In situ atomistic insight into the growth mechanisms of single layer 2D transition metal carbides.

Developing strategies for atomic-scale controlled synthesis of new two-dimensional (2D) functional materials will directly impact their applications. Here, using in situ aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy, we obtain direct insight into the homoepitaxial Frank-van der Merwe atomic layer growth mechanism of TiC single adlayers synthesized on surfaces of Ti3C2 MXene substrates with the substrate being the source material. Activated by thermal exposure and electron-beam irradiation, hexagonal TiC single adlayers form on defunctionalized surfaces of Ti3C2 MXene at temperatures above 500 °C, generating new 2D materials Ti4C3 and Ti5C4. The growth mechanism for a single TiC adlayer and the energies that govern atom migration and diffusion are elucidated by comprehensive density functional theory and force-bias Monte Carlo/molecular dynamics simulations. This work could lead to the development of bottom-up synthesis methods using substrates terminated with similar hexagonal-metal surfaces, for controllable synthesis of larger-scale and higher quality single-layer transition metal carbides.

Computational Study of Low Interlayer Friction in Tin+1Cn (n = 1, 2, and 3) MXene.

The friction of adjacent Tin+1Cn (n = 1, 2, and 3) MXene layers is investigated using density functional theory (DFT) calculations and classical molecular dynamics simulations with ReaxFF potentials. The calculations reveal the sliding pathways in all three MXene systems with low energy barriers. The friction coefficients for interlayer sliding are evaluated using static calculations. Both DFT and ReaxFF methods predict friction coefficients between 0.24 and 0.27 for normal loads less than 1.2 GPa. The effect of titanium (Ti) vacancies in sublayers and terminal oxygen (O) vacancies at surfaces on the interlayer friction is further investigated using the ReaxFF potential. These defects are found to increase the friction coefficients by increasing surface roughness and creating additional attractive forces between adjacent layers. However, these defective MXenes still maintain friction coefficients below 0.31. We also consider functionalized Ti3C2 MXene terminated with -OH and -OCH3 and find that compared to the -O-terminated surface both groups further reduce the interlayer friction coefficient to 0.10-0.14.

ReaxFF Reactive Force-Field Study of Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS2).

Two-dimensional layers of molybdenum disulfide, MoS2, have been recognized as promising materials for nanoelectronics due to their exceptional electronic and optical properties. Here we develop a new ReaxFF reactive potential that can accurately describe the thermodynamic and structural properties of MoS2 sheets, guided by extensive density functional theory simulations. This potential is then applied to the formation energies of five different types of vacancies, various vacancy migration barriers, and the transition barrier between the semiconducting 2H and metallic 1T phases. The energetics of ripplocations, a recently observed defect in van der Waals layers, is examined, and the interplay between these defects and sulfur vacancies is studied. As strain engineering of MoS2 sheets is an effective way to manipulate the sheets' electronic and optical properties, the new ReaxFF description can provide valuable insights into morphological changes that occur under various loading conditions and defect distributions, thus allowing one to tailor the electronic properties of these 2D crystals.

Mechanical response of all-MoS2 single-layer heterostructures: a ReaxFF investigation.

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is a highly attractive 2D material due to its interesting electronic properties. Recent experimental advances confirm the possibility of further tuning the electronic properties of MoS2 through the fabrication of single-layer heterostructures consisting of semiconducting (2H) and metallic (1T) MoS2 phases. Nonetheless, despite significant technological and scientific interest, there is currently limited information concerning the mechanical properties of these heterostructure systems. This investigation aims at extending our understanding of the mechanical properties of all-MoS2 single-layer structures at room temperature. This goal was achieved by performing extensive classical molecular dynamics simulations using a recently developed ReaxFF force field. We first studied the direction dependent mechanical properties of defect-free 2H and 1T phases. Our modelling results for pristine 2H MoS2 were found to be in good agreement with the experimental tests and first-principles theoretical predictions. We also discuss the mechanical response of 2H/1T single layer heterostructures. Our reactive molecular dynamics results suggest all-MoS2 heterostructures as suitable candidates for providing a strong and flexible material with tuneable electronic properties.

Defined Host-Guest Chemistry on Nanocarbon for Sustained Inhibition of Cancer.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription factor 3 (STAT-3) is known to be overexpressed in cancer stem cells. Poor solubility and variable drug absorption are linked to low bioavailability and decreased efficacy. Many of the drugs regulating STAT-3 expression lack aqueous solubility; hence hindering efficient bioavailability. A theranostics nanoplatform based on luminescent carbon particles decorated with cucurbit[6]uril is introduced for enhancing the solubility of niclosamide, a STAT-3 inhibitor. The host-guest chemistry between cucurbit[6]uril and niclosamide makes the delivery of the hydrophobic drug feasible while carbon nanoparticles enhance cellular internalization. Extensive physicochemical characterizations confirm successful synthesis. Subsequently, the host-guest chemistry of niclosamide and cucurbit[6]uril is studied experimentally and computationally. In vitro assessments in human breast cancer cells indicate approximately twofold enhancement in IC50 of drug. Fourier transform infrared and fluorescence imaging demonstrate efficient cellular internalization. Furthermore, the catalytic biodegradation of the nanoplatforms occur upon exposure to human myeloperoxidase in short time. In vivo studies on athymic mice with MCF-7 xenograft indicate the size of tumor in the treatment group is half of the controls after 40 d. Immunohistochemistry corroborates the downregulation of STAT-3 phosphorylation. Overall, the host-guest chemistry on nanocarbon acts as a novel arsenal for STAT-3 inhibition.

Effect of Metal Ion Intercalation on the Structure of MXene and Water Dynamics on its Internal Surfaces.

MXenes are a recently discovered class of 2D materials with an excellent potential for energy storage applications. Because MXene surfaces are hydrophilic and attractive interaction forces between the layers are relatively weak, water molecules can spontaneously intercalate at ambient humidity and significantly influence the key properties of this 2D material. Using complementary X-ray and neutron scattering techniques, we demonstrate that intercalation with potassium cations significantly improves structural homogeneity and water stability in MXenes. In agreement with molecular dynamics simulations, intercalated potassium ions reduce the water self-diffusion coefficient by 2 orders of magnitude, suggesting greater stability of hydrated MXene against changing environmental conditions.

Atomic Insight into the Lithium Storage and Diffusion Mechanism of SiO2/Al2O3 Electrodes of Lithium Ion Batteries: ReaxFF Reactive Force Field Modeling.

Atomically deposited layers of SiO2 and Al2O3 have been recognized as promising coating materials to buffer the volumetric expansion and capacity retention upon the chemo-mechanical cycling of the nanostructured silicon- (Si-) based electrodes. Furthermore, silica (SiO2) is known as a promising candidate for the anode of next-generation lithium ion batteries (LIBs) due to its superior specific charge capacity and low discharge potential similar to Si anodes. In order to describe Li-transport in mixed silica/alumina/silicon systems we developed a ReaxFF potential for Li-Si-O-Al interactions. Using this potential, a series of hybrid grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations were carried out to probe the lithiation behavior of silica structures. The Li transport through both crystalline and amorphous silica was evaluated using the newly optimized force field. The anisotropic diffusivity of Li in crystalline silica cases is demonstrated. The ReaxFF diffusion study also verifies the transferability of the new force field from crystalline to amorphous phases. Our simulation results indicates the capability of the developed force field to examine the energetics and kinetics of lithiation as well as Li transportation within the crystalline/amorphous silica and alumina phases and provide a fundamental understanding on the lithiation reactions involved in the Si electrodes covered by silica/alumina coating layers.

Self-generated concentration and modulus gradient coating design to protect Si nano-wire electrodes during lithiation.

Surface coatings as artificial solid electrolyte interphases have been actively pursued as an effective way to improve the cycle efficiency of nanostructured Si electrodes for high energy density lithium ion batteries, where the mechanical stability of the surface coatings on Si is as critical as Si itself. However, the chemical composition and mechanical property change of coating materials during the lithiation and delithiation process imposed a grand challenge to design coating/Si nanostructure as an integrated electrode system. In our work, we first developed reactive force field (ReaxFF) parameters for Li-Si-Al-O materials to simulate the lithiation process of Si-core/Al2O3-shell and Si-core/SiO2-shell nanostructures. With reactive dynamics simulations, we were able to simultaneously track and correlate the lithiation rate, compositional change, mechanical property evolution, stress distributions, and fracture. A new mechanics model based on these varying properties was developed to determine how to stabilize the coating with a critical size ratio. Furthermore, we discovered that the self-accelerating Li diffusion in Al2O3 coating forms a well-defined Li concentration gradient, leading to an elastic modulus gradient, which effectively avoids local stress concentration and mitigates crack propagation. Based on these results, we propose a modulus gradient coating, softer outside, harder inside, as the most efficient coating to protect the Si electrode surface and improve its current efficiency.

Stress effects on the initial lithiation of crystalline silicon nanowires: reactive molecular dynamics simulations using ReaxFF.

Silicon (Si) has been recognized as a promising anode material for the next-generation high-capacity lithium (Li)-ion batteries because of its high theoretical energy density. Recent in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the electrochemical lithiation of crystalline Si nanowires (c-SiNWs) proceeds by the migration of the interface between the lithiated Si (LixSi) shell and the pristine unlithiated core, accompanied by solid-state amorphization. The underlying atomic mechanisms of Li insertion into c-Si remain poorly understood. Herein, we perform molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using the reactive force field (ReaxFF) to characterize the lithiation process of c-SiNWs. Our calculations show that ReaxFF can accurately reproduce the energy barriers of Li migration from DFT calculations in both crystalline (c-Si) and amorphous Si (a-Si). The ReaxFF-based MD simulations reveal that Li insertion into interlayer spacing between two adjacent (111) planes results in the peeling-off of the (111) facets and subsequent amorphization, in agreement with experimental observations. We find that breaking of the Si-Si bonds between (111)-bilayers requires a rather high local Li concentration, which explains the atomically sharp amorphous-crystalline interface (ACI). Our stress analysis shows that lithiation induces compressive stress at the ACI layer, causing retardation or even the stagnation of the reaction front, also in good agreement with TEM observations. Lithiation at high temperatures (e.g. 1200 K) shows that Li insertion into c-SiNW results in an amorphous to crystalline phase transformation at Li : Si composition of ∼4.2 : 1. Our modeling results provide a comprehensive picture of the effects of reaction and diffusion-induced stress on the interfacial dynamics and mechanical degradation of SiNW anodes under chemo-mechanical lithiation.

ReaxFF molecular dynamics simulations on lithiated sulfur cathode materials.

Sulfur is a very promising cathode material for rechargeable energy storage devices. However, sulfur cathodes undergo a noticeable volume variation upon cycling, which induces mechanical stress. In spite of intensive investigation of the electrochemical behavior of the lithiated sulfur compounds, their mechanical properties are not very well understood. In order to fill this gap, we developed a ReaxFF interatomic potential to describe Li-S interactions and performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the structural, mechanical, and kinetic behavior of the amorphous lithiated sulfur (a-LixS) compounds. We examined the effect of lithiation on material properties such as ultimate strength, yield strength, and Young's modulus. Our results suggest that with increasing lithium content, the strength of lithiated sulfur compounds improves, although this increment is not linear with lithiation. The diffusion coefficients of both lithium and sulfur were computed for the a-LixS system at various stages of Li-loading. A grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) scheme was used to calculate the open circuit voltage profile during cell discharge. The Li-S binary phase diagram was constructed using genetic algorithm based tools. Overall, these simulation results provide insight into the behavior of sulfur based cathode materials that are needed for developing lithium-sulfur batteries.

Dynamics of liquid rise in a vertical capillary tube.

The governing equation for capillary rise in a vertical tube is derived using energy balance. The derived governing equation includes kinetic, gravity, and viscous effects. Through normalizing different terms in the governing equation, a form of nonlinear ordinary differential equation (ODE) with a positive dimensionless parameter was obtained. The ODE equation was solved numerically and the numerical results were compared with some published experimental data. The derived governing equation was found to be quite accurate for predicting the liquid rise and oscillation in a capillary tube. The effect of a dimensionless parameter on the behavior of the liquid rise was explored numerically. A simple critical condition, which leads to the oscillation of the liquid column in the capillary tube, was found in the form of a dimensionless parameter in the governing equation.