# Publications

2018
Wen M, Carr S, Fang S, Kaxiras E, Tadmor EB. Dihedral-angle-corrected registry-dependent interlayer potential for multilayer graphene structures. PHYSICAL REVIEW B. 2018;98 (23).Abstract
The structural relaxation of multilayer graphene is essential in describing the interesting electronic properties induced by intentional misalignment of successive layers, including the recently reported superconductivity in twisted bilayer graphene. This is difficult to accomplish without an accurate interatomic potential. Here, we present a new, registry-dependent Kolmogorov-Crespi-type interatomic potential to model interlayer interactions in multilayer graphene structures. It consists of two parts, representing attractive interaction due to dispersion and repulsive interaction due to anisotropic overlap of electronic orbitals. An important new feature is a dihedral-angle-dependent term that is added to the repulsive part to describe correctly several distinct stacking states that the original Kolmogorov-Crespi potential cannot distinguish. We refer to the new model as the dihedral-angle-corrected registry-dependent interlayer potential (DRIP). Computations for several test problems show that DRIP correctly reproduces the binding, sliding, and twisting energies and forces obtained from ab initio total-energy calculations based on density-functional theory. We use the new potential to study the structural properties of a twisted graphene bilayer and the exfoliation of graphene from graphite. Our potential is available through the OpenKIM interatomic potential repository at https://openkim org.
Wang Z-T, Hoyt RA, El-Soda M, Madix RJ, Kaxiras E, Sykes ECH. Dry Dehydrogenation of Ethanol on Pt-Cu Single Atom Alloys. TOPICS IN CATALYSIS. 2018;61 (5-6, SI) :328-335.Abstract
The non-oxidative dehydrogenation of ethanol to acetaldehyde and hydrogen is an industrially relevant chemical conversion. Although Cu-based catalysts show high reactivity toward oxidative ethanol dehydrogenation, the flat Cu(111) surface is rather inactive for ethanol dehydrogenation in the absence of water, surface oxygen or defects. Herein we show, using experimental and theoretical studies of model systems, that adding 1% Pt into the surface of Cu(111) to form dilute Pt-Cu single atom alloys (SAAs) increases the activity of Cu(111) for ethanol dehydrogenation sixfold. The mechanism of ethanol dehydrogenation was investigated at the molecular level using scanning tunneling microscopy, temperature programmed experiments and density functional theory calculations. Our results demonstrate that Pt-Cu SAAs are much more active than Cu(111) for converting ethanol to acetaldehyde and hydrogen in the absence of surface oxygen and water. Specifically, the O-H bond of ethanol is activated at Pt sites below 160 K, followed by ethoxy spillover to Cu sites which results in a significant increase of the ethoxy intermediate yield. The C-H bond of ethoxy is then activated at 310 K, and the final product, acetaldehyde, desorbs from Cu(111) in a reaction rate limited process. Finally, we show that the Cu model surfaces exhibit stability with respect to poisoning as well as 100% selectivity in the alcohol dehydrogenation to acetaldehyde and hydrogen.
Fang S, Carr S, Cazalilla MA, Kaxiras E. Electronic structure theory of strained two-dimensional materials with hexagonal symmetry. PHYSICAL REVIEW B. 2018;98 (7).Abstract
We derive electronic tight-binding Hamiltonians for strained graphene, hexagonal boron nitride, and transition-metal dichalcogenides based on Wannier transformation of ab initio density functional theory calculations. Our microscopic models include strain effects to leading order that respect the hexagonal crystal symmetry and local crystal configuration and are beyond the central force approximation which assumes only pairwise distance dependence. Based on these models, we also derive and analyze the effective low-energy Hamiltonians. Our ab initio approaches complement the symmetry group representation construction for such effective low-energy Hamiltonians and provide the values of the coefficients for each symmetry-allowed term. These models are relevant for the design of electronic device applications since they provide the framework for describing the coupling of electrons to other degrees of freedom including phonons, spin, and the electromagnetic field. The models can also serve as the basis for exploring the physics of many-body systems of interesting quantum phases.
Mattheakis M, Tsironis GP, Kaxiras E. Emergence and dynamical properties of stochastic branching in the electronic flows of disordered Dirac solids. EPL. 2018;122 (2).Abstract
Graphene as well as more generally Dirac solids constitute two-dimensional materials where the electronic flow is ultra-relativistic. When a Dirac solid is deposited on a different substrate surface with roughness, a local random potential develops through an inhomogeneous charge impurity distribution. This external potential affects profoundly the charge flow and induces a chaotic pattern of current branches that develops through focusing and defocusing effects produced by the randomness of the surface. An additional bias voltage may be used to tune the branching pattern of the charge carrier currents. We employ analytical and numerical techniques in order to investigate the onset and the statistical properties of carrier branches in Dirac solids. We find a specific scaling-type relationship that connects the physical scale for the occurrence of branches with the characteristic medium properties, such as disorder and bias field. We use numerics to test and verify the theoretical prediction as well as a perturbative approach that gives a clear indication of the regime of validity of the approach. This work is relevant to device applications and may be tested experimentally.
Defo RK, Zhang X, Bracher D, Kim G, Hu E, Kaxiras E. Energetics and kinetics of vacancy defects in 4H-SiC. PHYSICAL REVIEW B. 2018;98 (10).Abstract
Defect engineering in wide-gap semiconductors is important in controlling the performance of single-photon emitter devices. The effective incorporation of defects depends strongly on the ability to control their formation and location, as well as to mitigate attendant damage to the material. In this study, we combine density functional theory, molecular dyamics (MD), and kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulations to study the energetics and kinetics of the silicon monovacancy V-Si and related defects in 4H-SiC. We obtain the defect formation energy for V-Si in various charge states and use MD simulations to model the ion implantation process for creating defects. We also study the effects of high-temperature annealing on defect position and stability using KMC and analytical models. Using a larger (480-atom) supercell than previous studies, we obtain the temperature-dependent diffusivity of V-Si in various charge states and find significantly lower barriers to diffusion than previous estimates. In addition, we examine the recombination with interstitial Si and conversion of V-Si into CSiVC during annealing and propose methods for using strain to reduce changes in defect concentrations. Our results provide guidance for experimental efforts to control the position and density of V-Si defects within devices, helping to realize their potential as solid-state qubits.
Yang Y, Fang S, Fatemi V, Ruhman J, Navarro-Moratalla E, Watanabe K, Taniguchi T, Kaxiras E, Jarillo-Herrero P. Enhanced superconductivity upon weakening of charge density wave transport in 2H-TaS2 in the two-dimensional limit. PHYSICAL REVIEW B. 2018;98 (3).Abstract
Layered transition-metal dichalcogenides that host coexisting charge-density wave (CDW) and superconducting orders provide ideal systems for exploring the effects of dimensionality on correlated electronic phases. Dimensionality has a profound effect on both superconductivity and CDW instabilities. Here we report a substantial enhancement of the superconducting T-c to 3.4 K for 2H-TaS2 in the monolayer limit, compared to 0.8 K in the bulk. In addition, the transport signature of a CDW phase transition vanishes in the two-dimensional limit. In our analysis of electronic and vibrational properties of this material, we show that a reduction of the CDW amplitude results in a substantial increase of the density of states at the Fermi energy, which can boost T, by an amount similar to that seen in experiment. Our results indicate competition between CDW order and superconductivity in ultrathin 2H-TaS2 down to the monolayer limit, providing insight toward understanding correlated electronic phases in reduced dimensions.
Xu Y, Chen W, Kaxiras E, Friend CM, Madix RJ. General Effect of van der Waals Interactions on the Stability of Alkoxy Intermediates on Metal Surfaces. JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B. 2018;122 (2, SI) :555-560.Abstract
The critical role of noncovalent van der Waals (vdW) interactions in determining the relative thermodynamic stability of alkoxy intermediates has been demonstrated for the Cu(110) surface using a combination of experiment and theory. The results may be significant for the selectivity control of copper-based reactions of alcohols. Previous examination of this effect on Au(110) was also extended to include higher molecular weight alcohols; on Cu(110) and Au(110) the hierarchy for the strength of binding of the alkoxys was found to be the same within experimental accuracy, with alkoxy species of greater chain length being more stable. The equilibrium constants governing the competition of alcohol pairs for binding sites of the alkoxys are also similar on the two surfaces. These results reveal the generality of such vdW effects. This work expands the understanding of the role of vdW interactions on the binding efficacy of key reactive intermediates on metal surfaces, a key factor in the rational design of complex and selective catalytic processes.
Bediako DK, Rezaee M, Yoo H, Larson DT, Zhao SYF, Taniguchi T, Watanabe K, Brower-Thomas TL, Kaxiras E, Kim P. Heterointerface effects in the electrointercalation of van der Waals heterostructures. NATURE. 2018;558 (7710) :425+.Abstract
Molecular-scale manipulation of electronic and ionic charge accumulation in materials is the backbone of electrochemical energy storagel(1-4). Layered van der Waals (vdW) crystals are a diverse family of materials into which mobile ions can electrochemically intercalate into the interlamellar gaps of the host atomic lattice(5,6). The structural diversity of such materials enables the interfacial properties of composites to be optimized to improve ion intercalation for energy storage and electronic devices(7-12). However, the ability of heterolayers to modify intercalation reactions, and their role at the atomic level, are yet to be elucidated. Here we demonstrate the electrointercalation of lithium at the level of individual atomic interfaces of dissimilar vdW layers. Electrochemical devices based on vdW heterostructures(13) of stacked hexagonal boron nitride, graphene and molybdenum dichalcogenide (MoX2;X=S, Se) layers are constructed. We use transmission electron microscopy, in situ magnetoresistance and optical spectroscopy techniques, as well as low-temperature quantum magneto-oscillation measurements and ab initio calculations, to resolve the intermediate stages of lithium intercalation at heterointerfaces. The formation of vdW heterointerfaces between graphene and MoX2 results in a more than tenfold greater accumulation of charge in MoX2 when compared to MoX2/MoX2 homointerfaces, while enforcing a more negative intercalation potential than that of bulk MoX2 by at least 0.5 V. Beyond energy storage, our combined experimental and computational methodology for manipulating and characterizing the electrochemical behaviour of layered systems opens new pathways to control the charge density in two-dimensional electronic and optoelectronic devices.
O'Connor CR, Hiebel F, Chen W, Kaxiras E, Madix RJ, Friend CM. Identifying key descriptors in surface binding: interplay of surface anchoring and intermolecular interactions for carboxylates on Au(110). CHEMICAL SCIENCE. 2018;9 (15) :3759-3766.Abstract
The relative stability of carboxylates on Au(110) was investigated as part of a comprehensive study of adsorbate binding on Group IB metals that can be used to predict and understand how to control reactivity in heterogeneous catalysis. The binding efficacy of carboxylates is only weakly dependent on alkyl chain length for relatively short-chain molecules, as demonstrated using quantitative temperature-programmed reaction spectroscopy. Corresponding density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrated that the bidentate anchoring geometry is rigid and restricts the amount of additional stabilization through adsorbate-surface van der Waals (vdW) interactions which control stability for alkoxides. A combination of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) shows that carboxylates form dense local islands on Au(110). Complementary DFT calculations demonstrate that adsorbate-adsorbate interactions provide additional stabilization that increases as a function of alkyl chain length for C-2 and C-3 carboxylates. Hence, overall stability is generally a function of the anchoring group to the surface and the inter-adsorbate interaction. This study demonstrates the importance of these two important factors in describing binding of key catalytic intermediates.
Onat B, Cubuk ED, Malone BD, Kaxiras E. Implanted neural network potentials: Application to Li-Si alloys. PHYSICAL REVIEW B. 2018;97 (9).Abstract
Modeling the behavior of materials composed of elements with different bonding and electronic structure character for large spatial and temporal scales and over a large compositional range is a challenging problem. Cases in point are amorphous alloys of Si, a prototypical covalent material, and Li, a prototypical metal, which are being considered as anodes for high-energy-density batteries. To address this challenge, we develop a methodology based on neural networks that extends the conventional training approach to incorporate pre-trained parts that capture the character of different components, into the overall network; we refer to this model as the implanted neural network'' method. We show that this approach works well for the Si-Li amorphous alloys for a wide range of compositions, giving good results for key quantities like the diffusion coefficients. The method is readily generalizable to more complicated situations that involve two or more different elements.
Larson DT, Fampiou I, Kim G, Kaxiras E. Lithium Intercalation in Graphene-MoS2 Heterostructures. JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C. 2018;122 (43) :24535-24541.Abstract
Two-dimensional (2D) heterostructures are interesting candidates for efficient energy storage devices due to their high carrier capacity by reversible intercalation. We employ here density functional theory calculations to investigate the structural and electronic properties of lithium intercalated graphene/molybdenum disulfide (Gr/MoS2) heterostructures. We explore the extent to which Li intercalates at the interface formed between graphene (Gr) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) layers by considering the adsorption and diffusion of Li atoms, the energetic stability, and the changes in the structural morphology of MoS2. We investigate the corresponding electronic structure and charge distribution within the heterostructure at varying concentrations of Li. Our results indicate that the maximum energetically allowed ratio of Li to Mo (Li to C) is 1:1 (1:3) for both the 2H and 1T' phases of MoS2. This is double the Li concentration allowed in graphene bilayers. We find that there is 60% more charge transfer to MoS2 than to Gr in the bilayer heterostructure, which results in a maximum doping of Gr and MoS2 of n(C) = 3.6 x 10(14) cm(-2) and n(MoS2) = 6.0 x 10(14) cm(-2), respectively.
Carr S, Massatt D, Fang S, Cazeaux P, Luskin M, Kaxiras E. Modeling Electronic Properties of Twisted 2D Atomic Heterostructures, in COUPLED MATHEMATICAL MODELS FOR PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL NANOSCALE SYSTEMS AND THEIR APPLICATIONS. Vol 232. Banff Int Res Stat ; 2018 :245-265.Abstract
We present a general method for the electronic characterization of aperiodic 2D materials using ab-initio tight binding models. Specifically studied is the subclass of twisted, stacked heterostructures, but the formalism provided can be implemented for any 2D system without long-range interactions. This new method provides a multi-scale approach for dealing with the ab-initio calculation of electronic transport properties in stacked nanomaterials, allowing for fast and efficient simulation of multi-layered stacks in the presence of twist angles, magnetic field, and defects. We calculate the electronic density of states in twisted bilayer systems of graphene and MX2 transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs). We comment on the interesting features of their density of states as a function of twist-angle and local configuration and how these features are experimentally observable. These results support the bilayer twist-angle as a new variable for controlling electronic properties in artificial nanomaterials (''Twistronics'').
Zhang J, Hong H, Zhang J, Fu H, You P, Lischner J, Liu K, Kaxiras E, Meng S. New Pathway for Hot Electron Relaxation in Two-Dimensional Heterostructures. NANO LETTERS. 2018;18 (9) :6057-6063.Abstract
Two-dimensional (2D) heterostructures composed of transition-metal dichalcogenide atomic layers are the new frontier for novel optoelectronic and photovoltaic device applications. Some key properties that make these materials appealing, yet are not well understood, are ultrafast hole/electron dynamics, interlayer energy transfer and the formation of interlayer hot excitons. Here, we study photoexcited electron/hole dynamics in a representative heterostructure, the MoS2/WSe2 interface, which exhibits type II band alignment. Employing time-dependent density functional theory in the time domain, we observe ultrafast charge dynamics with lifetimes of tens to hundreds of femtoseconds. Most importantly, we report the discovery of an interfacial pathway in 2D heterostructures for the relaxation of photoexcited hot electrons through interlayer hopping, which is significantly faster than intralayer relaxation. This finding is of particular importance for understanding many experimentally observed photoinduced processes, including charge and energy transfer at an ultrafast time scale (<1 ps).
Hoyt RA, Montemore MM, Kaxiras E. Nonadiabatic Hydrogen Dissociation on Copper Nanoclusters. JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS. 2018;9 (18) :5339+.Abstract
Copper surfaces exhibit high catalytic selectivity but have poor hydrogen dissociation kinetics; therefore, we consider icosahedral Cu-13 nanoclusters to understand how nanoscale structure might improve catalytic prospects. We find that the spin state is a surprisingly important design consideration. Cu-13 clusters have large magnetic moments due to finite size and symmetry effects and exhibit magnetization-dependent catalytic behavior. The most favorable transition state for hydrogen dissociation has a lower activation energy than that on single-crystal copper surfaces but requires a magnetization switch from 5 to 3 mu(B). Without this switch, the activation energy is higher than that on single-crystal surfaces. Weak spin-orbit coupling hinders this switch, decreasing the kinetic rate of hydrogen dissociation by a factor of 16. We consider strategies to facilitate magnetization switches through optical excitations, substitution, charge states, and co-catalysts; these considerations demonstrate how control of magnetic properties could improve catalytic performance.
Carr S, Fang S, Jarillo-Herrero P, Kaxiras E. Pressure dependence of the magic twist angle in graphene superlattices. PHYSICAL REVIEW B. 2018;98 (8).Abstract
The recently demonstrated unconventional superconductivity [Cao et al., Nature (London) 556, 43 (2018)] in twisted bilayer graphene (tBLG) opens the possibility for interesting applications of two-dimensional layers that involve correlated electron states. Here we explore the possibility of modifying electronic correlations by the application of uniaxial pressure on the weakly interacting layers, which results in increased interlayer coupling and a modification of the magic angle value and associated density of states. Our findings are based on first-principles calculations that accurately describe the height-dependent interlayer coupling through the combined use of density functional theory and maximally localized Wannier functions. We obtain the relationship between twist angle and external pressure for the magic angle flat bands of tBLG. This may provide a convenient method to tune electron correlations by controlling the length scale of the superlattice.
Shirodkar SN, Mattheakis M, Cazeaux P, Narang P, Soljacic M, Kaxiras E. Quantum plasmons with optical-range frequencies in doped few-layer graphene. PHYSICAL REVIEW B. 2018;97 (19).Abstract
Although plasmon modes exist in doped graphene, the limited range of doping achieved by gating restricts the plasmon frequencies to a range that does not include the visible and infrared. Here we show, through the use of first-principles calculations, that the high levels of doping achieved by lithium intercalation in bilayer and trilayer graphene shift the plasmon frequencies into the visible range. To obtain physically meaningful results, we introduce a correction of the effect of plasmon interaction across the vacuum separating periodic images of the doped graphene layers, consisting of transparent boundary conditions in the direction perpendicular to the layers; this represents a significant improvement over the exact Coulomb cutoff technique employed in earlier works. The resulting plasmon modes are due to local field effects and the nonlocal response of the material to external electromagnetic fields, requiring a fully quantum mechanical treatment. We describe the features of these quantum plasmons, including the dispersion relation, losses, and field localization. Our findings point to a strategy for fine-tuning the plasmon frequencies in graphene and other two-dimensional materials.
Larson DT, Kaxiras E. Raman spectrum of CrI3: An ab initio study. PHYSICAL REVIEW B. 2018;98 (8).Abstract
We study the Raman spectrum of CrI3, a material that exhibits magnetism in a single layer. We employ first-principles calculations within density functional theory to determine the effects of polarization, strain, and incident angle on the phonon spectra of the three-dimensional bulk and the single-layer two-dimensional structure, for both the high- and low-temperature crystal structures. Our results are in good agreement with existing experimental measurements and serve as a guide for additional investigations to elucidate the physics of this interesting material.
Montemore MM, Hoyt R, Kolesov G, Kaxiras E. Reaction-Induced Excitations and Their Effect on Surface Chemistry. ACS CATALYSIS. 2018;8 (11) :10358-10363.Abstract
Despite intensive study of reactions on metals, it is unclear whether electronic excitations play an important role. Here, we show that nonadiabatic effects do indeed play a significant role in N-2 and H-2 dissociation on Ru nanoparticles. We employ nonadiabatic dynamical calculations based on realtime, time-dependent density functional theory to study energy dissipation during these exothermic reaction steps. We find that dissipation of the excess energy into excitation of electrons exceeds thermal dissipation into phonons. For isolated dissociation events, electronic friction can increase reaction barriers; furthermore, the excitations induced by a dissociation event can affect other reacting molecules. Our studies suggest that, for exothermic reactions, metal catalysts in reaction conditions may be constantly experiencing electronic excitations, and these excitations can significantly affect surface chemistry.
Carr S, Massatt D, Torrisi SB, Cazeaux P, Luskin M, Kaxiras E. Relaxation and domain formation in incommensurate two-dimensional heterostructures. PHYSICAL REVIEW B. 2018;98 (22).Abstract
We introduce configuration space as a natural representation for calculating the mechanical relaxation patterns of incommensurate two-dimensional (2D) bilayers. The approach can be applied to a wide variety of 2D materials through the use of a continuum model in combination with a generalized stacking fault energy for interlayer interactions. We present computational results for small-angle twisted bilayer graphene and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), a representative material of the transition-metal dichalcogenide family of 2D semiconductors. We calculate accurate relaxations for MoS2 even at small twist-angle values, enabled by the fact that our approach does not rely on empirical atomistic potentials for interlayer coupling. The results demonstrate the efficiency of the configuration space method by computing relaxations with minimal computational cost. We also outline a general explanation of domain formation in 2D bilayers with nearly aligned lattices, taking advantage of the relationship between real space and configuration space. The configuration space approach also enables calculation of relaxations in incommensurate multilayer systems.
Cao Y, Fatemi V, Fang S, Watanabe K, Taniguchi T, Kaxiras E, Jarillo-Herrero P. Unconventional superconductivity in magic-angle graphene superlattices. NATURE. 2018;556 (7699) :43+.Abstract
The behaviour of strongly correlated materials, and in particular unconventional superconductors, has been studied extensively for decades, but is still not well understood. This lack of theoretical understanding has motivated the development of experimental techniques for studying such behaviour, such as using ultracold atom lattices to simulate quantum materials. Here we report the realization of intrinsic unconventional superconductivity-which cannot be explained by weak electron-phonon interactions-in a two-dimensional superlattice created by stacking two sheets of graphene that are twisted relative to each other by a small angle. For twist angles of about 1.1 degrees-the first magic' angle-the electronic band structure of this twisted bilayer graphene' exhibits flat bands near zero Fermi energy, resulting in correlated insulating states at half-filling. Upon electrostatic doping of the material away from these correlated insulating states, we observe tunable zero-resistance states with a critical temperature of up to 1.7 kelvin. The temperature-carrier-density phase diagram of twisted bilayer graphene is similar to that of copper oxides (or cuprates), and includes dome-shaped regions that correspond to superconductivity. Moreover, quantum oscillations in the longitudinal resistance of the material indicate the presence of small Fermi surfaces near the correlated insulating states, in analogy with underdoped cuprates. The relatively high superconducting critical temperature of twisted bilayer graphene, given such a small Fermi surface (which corresponds to a carrier density of about 1011 per square centimetre), puts it among the superconductors with the strongest pairing strength between electrons. Twisted bilayer graphene is a precisely tunable, purely carbon-based, two-dimensional superconductor. It is therefore an ideal material for investigations of strongly correlated phenomena, which could lead to insights into the physics of high-critical-temperature superconductors and quantum spin liquids.