characterized by the existence of well-separated peaks/features in the vicinity of -18.6 eV (Ga-d states) and around -12.5 eV and -7.5 eV, which are mainly composed by hybridized Ge(Ga)-s/p and S-p state. We gained good agreement between the experimental and theoretical data with respect to the main peculiarities of the energy distribution of the electronic S 3p, Ag 4d, Ga 4p and Ge 4p states, the main contributors to the valence band of AgGaGeS4. The bottom of the conduction band is mostly donated by unoccupied Ge-s states, with smaller contributions of unoccupied Ga-s, Ag-s and S-p states, too. The AgGaGeS4 crystal is almost transparent for visible light, but it strongly absorbs ultra-violet light where the significant polarization also occurs.

First-principles study on the structural properties of 2D MXene SnSiGeN4 and its electronic properties under the effects of strain and an external electric field.

The MXene SnSiGeN4 monolayer as a new member of the MoSi2N4 family was proposed for the first time, and its structural and electronic properties were explored by applying first-principles calculations with both PBE and hybrid HSE06 approaches. The layered hexagonal honeycomb structure of SnSiGeN4 was determined to be stable under dynamical effects or at room temperature of 300 K, with a rather high cohesive energy of 7.0 eV. The layered SnSiGeN4 has a Young's modulus of 365.699 N m-1 and a Poisson's ratio of 0.295. The HSE06 approach predicted an indirect band gap of around 2.4 eV for the layered SnSiGeN4. While the major donation from the N-p orbitals to the band structure makes SnSiGeN4's band gap close to those of similar 2D MXenes, the smaller distributions from the other orbitals of Sn, Si, and Ge slightly vary this band gap. The work functions of the GeN and SiN surfaces are 6.367 eV and 5.903 eV, respectively. The band gap of the layered SnSiGeN4 can be easily tuned by strain and an external electric field. A semiconductor-metal transition can occur at certain values of strain, and with an electric field higher than 5 V nm-1. The electron mobility of the layered SnSiGeN4 can reach up to 677.4 cm2 V-1 s-1, which is much higher than the hole mobility of about 52 cm2 V-1 s-1. The mentioned characteristics make the layered SnSiGeN4 a very promising material for use in electronic and photoelectronic devices, and for solar energy conversion.

Mexican-hat dispersions and high carrier mobility of γ-SnX (X = O, S, Se, Te) single-layers: a first-principles investigation.

The shape of energy dispersions near the band-edges plays a decisive role in the transport properties, especially the carrier mobility, of semiconductors. In this work, we design and investigate the γ phase of tin monoxide and monochalcogenides γ-SnX (X = O, S, Se, and Te) through first-principles simulations. γ-SnX is found to be dynamically stable with phonon dispersions containing only positive phonon frequencies. Due to the hexagonal atomic lattice, the mechanical properties of γ-SnX single-layers are directionally isotropic and their elastic constants meet Born's criterion for mechanical stability. Our calculation results indicate that all four single-layers of γ-SnX are semiconductors with the Mexican-hat dispersions. The biaxial strain not only greatly changes the electronic structures of the γ-SnX single-layers, but also can cause a phase transition from semiconductor to metal. Meanwhile, the effects of an electric field on the electron states of γ-SnX single-layers are insignificant. γ-SnX structures have high electron mobility and their electron mobility is highly directional isotropic along the two transport directions x and y. The findings not only initially introduce the γ phase of group IV-VI compounds, but also serve as a premise for further studies on this material family with potential applications in the future, both theoretically and experimentally.

Electronic structure and interface contact of two-dimensional van der Waals boron phosphide/Ga2SSe heterostructures.

In this work, we systematically examine the electronic features and contact types of van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs) combining single-layer boron phosphide (BP) and Janus Ga2SSe using first-principles calculations. Owing to the out-of-plane symmetry being broken, the BP/Ga2SSe vdWHs are divided into two different stacking patterns, which are BP/SGa2Se and BP/SeGa2S. Our results demonstrate that these stacking patterns are structurally and mechanically stable. The combination of single-layer BP and Janus Ga2SSe gives rise to an enhancement in the Young's modulus compared to the constituent monolayers. Furthermore, at the ground state, the BP/Ga2SSe vdWHs possess a type-I (straddling) band alignment, which is desired for next-generation optoelectronic applications. The interlayer separation and electric field are effectively used to tune the electronic features of the BP/Ga2SSe vdWH from the type-I to type-II band alignment, and from semiconductor to metal. Our findings show that the BP/Ga2SSe vdWH would be appropriate for next-generation multifunctional optoelectronic and photovoltaic devices.

Novel Janus GaInX3 (X = S, Se, Te) single-layers: first-principles prediction on structural, electronic, and transport properties.

In this paper, the structural, electronic, and transport properties of Janus GaInX3 (X = S, Se, Te) single-layers are investigated by a first-principles calculations. All three structures of GaInX3 are examined to be stable based on the analysis of their phonon dispersions, cohesive energy, and Born's criteria for mechanical stability. At the ground state, The Janus GaInX3 is a semiconductor in which its bandgap decreases as the chalcogen element X moves from S to Te. Due to the vertical asymmetric structure, a difference in the vacuum level between the two surfaces of GaInX3 is found, leading to work functions on the two sides being different. The Janus GaInX3 exhibit high directional isotropic transport characteristics. Particularly, GaInX3 single-layers have high electron mobility, which could make them potential materials for applications in electronic nanodevices.

Theoretical and experimental study on the electronic and optical properties of K0.5Rb0.5Pb2Br5: a promising laser host material.

The data on the electronic structure and optical properties of bromide K0.5Rb0.5Pb2Br5 achieved by first-principle calculations and verified by X-ray spectroscopy measurements are reported. The kinetic energy, the Coulomb potential induced by the exchange hole, spin-orbital effects, and Coulomb repulsion were taken into account by applying the Tran and Blaha modified Becke-Johnson function (TB-mBJ), Hubbard U parameter, and spin-orbital coupling effect (SOC) in the TB-mBJ + U + SOC technique. The band gap was for the first time defined to be 3.23 eV. The partial density of state (PDOS) curves of K0.5Rb0.5Pb2Br5 agree well with XES K Ll and Br Kß2, and XPS spectra. The valence band (VB) is characterized by the Pb-5d3/2 and Pb-5d5/2 sub-states locating in the vicinities of -20 eV and -18 eV, respectively. The VB middle part is mainly formed by K-3p, Rb-4p and Br-4s states, in which the separation of Rb-4p3/2 and Rb-4p1/2 was also observed. The strong hybridization of Br-p and Pb-s/p states near -6.5 eV reveals a major covalent part in the Br-Pb bonding. With a large band gap of 3.23 eV, and the remarkably high possibility of inter-band transition in energy ranges of 4-7 eV, and 10-12 eV, the bromide K0.5Rb0.5Pb2Br5 is expected to be a very promising active host material for core valence luminescence and mid-infrared rare-earth doped laser materials. The anisotropy of optical properties in K0.5Rb0.5Pb2Br5 is not significant, and it occurs at the extrema in the optical spectra. The absorption coefficient α(ω) is in the order of magnitude of 106 cm-1 for an energy range of 5-25 eV.

Optical and electronic properties of lithium thiogallate (LiGaS2): experiment and theory.

We report the relation between the optical properties and electronic structure of lithium thiogallate (LiGaS2) by performing XPS and XES measurements and theoretical calculations. According to the XPS measurements, the LiGaS2 crystals grown by the Bridgman-Stockbarger method possess promising optical qualities, low hygroscopicity and high stability upon middle-energy Ar+-ion irradiation. The difference in the LiGaS2 band gaps obtained by theoretical calculations and experimental measurements was, for the first time, reduced down to 0.27 eV by applying the Tran-Blaha modified Becke-Johnson (TB-mBJ) potential where the Coulomb repulsion was considered by introducing Hubbard parameter, U. The TB-mBJ+U method also reproduces the XPS spectrum well. The TB-mBJ+U band-structure calculations of LiGaS2 are found to be in good agreement with the XPS and XES experimental data. The accurate electronic structure of LiGaS2 allows further investigation of the optical properties. The relation between the photoluminescence of LiGaS2 and its electronic structure was revealed. Moreover, the theoretical results show the possibility of emissions at higher energy levels in LiGaS2, that has not been measured in experiments yet. Good phase-matching of LiGaS2 was expected to occur at energy levels of 5, 6, 6.2, 7, 7.2, and 8 eV.

The use of the FEFF8 code to calculate the XANES and electron density of states of some sulfides.

The FEFF8 was used to calculate x-ray absorption spectra (XANES) and the local partial electron density of states (LDOS) for several sulfides: InPS4 (twice defective chalcopyrite), CdIn2S4 (normal spinel) and Tl3AsS3 (space group R3m). The calculated XANES are compared with experimental spectra. The self-consistent MT-potentials found for clusters of about 35 atoms were used to calculate XANES and LDOS for clusters of 87 atoms in the approach of full multiple scattering. In all cases the agreement of the simulated XANES and experimental ones is quite good. The theoretical LDOS agree well with the experimental x-ray emission K- and L2,3-spectra.