1. Mastering the growth of antimonene on ▫$Bi_2Se_3$▫ : strategies and insightsRoberto Flammini, Conor Hogan, Stefano Colonna, Fabio Ronci, Mauro Satta, Marco Papagno, Ziya S. Aliev, Sergey V. Eremeev, Zipporah Rini Benher, Sandra Gardonio, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Antimonene, the two-dimensional phase of antimony, appears in two distinct allotropes when epitaxially grown on Bi2Se3: the puckered asymmetric washboard (α) and buckled honeycomb (β) bilayer structures. As-deposited antimony films exhibit varying proportions of single α and β structures. We identify the conditions necessary for ordered, pure-phase growth of single to triple β-antimonene bilayers. Additionally, we determine their electronic structure, work function, and characteristic core-level binding energies, offering an explanation for the relatively large chemical shifts observed among the different phases. This study not only establishes a protocol for achieving a single β phase of antimonene but also provides key signatures for distinguishing between the different allotropes using standard spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. Keywords: density functional theory, electronic band structure, topological insulators, work functions, scanning tunneling microscopy, atomic structure, antimony, angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, core level shifts Published in RUNG: 20.03.2025; Views: 68; Downloads: 0
Full text (2,71 MB) This document has many files! More... |
2. Effect of shell thickness on the exchange bias blocking temperature and coercivity in Co-CoO core-shell nanoparticlesSenoy Thomas, K. Reethu, Thanveer Thajudheen, M. T. Z. Myint, S. H. Al-Harthi, 2017, original scientific article Abstract: The exchange bias blocking temperature distribution of naturally oxidized Co-CoO core-shell nanoparticles exhibits two distinct signatures. These are associated with the existence of two magnetic entities which are responsible for the temperature dependence of an exchange bias field. One is from the CoO grains which undergo thermally activated magnetization reversal. The other is from the disordered spins at the Co-CoO interface which exhibits spin-glass-like behavior. We investigated the oxide shell thickness dependence of the exchange bias effect. For particles with a 3 nm thick CoO shell, the predominant contribution to the temperature dependence of exchange bias is the interfacial spin-glass layer. On increasing the shell thickness to 4 nm, the contribution from the spin-glass layer decreases, while upholding the antiferromagnetic grain contribution. For samples with a 4 nm CoO shell, the exchange bias training was minimal. On the other hand, 3 nm samples exhibited both the training effect and a peak in coercivity at an intermediate set temperature Ta. This is explained using a magnetic core-shell model including disordered spins at the interface. Keywords: exchange interactions, magnetic ordering, ferromagnetic materials, magnetic materials, polycrystalline material, thin films, nanoparticle, nuclear structure models, oxides, transition metals Published in RUNG: 13.12.2024; Views: 591; Downloads: 4
Link to file This document has many files! More... |
3. Single crystal synthesis and surface electronic structure of Bi_{1.993}Cr_{0.007}Se_{3}Sandra Gardonio, Zipporah Rini Benher, Mattia Fanetti, Paolo Moras, Polina M. Sheverdyaeva, Matjaž Valant, 2024, original scientific article Keywords: topological insulators, magnetic atoms, crystal synthesis, formation of clusters, surface electronic structure Published in RUNG: 21.08.2024; Views: 1189; Downloads: 8
Full text (2,05 MB) This document has many files! More... |
4. From HX-groups to HX-polygroupsSeyed S. Mousavi, Morteza Jafarpour, Irina Elena Cristea, 2023, original scientific article Keywords: HX-group, hypercompositional structure, coset, polygroup, regularity, uniformity, essentiality, double coset Published in RUNG: 22.12.2023; Views: 2244; Downloads: 8
Full text (340,31 KB) This document has many files! More... |
5. Spine-sheath jet model for low-luminosity AGNsMargot Boughelilba, Anita Reimer, Lukas Merten, Jon Paul Lundquist, 2023, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: In several jetted AGNs, structured jets have been observed. In particular spine-sheath configurations
where the jet is radially divided into two or more zones of different flow velocities.
We present a model based on the particle and radiation transport code CR-ENTREES. Here,
interaction rates and secondary particle and photon yields are pre-calculated by Monte Carlo
event generators or semi-analytical approximations. These are then used to create transition
matrices, that describe how each particle spectrum evolves with time. This code allows for
arbitrary injection of primary particles, and the possibility to choose which interaction to include
(photo-meson production, Bethe-Heitler pair-production, inverse-Compton scattering, �-� pair
production, decay of all unstable particles, synchrotron radiation — from electrons, protons, and
all relevant secondaries before their respective decays — and particle escape).
In addition to the particle and radiation interactions taking place in each homogeneous zone, we
implement the feedback between the two zones having different bulk velocities. The main mechanism
at play when particles cross the boundary between the two zones is shear acceleration. We
follow a microscopic description of this acceleration process to create a corresponding transition
matrix and include it in our numerical setup. Furthermore, each zone’s radiation field can be
used as an external target photon field for the other zone’s particle interactions. We present here
the first results of the effect of a two-zone spine-sheath jet, by applying this model to typical
low-luminosity AGNs. Keywords: active galactic nuclei, low-luminosity jetted AGN, spine-sheath jet structure Published in RUNG: 24.08.2023; Views: 2054; Downloads: 5
Full text (461,21 KB) This document has many files! More... |
6. |
7. |
8. |
9. Giant and tunable out-of-plane spin polarization of topological antimonenePolina M. Sheverdyaeva, Conor Hogan, Gustav Bihlmayer, Jun Fujii, Ivana Vobornik, Matteo Jugovac, Asish K. Kundu, Sandra Gardonio, Zipporah Rini Benher, Giovanni di Santo, 2023, original scientific article Keywords: density functional theory, spin-resolved ARPES, electronic structure, topological insulators, 2D materials, antimonene Published in RUNG: 18.07.2023; Views: 2395; Downloads: 5
Full text (4,26 MB) This document has many files! More... |
10. Efficiency of the grid energy storage technology based on iron-chloride material cycleUroš Luin, doctoral dissertation Abstract: Future high-capacity energy storage technologies are crucial for a highly renewable energy mix, and their mass deployment must rely on cheap and abundant materials, such as iron chloride. The iron chloride electrochemical cycle (ICEC), suitable for long-term grid energy storage using a redox potential change of Fe2+/Fe, involves the electrolysis of a highly concentrated aqueous FeCl2 solution yielding solid iron deposits. For the high overall energy efficiency of the cycle, it is crucial maximizing the energy efficiency of the electrolysis process. The thesis presents a study of the influence of electrolysis parameters on energy efficiency, performed in an industrial-type electrolyzer system. We studied the conductivity of the FeCl2 solution as a function of concentration and temperature and correlated it with the electrolysis energy efficiency as a function of current density. The contribution of the resistance polarization increases with the current density, causing a decrease in overall energy efficiency. The highest energy efficiency of 89 ±3 % was achieved using
2.5 mol dm-3 FeCl2 solution at 70 °C and a current density of 0.1 kA m-2.
In terms of the energy input per Fe mass, this means 1.88 Wh g-1. The limiting energy input per mass of the Fe-deposit, calculated by extrapolating experimental results toward Eocell potential, was found to be 1.76 Wh g-1. For optimal long-duration electrolysis efficiency and performance, the optimal catholyte concentration range is
1-2 mol dm-3 FeCl2. We performed in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy experimental studies to validate theoretical conclusions from literature related to the population and structure of Fe-species in the FeCl2 (aq) solution at different concentrations (1 - 4 mol dm-3) and temperatures (25 - 80 °C). This revealed that at low temperature and low FeCl2 concentration, the octahedral first coordination sphere around Fe is occupied by one Cl ion at a distance of 2.33 (±0.02) Å and five H2O at a distance of 2.095 (±0.005) Å. The structure of the ionic complex gradually changes with an increase in temperature and/or concentration. The apical H2O is substituted by a Cl ion to yield a neutral Fe[Cl2(H2O)4]0. The transition from the charged Fe[Cl(H2O)5]+ to the neutral Fe[Cl2(H2O)4]0 causes a significant drop in the solution conductivity, which well correlates with the existing state-of-the-art conductivity models. An additional steric impediment of the electrolytic cell is caused by the predominant neutral species present in the catholyte solution at high concentration. This correlates with poor electrolysis performance at a very high catholyte concentration (4 mol dm-3 FeCl2), especially at high current densities (> 1 kA m-2). The neutral Fe[Cl2(H2O)4]0 complex negatively affects the anion exchange membrane ion (Cl-) transfer and lowers the concentration of electroactive species (Fe[Cl(H2O)5]+) at the cathode surface. The kinetics of hydrogen evolution from the reaction between Fe powder and HCl acid was studied under the first-order reaction condition. The activation energy was determined to be 55.3 kJ mol-1. Keywords: ICEC, Power-to-Solid, energy storage, hydrogen, ferrous chloride, electrolysis, Fe deposition, efficiency, XAS, structure and population, ionic species, ion association, conductivity Published in RUNG: 18.04.2023; Views: 2990; Downloads: 48 (1 vote)
Full text (4,34 MB) |