A new route to enhance the ferromagnetic transition temperature in diluted magnetic semiconductors.

We investigate the magnetic and the transport properties of diluted magnetic semiconductors using a spin-fermion Monte-Carlo method on a simple cubic lattice in the intermediate coupling regime. The ferromagnetic transition temperature T c shows an optimization behavior with respect to the absolute carrier density p abs and the magnetic impurity concentration x as seen in the experiments. Our calculations also show an insulator-metal-insulator transition across the optimum p abs where the T c is maximum. Remarkably, the optimum p abs values lie in a narrow range around 0.11 (holes/site) for all x values and the ferromagnetic T c increases with x. We explain our results using the polaron percolation mechanism and outline a new route to enhance the ferromagnetic transition temperature in experiments.

Electronic and magnetic properties of manganese and iron atoms decorated with BO2 superhalogens.

Using density functional theory based calculations, we have systematically studied the equilibrium geometries, relative stabilities, and electronic and magnetic properties of Fe and Mn atoms interacting with a varying number of BO(2) moieties. These clusters are found to exhibit hyperhalogen behavior with electron affinities as high as 6.9 eV once the number of BO(2) moieties exceed the nominal valences of these transition metals toms, namely 2 for both Fe and Mn. In all cases the transition metal atoms retain a sizable spin magnetic moment, even exceeding their free atom values at certain compositions. We also note that when more than two BO(2) moieties are bound to neutral Fe and Mn atoms, they tend to dimerize. In the case of negative ions, this process occurs at n ≥ 3, thus leading to different neutral and anionic ground state geometries. The effect of these structural changes in the interpretation of photoelectron spectroscopy experiments is discussed.

Evolution of superhalogen properties in PtCl(n) clusters.

We have systematically calculated the ground state geometries, relative stability, electronic structure, and spectroscopic properties of PtCl(n) (n = 1-7) clusters. The bonding in these clusters is dominated by covalent interaction. In neutral clusters, chlorine atoms are chemically bound to Pt up to n = 5. However, in neutral PtCl(6) and PtCl(7) clusters, two of the chlorine atoms bind molecularly while the remaining bind as individual atoms. In the negative ions, this happens only in the case of PtCl(7) cluster. The geometries of both neutral and anionic clusters can be considered as fragments of an octahedron and are attributed to the stabilization associated with splitting of partially filled d orbitals under the chloride ligand field. The electron affinity of PtCl(n) clusters rises steadily with n, reaching a maximum value of 5.81 eV in PtCl(5). PtCl(n) clusters with n ≥ 3 are all superhalogens with electron affinities larger than that of chlorine. The accuracy of our results has been verified by carrying out photoelectron spectroscopy experiments on PtCl(n)(-) anion clusters.

Functionalized boranes for hydrogen storage.

Using density functional theory, the generalized gradient approximation for the exchange-correlation potential and Møller-Plesset perturbation theory we study the hydrogen uptake of Li- and Mg-doped boranes. Specifically, we calculate the structures and binding energies of hydrogen molecules sequentially attached to LiB(6)H(7), LiB(12)H(13), Li(2)B(6)H(6), Li(2)B(12)H(12), MgB(6)H(6), and MgB(12)H(12). Up to three H(2) molecules can be bound quasi-molecularly to each of the metal cations with binding energies per H(2) molecule ranging between 0.07 eV and 0.27 eV. The corresponding gravimetric densities lie in the range of 3.49 to 12 wt %, not counting the H atoms bound chemically to the B atoms.

Potential candidates for hyperhalogens: a comparative study of BO2, AlO2, and VO3 species.

Recent work has shown that BO(2) which is a superhalogen with an electron affinity of 4.46 eV, can be used as building block of a new class of molecules/clusters whose electron affinities can exceed that of BO(2). This class of molecules was named hyperhalogens and the concept was illustrated by focusing on Au(BO(2))(2). Here we explore other superhalogens besides BO(2) to see if they too can be used to form hyperhalogens. We have chosen to focus on AlO(2) which is valence isoelectronic with BO(2) as well as VO(3) which involves a transition metal atom. The results obtained using density functional theory show unexpected behavior: Although AlO(2) and VO(3) are both superhalogens such as BO(2), only Na(BO(2))(2) is a hyperhalogen while Na(AlO(2))(2) and Na(VO(3))(2) are not. The origin of this anomalous result is traced to the large binding energy of the dimers of AlO(2) and VO(3).

Interactions of a Mn atom with halogen atoms and stability of its half-filled 3d-shell.

Using density functional theory with hybrid exchange-correlation potential, we have calculated the geometrical and electronic structure, relative stability, and electron affinities of MnX(n) compounds (n = 1-6) formed by a Mn atom and halogen atoms X = F, Cl, and Br. Our objective is to examine the extent to which the Mn-X interactions are similar and to elucidate if/how the half-filled 3d-shell of a Mn atom participates in chemical bonding as the number of halogen atoms increases. While the highest oxidation number of the Mn atom in fluorides is considered to be +4, the maximum number of halogen atoms that can be chemically attached in the MnX(n)(-) anions is 6 for X = F, 5 for X = Cl, and 4 for X = Br. The MnCl(n) and MnBr(n) neutrals are superhalogens for n ≥ 3, while the superhalogen behavior of MnF(n) begins with n = 4. These results are explained to be due to the way different halogen atoms interact with the 3d electrons of Mn atom.

A systematic study of neutral and charged 3d-metal trioxides and tetraoxides.

Using density functional theory with generalized gradient approximation, we have performed a systematic study of the structure and properties of neutral and charged trioxides (MO(3)) and tetraoxides (MO(4)) of the 3d-metal atoms. The results of our calculations revealed a number of interesting features when moving along the 3d-metal series. (1) Geometrical configurations of the lowest total energy states of neutral and charged trioxides and tetraoxides are composed of oxo and∕or peroxo groups, except for CuO(3)(-) and ZnO(3)(-) which possess a superoxo group, CuO(4)(+) and ZnO(4)(+) which possess two superoxo groups, and CuO(3)(+), ZnO(3)(+), and ZnO(4)(-) which possess an ozonide group. While peroxo groups are found in the early and late transition metals, all oxygen atoms bind chemically to the metal atom in the middle of the series. (2) Attachment or detachment of an electron to∕from an oxide often leads to a change in the geometry. In some cases, two dissociatively attached oxygen atoms combine and form a peroxo group or a peroxo group transforms into a superoxo group and vice versa. (3) The adiabatic electron affinity of as many as two trioxides (VO(3) and CoO(3)) and four tetraoxides (TiO(4), CrO(4), MnO(4), and FeO(4)) are larger than the electron affinity of halogen atoms. All these oxides are hence superhalogens although only VO(3) and MnO(4) satisfy the general superhalogen formula.

Negative ions of transition metal-halogen clusters.

A systematic density functional theory based study of the structure and spectroscopic properties of neutral and negatively charged MX(n) clusters formed by a transition metal atom M (M=Sc,Ti,V) and up to seven halogen atoms X (X=F,Cl,Br) has revealed a number of interesting features: (1) Halogen atoms are bound chemically to Sc, Ti, and V for n≤n(max), where the maximal valence n(max) equals to 3, 4, and 5 for Sc, Ti, and V, respectively. For n>n(max), two halogen atoms became dimerized in the neutral species, while dimerization begins at n=5, 6, and 7 for negatively charged clusters containing Sc, Ti, and V. (2) Magnetic moments of the transition metal atoms depend strongly on the number of halogen atoms in a cluster and the cluster charge. (3) The number of halogen atoms that can be attached to a metal atom exceeds the maximal formal valence of the metal atom. (4) The electron affinities of the neutral clusters abruptly rise at n=n(max), reaching values as high as 7 eV. The corresponding anions could be used in the synthesis of new salts, once appropriate counterions are identified.

Enhanced magnetic moments of alkali metal coated Sc clusters: new magnetic superatoms.

It is shown that the magnetic moments of Sc atoms can be significantly enhanced by combining them with alkali atoms. We present results of first principles electronic structure calculations of ScNa(n) (1 < or = n < or = 12) clusters that indicate that a ScNa(12) cluster consisting of a Sc atom surrounded by 12 Na atoms forming a compact icosahedral structure has a spin magnetic moment of 3 micro(B) that is three times that of an isolated Sc atom. This unusual behavior is analyzed in terms of the filling of the supershells 1S, 1P,... controlled by the nature and size of the alkali atoms and the more localized Sc 3d orbitals that hybridize weakly with Na sp orbitals. It is shown that even larger magnetic moments could be attained by controlling the relative position of 1S, 1P, and 3d states. Indeed, our studies indicate large magnetic moment five times that of an isolated Sc atom in the ScK(12) and ScCs(12) clusters, in which the 3d orbitals of Sc adopt a half-filled configuration, while the clusters are stabilized by filled 1S(2), 1P(6), and 2S(2) shells, the features making them as new magnetic superatoms.

Designer magnetic superatoms.

The quantum states in metal clusters are grouped into bunches of close-lying eigenvalues, termed electronic shells, similar to those of atoms. Filling of the electronic shells with paired electrons results in local minima in energy to give stable species called magic clusters. This led to the realization that selected clusters mimic chemical properties of elemental atoms on the periodic table and can be classified as superatoms. So far the work on superatoms has focused on non-magnetic species. Here we propose a framework for magnetic superatoms by invoking systems that have both localized and delocalized electronic states, in which localized electrons stabilize magnetic moments and filled nearly-free electron shells lead to stable species. An isolated VCs(8) and a ligated MnAu(24)(SH)(18) are shown to be such magnetic superatoms. The magnetic superatoms' assemblies could be ideal for molecular electronic devices, as the coupling could be altered by charging or weak fields.

Distinct effects of homogeneous weak disorder and dilute strong scatterers on phase competition in manganites.

We study the two orbital double-exchange model in two dimensions including antiferromagnetic (AFM) superexchange, Jahn-Teller coupling, and substitutional disorder. At hole doping x = 0.5 we focus on phase competition between the ferromagnetic metal (FMM) and the charge-ordered (CO) and orbital-ordered (OO) CE state and compare the impact of weak homogeneous disorder to that of a low density of strong scatterers. Even moderate homogeneous disorder suppresses the CE-CO-OO phase and leads to a glass with nanoscale correlations, while dilute strong scatterers of comparable strength convert the CE-CO-OO phase to a phase separated state with ferromagnetic metal and AFM-CO-OO clusters.