Detailed Analysis of the Synthesis and Structure of MAX Phase (Mo0.75V0.25)5AlC4 and Its MXene Sibling (Mo0.75V0.25)5C4.

MAX phases with the general formula Mn+1AXn are layered carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides with varying stacking sequence of layers of M6X octahedra and the A element depending on n. While "211" MAXphases (n = 1) are very common, MAX phases with higher n, especially n ≥ 3, have hardly been prepared. This work addresses open questions regarding the synthesis conditions, structure, and chemical composition of the "514" MAX phase. In contrast to literature reports, no oxide is needed to form the MAX phase, yet multiple heating steps at 1,600 °C are required. Using high-resolution X-ray diffraction, the structure of (Mo1-xVx)5AlC4 is thoroughly investigated, and Rietveld refinement suggests P-6c2 as the most fitting space group. SEM/EDS and XPS show that the chemical composition of the MAX phase is (Mo0.75V0.25)5AlC4. It was also exfoliated into its MXene sibling (Mo0.75V0.25)5C4 using two different techniques (using HF and an HF/HCl mixture) that lead to different surface terminations as shown by XPS/HAXPES measurements. Initial investigations of the electrocatalytic properties of both MXene versions show that, depending on the etchant, (Mo0.75V0.25)5C4 can reduce hydrogen at 10 mA cm-2 with an overpotential of 166 mV (HF only) or 425 mV (HF/HCl) after cycling the samples, which makes them a potential candidate as an HER catalyst.

Band Alignments, Electronic Structure, and Core-Level Spectra of Bulk Molybdenum Dichalcogenides (MoS2, MoSe2, and MoTe2).

A comprehensive study of bulk molybdenum dichalcogenides is presented with the use of soft and hard X-ray photoelectron (SXPS and HAXPES) spectroscopy combined with hybrid density functional theory (DFT). The main core levels of MoS2, MoSe2, and MoTe2 are explored. Laboratory-based X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is used to determine the ionization potential (IP) values of the MoX2 series as 5.86, 5.40, and 5.00 eV for MoSe2, MoSe2, and MoTe2, respectively, enabling the band alignment of the series to be established. Finally, the valence band measurements are compared with the calculated density of states which shows the role of p-d hybridization in these materials. Down the group, an increase in the p-d hybridization from the sulfide to the telluride is observed, explained by the configuration energy of the chalcogen p orbitals becoming closer to that of the valence Mo 4d orbitals. This pushes the valence band maximum closer to the vacuum level, explaining the decreasing IP down the series. High-resolution SXPS and HAXPES core-level spectra address the shortcomings of the XPS analysis in the literature. Furthermore, the experimentally determined band alignment can be used to inform future device work.

Complex Magnetic Order in Topochemically Reduced Rh(I)/Rh(III) LaM0.5Rh0.5O2.25 (M = Co, Ni) Phases.

Topochemical reduction of the cation-disordered perovskite oxides LaCo0.5Rh0.5O3 and LaNi0.5Rh0.5O3 with Zr yields the partially anion-vacancy ordered phases LaCo0.5Rh0.5O2.25 and LaNi0.5Rh0.5O2.25, respectively. Neutron diffraction and Hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) measurements reveal that the anion-deficient phases contain Co1+/Ni1+ and a 1:1 mixture of Rh1+ and Rh3+ cations within a disordered array of apex-linked MO4 square-planar and MO5 square-based pyramidal coordination sites. Neutron diffraction data indicate that LaCo0.5Rh0.5O2.25 adopts a complex antiferromagnetic ground state, which is the sum of a C-type ordering (mM5+) of the xy-components of the Co spins and a G-type ordering (mΓ1+) of the z-components of the Co spins. On warming above 75 K, the magnitude of the mΓ1+ component declines, attaining a zero value by 125 K, with the magnitude of the mM5+ component remaining unchanged up to 175 K. This magnetic behavior is rationalized on the basis of the differing d-orbital fillings of the Co1+ cations in MO4 square-planar and MO5 square-based pyramidal coordination sites. LaNi0.5Rh0.5O2.25 shows no sign of long-range magnetic order at 2 K - behavior that can also be explained on the basis of the d-orbital occupation of the Ni1+ centers.

GeSe photovoltaics: doping, interfacial layer and devices.

Germanium selenide (GeSe) bulk crystals, thin films and solar cells are investigated with a focus on acceptor-doping with silver (Ag) and the use of an Sb2Se3 interfacial layer. The Ag-doping of GeSe occurred by a stoichiometric melt growth technique that created Ag-doped GeSe bulk crystals. A combination of capacitance voltage measurements, synchrotron radiation photoemission spectroscopy and surface space-charge calculations indicates that Ag-doping increases the hole density from 5.2 × 1015 cm-3 to 1.9 × 1016 cm-3. The melt-grown material is used as the source for thermally evaporated GeSe films within solar cells. The cell structure with the highest efficiency of 0.260% is FTO/CdS/Sb2Se3/undoped-GeSe/Au, compared with solar cells without the Sb2Se3 interfacial layer or with the Ag-doped GeSe.

Tackling Disorder in γ-Ga2 O3.

Ga2 O3 and its polymorphs are attracting increasing attention. The rich structural space of polymorphic oxide systems such as Ga2 O3 offers potential for electronic structure engineering, which is of particular interest for a range of applications, such as power electronics. γ-Ga2 O3 presents a particular challenge across synthesis, characterization, and theory due to its inherent disorder and resulting complex structure-electronic-structure relationship. Here, density functional theory is used in combination with a machine-learning approach to screen nearly one million potential structures, thereby developing a robust atomistic model of the γ-phase. Theoretical results are compared with surface and bulk sensitive soft and hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, spectroscopic ellipsometry, and photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy experiments representative of the occupied and unoccupied states of γ-Ga2 O3 . The first onset of strong absorption at room temperature is found at 5.1 eV from spectroscopic ellipsometry, which agrees well with the excitation maximum at 5.17 eV obtained by photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy, where the latter shifts to 5.33 eV at 5 K. This work presents a leap forward in the treatment of complex, disordered oxides and is a crucial step toward exploring how their electronic structure can be understood in terms of local coordination and overall structure.

Cycle-Induced Interfacial Degradation and Transition-Metal Cross-Over in LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2-Graphite Cells.

Ni-rich lithium nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) oxide cathode materials promise Li-ion batteries with increased energy density and lower cost. However, higher Ni content is accompanied by accelerated degradation and thus poor cycle lifetime, with the underlying mechanisms and their relative contributions still poorly understood. Here, we combine electrochemical analysis with surface-sensitive X-ray photoelectron and absorption spectroscopies to observe the interfacial degradation occurring in LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2-graphite full cells over hundreds of cycles between fixed cell voltages (2.5-4.2 V). Capacity losses during the first ∼200 cycles are primarily attributable to a loss of active lithium through electrolyte reduction on the graphite anode, seen as thickening of the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI). As a result, the cathode reaches ever-higher potentials at the end of charge, and with further cycling, a regime is entered where losses in accessible NMC capacity begin to limit cycle life. This is accompanied by accelerated transition-metal reduction at the NMC surface, thickening of the cathode electrolyte interphase, decomposition of residual lithium carbonate, and increased cell impedance. Transition-metal dissolution is also detected through increased incorporation into and thickening of the SEI, with Mn found to be initially most prevalent, while the proportion of Ni increases with cycling. The observed evolution of anode and cathode surface layers improves our understanding of the interconnected nature of the degradation occurring at each electrode and the impact on capacity retention, informing efforts to achieve a longer cycle lifetime in Ni-rich NMCs.

Gently does it!: in situ preparation of alkali metal-solid electrolyte interfaces for photoelectron spectroscopy.

The key charge transfer processes in electrochemical energy storage devices occur at electrode-electrolyte interfaces, which are typically buried, making it challenging to access their interfacial chemistry. In the case of Li-ion batteries, metallic Li electrodes hold promise for increasing energy and power densities and, when used in conjunction with solid electrolytes, the adverse safety implications associated with dendrite formation in organic liquid electrolytes can potentially be overcome. To better understand the stability of solid electrolytes when in contact with alkali metals and the reactions that occur, here we consider the deposition of thin (∼10 nm) alkali metal films onto solid electrolyte surfaces, where the metal is thin enough that X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy can probe the buried electrode-electrolyte interface. We highlight the importance of in situ alkali metal deposition by assessing the contaminant species that are present after glovebox handling and the use of 'inert' transfer devices. Consequently, we compare and contrast three available methods for in situ alkali-metal deposition; Li sputter deposition, Li evaporation, and Li plating induced by e- flood-gun irradiation. Studies on both a sulphide solid electrolyte (Li6PS5Cl), and a single-layer graphene probe surface reveal that the more energetic Li deposition methods, such as sputtering, can induce surface damage and interfacial mixing that are not seen with thermal evaporation. This indicates that the appropriate selection of the Li deposition method for in situ studies is required to observe representative behaviour, and the results of previous studies involving energetic deposition may warrant further evaluation.

Design and realization of topological Dirac fermions on a triangular lattice.

Large-gap quantum spin Hall insulators are promising materials for room-temperature applications based on Dirac fermions. Key to engineer the topologically non-trivial band ordering and sizable band gaps is strong spin-orbit interaction. Following Kane and Mele's original suggestion, one approach is to synthesize monolayers of heavy atoms with honeycomb coordination accommodated on templates with hexagonal symmetry. Yet, in the majority of cases, this recipe leads to triangular lattices, typically hosting metals or trivial insulators. Here, we conceive and realize "indenene", a triangular monolayer of indium on SiC exhibiting non-trivial valley physics driven by local spin-orbit coupling, which prevails over inversion-symmetry breaking terms. By means of tunneling microscopy of the 2D bulk we identify the quantum spin Hall phase of this triangular lattice and unveil how a hidden honeycomb connectivity emerges from interference patterns in Bloch px ± ipy-derived wave functions.

Chemical shielding of H2O and HF encapsulated inside a C60 cage.

Molecular surgery provides the opportunity to study relatively large molecules encapsulated within a fullerene cage. Here we determine the location of an H2O molecule isolated within an adsorbed buckminsterfullerene cage, and compare this to the intrafullerene position of HF. Using normal incidence X-ray standing wave (NIXSW) analysis, coupled with density functional theory and molecular dynamics simulations, we show that both H2O and HF are located at an off-centre position within the fullerene cage, caused by substantial intra-cage electrostatic fields generated by surface adsorption of the fullerene. The atomistic and electronic structure simulations also reveal significant internal rotational motion consistent with the NIXSW data. Despite this substantial intra-cage interaction, we find that neither HF or H2O contribute to the endofullerene frontier orbitals, confirming the chemical isolation of the encapsulated molecules. We also show that our experimental NIXSW measurements and theoretical data are best described by a mixed adsorption site model.

Experimental and theoretical investigation of the chemical exfoliation of Cr-based MAX phase particles.

Two-dimensional carbides/nitrides, typically called MXenes, are an emerging member of the ever-growing family of two-dimensional materials. The prediction of a ferromagnetic groundstate in chromium-containing MXenes has triggered growing interest in their chemical exfoliation from Cr-based MAX phases. However, the exfoliation poses serious difficulties using standard etching agents such as hydrofluoric acid (HF). Here, we investigate the exfoliability of Cr2GaC particles by chemical etching with aqueous HF both experimentally and theoretically. Structural and microstructural analyses show that the Cr2GaC particles decompose into chromium carbide and oxide without the formation of a Cr-based MXene. A thermodynamic analysis based on ab initio electronic structure calculations reveals that the exfoliation of Cr-based MXene from Cr2GaC by HF-etching is inhibited by more favorable competing reactions. This result confirms the experimental finding and suggests that HF is an unsuitable etching agent for a successful exfoliation of Cr2GaC.

Resonant Ta Doping for Enhanced Mobility in Transparent Conducting SnO2.

Transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) are ubiquitous in modern consumer electronics. SnO2 is an earth abundant, cheaper alternative to In2O3 as a TCO. However, its performance in terms of mobilities and conductivities lags behind that of In2O3. On the basis of the recent discovery of mobility and conductivity enhancements in In2O3 from resonant dopants, we use a combination of state-of-the-art hybrid density functional theory calculations, high resolution photoelectron spectroscopy, and semiconductor statistics modeling to understand what is the optimal dopant to maximize performance of SnO2-based TCOs. We demonstrate that Ta is the optimal dopant for high performance SnO2, as it is a resonant dopant which is readily incorporated into SnO2 with the Ta 5d states sitting ∼1.4 eV above the conduction band minimum. Experimentally, the band edge electron effective mass of Ta doped SnO2 was shown to be 0.23m 0, compared to 0.29m 0 seen with conventional Sb doping, explaining its ability to yield higher mobilities and conductivities.

Heteromolecular Bilayers on a Weakly Interacting Substrate: Physisorptive Bonding and Molecular Distortions of Copper-Hexadecafluorophthalocyanine.

Heteromolecular bilayers of π-conjugated organic molecules on metals, considered as model systems for more complex thin film heterostructures, are investigated with respect to their structural and electronic properties. By exploring the influence of the organic-metal interaction strength in bilayer systems, we determine the molecular arrangement in the physisorptive regime for copper-hexadecafluorophthalocyanine (F16CuPc) on Au(111) with intermediate layers of 5,7,12,14-pentacenetetrone and perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic diimide. Using the X-ray standing wave technique to distinguish the different molecular layers, we show that these two bilayers are ordered following their deposition sequence. Surprisingly, F16CuPc as the second layer within the heterostructures exhibits an inverted intramolecular distortion compared to its monolayer structure.

Quantitative determination of a model organic/insulator/metal interface structure.

By combining X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray standing waves and scanning tunneling microscopy, we investigate the geometric and electronic structure of a prototypical organic/insulator/metal interface, namely cobalt porphine on monolayer hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) on Cu(111). Specifically, we determine the adsorption height of the organic molecule and show that the original planar molecular conformation is preserved in contrast to the adsorption on Cu(111). In addition, we highlight the electronic decoupling provided by the h-BN spacer layer and find that the h-BN-metal separation is not significantly modified by the molecular adsorption. Finally, we find indication of a temperature dependence of the adsorption height, which might be a signature of strongly-anisotropic thermal vibrations of the weakly bonded molecules.

Hole Extraction by Design in Photocatalytic Architectures Interfacing CdSe Quantum Dots with Topochemically Stabilized Tin Vanadium Oxide.

Tackling the complex challenge of harvesting solar energy to generate energy-dense fuels such as hydrogen requires the design of photocatalytic nanoarchitectures interfacing components that synergistically mediate a closely interlinked sequence of light-harvesting, charge separation, charge/mass transport, and catalytic processes. The design of such architectures requires careful consideration of both thermodynamic offsets and interfacial charge-transfer kinetics to ensure long-lived charge carriers that can be delivered at low overpotentials to the appropriate catalytic sites while mitigating parasitic reactions such as photocorrosion. Here we detail the theory-guided design and synthesis of nanowire/quantum dot heterostructures with interfacial electronic structure specifically tailored to promote light-induced charge separation and photocatalytic proton reduction. Topochemical synthesis yields a metastable ß-Sn0.23V2O5 compound exhibiting Sn 5s-derived midgap states ideally positioned to extract photogenerated holes from interfaced CdSe quantum dots. The existence of these midgap states near the upper edge of the valence band (VB) has been confirmed, and ß-Sn0.23V2O5/CdSe heterostructures have been shown to exhibit a 0 eV midgap state-VB offset, which underpins ultrafast subpicosecond hole transfer. The ß-Sn0.23V2O5/CdSe heterostructures are further shown to be viable photocatalytic architectures capable of efficacious hydrogen evolution. The results of this study underscore the criticality of precisely tailoring the electronic structure of semiconductor components to effect rapid charge separation necessary for photocatalysis.

Probing the geometry of copper and silver adatoms on magnetite: quantitative experiment versus theory.

Accurately modelling the structure of a catalyst is a fundamental prerequisite for correctly predicting reaction pathways, but a lack of clear experimental benchmarks makes it difficult to determine the optimal theoretical approach. Here, we utilize the normal incidence X-ray standing wave (NIXSW) technique to precisely determine the three dimensional geometry of Ag1 and Cu1 adatoms on Fe3O4(001). Both adatoms occupy bulk-continuation cation sites, but with a markedly different height above the surface (0.43 ± 0.03 Å (Cu1) and 0.96 ± 0.03 Å (Ag1)). HSE-based calculations accurately predict the experimental geometry, but the more common PBE + U and PBEsol + U approaches perform poorly.

Corrugation in the Weakly Interacting Hexagonal-BN/Cu(111) System: Structure Determination by Combining Noncontact Atomic Force Microscopy and X-ray Standing Waves.

Atomically thin hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) layers on metallic supports represent a promising platform for the selective adsorption of atoms, clusters, and molecular nanostructures. Specifically, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) studies revealed an electronic corrugation of h-BN/Cu(111), guiding the self-assembly of molecules and their energy level alignment. A detailed characterization of the h-BN/Cu(111) interface including the spacing between the h-BN sheet and its support-elusive to STM measurements-is crucial to rationalize the interfacial interactions within these systems. To this end, we employ complementary techniques including high-resolution noncontact atomic force microscopy, STM, low-energy electron diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the X-ray standing wave method, and density functional theory. Our multimethod study yields a comprehensive, quantitative structure determination including the adsorption height and the corrugation of the sp2 bonded h-BN layer on Cu(111). Based on the atomic contrast in atomic force microscopy measurements, we derive a measurable-hitherto unrecognized-geometric corrugation of the h-BN monolayer. This experimental approach allows us to spatially resolve minute height variations in low-dimensional nanostructures, thus providing a benchmark for theoretical modeling. Regarding potential applications, e.g., as a template or catalytically active support, the recognition of h-BN on Cu(111) as a weakly bonded and moderately corrugated overlayer is highly relevant.

Interfacial interactions between CoTPP molecules and MgO(100) thin films.

We have investigated the interactions between cobalt(ii)-tetraphenylporphyrin (CoTPP) molecules and MgO(100) thin films on Ag(100) by means of Synchrotron Radiation X-Ray and Ultra-Violet Photoelectron Spectroscopy (SR-XPS and SR-UPS). At room temperature, the CoTPP monolayer consists of two different species. A minority of molecules exhibits a strong electronic interaction with the substrate, whereas for the majority a similar spectroscopic signature as for multilayer molecules is observed. Based on the lateral inhomogeneity of the surface electronic structure, we tentatively suggest that the strongly interacting molecules adsorb with their metal center directly above oxygen ions. Unlike for metal substrates, where a monolayer can be prepared upon heating to above 500 K, most of the monolayer on MgO desorbs at 550 K together with the multilayers. This indicates either a weaker molecule-substrate bond than for most metal surfaces or a higher activation energy barrier for dehydrogenation. The remaining molecules are presumably MgTPP molecules, originating from a 2HTPP impurity in CoTPP.

Direct quantitative identification of the "surface trans-effect".

The strong parallels between coordination chemistry and adsorption on metal surfaces, with molecules and ligands forming local bonds to individual atoms within a metal surface, have been established over many years of study. The recently proposed "surface trans-effect" (STE) appears to be a further manifestation of this analogous behaviour, but so far the true nature of the modified molecule-metal surface bonding has been unclear. The STE could play an important role in determining the reactivities of surface-supported metal-organic complexes, influencing the design of systems for future applications. However, the current understanding of this effect is incomplete and lacks reliable structural parameters with which to benchmark theoretical calculations. Using X-ray standing waves, we demonstrate that ligation of ammonia and water to iron phthalocyanine (FePc) on Ag(111) increases the adsorption height of the central Fe atom; dispersion corrected density functional theory calculations accurately model this structural effect. The calculated charge redistribution in the FePc/H2O electronic structure induced by adsorption shows an accumulation of charge along the σ-bonding direction between the surface, the Fe atom and the water molecule, similar to the redistribution caused by ammonia. This apparent σ-donor nature of the observed STE on Ag(111) is shown to involve bonding to the delocalised metal surface electrons rather than local bonding to one or more surface atoms, thus indicating that this is a true surface trans-effect.

Restoring the Co magnetic moments at interfacial Co-porphyrin arrays by site-selective uptake of iron.

Magnetochemistry recently emerged as a promising approach to control addressable spin arrays on surfaces. Here we report on the binding, spatial ordering, and magnetic properties of Fe on a highly regular Co-tetraphenylporphyrin (Co-TPP) template and highlight how the Fe controls the magnetism of the Co centers. As evidenced by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) single Fe atoms attach to the saddle-shape conformers site-selectively in a unique coordination environment offered through a heptamer defined by the Co-N-C-C-C-N cyclic subunit. While the magnetic moment of Co is quenched for bare Co-TPP/Ag(111), the Fe presence revives it. Our X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) experiments, complemented by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, evidence a ferromagnetic coupling between the Fe and the Co center concomitant with a complex charge redistribution involving the porphyrin ligand. Thus, we demonstrate an unusual metalloporphyrin coordination geometry that opens pathways to spatially order and engineer magnetic moments in surface-based nanostructures.

Electron doping by charge transfer at LaFeO3/Sm2CuO4 epitaxial interfaces.

Using X-ray absorption spectroscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy with atomic-scale spatial resolution, experimental evidence for charge transfer at the interface between the Mott insulators Sm2 CuO4 and LaFeO3 is obtained. As a consequence of the charge transfer, the Sm2 CuO4 is doped with electrons and thus epitaxial Sm2 CuO4 /LaFeO3 heterostructures become metallic.