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Ren H, Sun Y, Hoffmann F, Vandichel M, Adegoke TE, Liu N, McCarthy C, Gao P, Ryan KM. Resolving Multielement Semiconductor Nanocrystals at the Atomic Level: Complete Deciphering of Domains and Order in Complex Cu αZn βSn γSe δ (CZTSe) Tetrapods. NANO LETTERS 2024; 24:2125-2130. [PMID: 38341872 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c02810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
Semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) with high elemental and structural complexity can be engineered to tailor for electronic, photovoltaic, thermoelectric, and battery applications etc. However, this greater complexity causes ambiguity in the atomic structure understanding. This in turn hinders the mechanistic studies of nucleation and growth, the theoretical calculations of functional properties, and the capability to extend functional design across complementary semiconductor nanocrystals. Herein, we successfully deciphered the atomic arrangements of 4 different nanocrystal domains in CuαZnβSnγSeδ (CZTSe) nanocrystals using crucial zone axis analysis on multiple crystals in different orientations. The results show that the essence of crystallographic progression from binary to multielemental semiconductors is actually the change of theoretical periodicity. This transition is caused by decreased symmetry in the crystal instead of previously assumed crystal deformation. We further reveal that these highly complex crystalline entities have highly ordered element arrangements as opposed to the previous understanding that their elemental orderings are random.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Ren
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick V94 T9PX, Ireland
- Material Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 117557, Singapore
| | - Yuanwei Sun
- International Center for Quantum Materials and Electron Microscopy Laboratory, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, P.R. China
- Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong 250117, P.R. China
| | - Frank Hoffmann
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Inorganic and Applied Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Hamburg 20148, Germany
| | - Matthias Vandichel
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick V94 T9PX, Ireland
| | - Temilade E Adegoke
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick V94 T9PX, Ireland
| | - Ning Liu
- Department of Physics and Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick V94 T9PX, Ireland
| | - Conor McCarthy
- Confirm Centre & Bernal Institute, School of Engineering, University of Limerick, Limerick V94 T9PX, Ireland
| | - Peng Gao
- International Center for Quantum Materials and Electron Microscopy Laboratory, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, P.R. China
| | - Kevin M Ryan
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick V94 T9PX, Ireland
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Huang T, Hou Y, Zheng H, Zhao L, Wang J, Jiang R, Hu S, Chu S, Zhang Y, Jia S, Wang J. Size-Dependent Electrochemical Performance Mediated by Stress-Induced Cracking in Zn 2SnO 4 Electrodes. ACS NANO 2024. [PMID: 38315444 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c10144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Correlating the microscopic structural characteristics with the macroscopic electrochemical performance in electrode materials is critical for developing excellent-performance lithium-ion batteries, which however remains largely unexplored. Here, we show that the Zn2SnO4 (ZTO) nanowires (NWs) with smaller diameters (d < 5 nm) exhibit slower capacity fade rate and better cycling stability, as compared with the NWs with larger diameters ranging from tens to hundreds of nanometers. By applying in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we discover a strong correlation of cracking behavior with the NW diameter. Upon the first lithiation, there exists a critical diameter of ∼80 nm, below which the NWs neither crack nor fracture, and above which the cracks could easily nucleate and propagate along the specific planes, resulting in the deteriorated cycling stability in larger sized electrodes. Further theoretical calculations based on the finite element model and the climbing image nudged elastic band method faithfully predict the size-dependent cracking behaviors, which may result from the synergistic effect of axial stress evolution as well as preferential Li-ion migration directions during the first lithiation. This work provides a real-time tracking of the tempo-spatial structural evolution of a single ZTO NW, which facilitates a fundamental understanding of how the sample size affects the electrochemical behavior and thus offers a reference for future battery design and application strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianlong Huang
- School of Physics and Technology, Center for Electron Microscopy, MOE Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures, and Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Yuxuan Hou
- School of Physics and Technology, Center for Electron Microscopy, MOE Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures, and Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - He Zheng
- School of Physics and Technology, Center for Electron Microscopy, MOE Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures, and Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Ligong Zhao
- School of Physics and Technology, Center for Electron Microscopy, MOE Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures, and Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Jiaheng Wang
- School of Physics and Technology, Center for Electron Microscopy, MOE Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures, and Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Renhui Jiang
- School of Physics and Technology, Center for Electron Microscopy, MOE Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures, and Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Shuaishuai Hu
- School of Physics and Technology, Center for Electron Microscopy, MOE Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures, and Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Shile Chu
- School of Physics and Technology, Center for Electron Microscopy, MOE Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures, and Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Core Facility of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Shuangfeng Jia
- School of Physics and Technology, Center for Electron Microscopy, MOE Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures, and Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Jianbo Wang
- School of Physics and Technology, Center for Electron Microscopy, MOE Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures, and Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Core Facility of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
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Sanchez-Lievanos KR, Stair JL, Knowles KE. Cation Distribution in Spinel Ferrite Nanocrystals: Characterization, Impact on their Physical Properties, and Opportunities for Synthetic Control. Inorg Chem 2021; 60:4291-4305. [PMID: 33734686 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.1c00040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Metal oxide materials that adopt the spinel crystal structure, such as metal ferrites (MFe2O4), present tetrahedral (A) and octahedral [B] sublattice sites surrounded by oxygen anions that provide a relatively weak crystal-field splitting. The formula of a metal ferrite material is most precisely described as (M1-xFex)[MxFe2-x]O4, where the parentheses and square brackets denote the tetrahedral and octahedral sites, respectively, and x is the inversion parameter quantifying the distribution of M2+ and Fe3+ cations among these sites. The electronic, magnetic, and optical properties of spinel ferrites all depend on the magnitude of x, which, in turn, depends on the relative sizes of the cations, their charge, and the relative crystal-field stabilization afforded by tetrahedral or octahedral coordination. Compared to bulk spinel ferrites, the large surface-area-to-volume ratio of spinel ferrite nanocrystals provides additional structural degrees of freedom that enable access to a broader range of x values. Achieving synthetic control over the degree of inversion in addition to the size and shape is critical to tuning the properties of spinel ferrite nanocrystals. In this Forum Article, we review physical inorganic methods used to quantify x in spinel ferrite nanocrystals, describe how the electronic, magnetic, and optical properties of these nanocrystals depend on x, and discuss emerging strategies for achieving synthetic control over this parameter.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - James L Stair
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, United States
| | - Kathryn E Knowles
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, United States
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Liu J, Wang X, Borkiewicz OJ, Hu E, Xiao RJ, Chen L, Page K. Unified View of the Local Cation-Ordered State in Inverse Spinel Oxides. Inorg Chem 2019; 58:14389-14402. [PMID: 31625736 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.9b01685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Cation ordering/disordering in spinel oxides plays an essential role in the rich physical and chemical properties which are hallmarks of the structural archetype. A variety of cation-ordering motifs have been reported for spinel oxides with multiple cations residing on the octahedral site (or B-site). This has attracted tremendous attention from both experimental and theoretical communities in the last few decades. However, no unified view has been reached, presumably due to the richness of cation species and corresponding complex arrangements emergent in this large family of compounds. In this report, local cation-ordered ground states of (inverse) spinel oxides with two different cations on the octahedral site have been thoroughly investigated using neutron and X-ray total scattering, and a comprehensive theory has been proposed to explain the commonly observed cation-ordered polymorphs. It is found that a cation-zigzag-ordered structure (space group P4122) is the ground state for inverse spinel oxides with a pure or strong ionic lattice, while a cation-linear-ordered arrangement (space group Imma) emerges when one of the B-site cations forms very strong directional covalent bonds with lattice oxygen. The degree and length scale of cation ordering is strongly correlated with the charge and ionic radius difference between the two octahedral site cations. More complicated cation ordering schemes can be formed when there is a concomitant charge and orbital ordering which fall on a similar energy scale. This can lead to the formation of orbital-driven cation clusters or the broad concept of "molecules" in solid- state compounds. It is expected these findings will help to better understand the observed physical properties of spinel oxides and thus facilitate design strategies for improved functional materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jue Liu
- Neutron Scattering Division , Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge , Tennessee , 37831 , United States
| | - Xuelong Wang
- Chemistry Division , Brookhaven National Laboratory , Upton , New York , 11973 , United States.,Institute of Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences , 100190 Beijing , China
| | - Olaf J Borkiewicz
- X-ray Science Division, Advanced Photon Source , Argonne National Laboratory , Argonne , Illinois 60439 , United States
| | - Enyuan Hu
- Chemistry Division , Brookhaven National Laboratory , Upton , New York , 11973 , United States
| | - Rui-Juan Xiao
- Institute of Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences , 100190 Beijing , China
| | - Liquan Chen
- Institute of Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences , 100190 Beijing , China
| | - Katharine Page
- Neutron Scattering Division , Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge , Tennessee , 37831 , United States
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Li Z, Bi D, Zhao Y, Liu R, Ye J, Zhou Y. In situ growth of zinc oxide nanoribbons within the interstices of a zinc stannate nanoplates network on compacted woven metal wires and their enhanced solar energy application. Electrochim Acta 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2018.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Zeng X, Zhang J, Zhu S, Deng X, Ma H, Zhang J, Zhang Q, Li P, Xue D, Mellors NJ, Zhang X, Peng Y. Direct observation of cation distributions of ideal inverse spinel CoFe 2O 4 nanofibres and correlated magnetic properties. NANOSCALE 2017; 9:7493-7500. [PMID: 28530735 DOI: 10.1039/c7nr02013a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Low-dimensional spinel ferrites have recently attracted increasing attention because their tunable magnetic properties make them attractive candidates as spin-filtering tunnel barriers in spintronic devices and as magnetic components in artificial multiferroic heterostructures. Although we know that the distribution of cations (Fe3+ and Co2+) in a spinel structure governs its magnetic properties, their distribution in the so-called ideal inverse spinel structure of a ferrite, CoFe2O4, has not yet been imaged with sub-ångstrom resolution. In this work, we fill this gap in evidence by reporting a direct observation of the distribution of cations in an ideal inverse spinel structure of CoFe2O4 nanofibres using aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The ordering of Co2+ and Fe3+ at the octahedral sites imaged along either [001], [011] or [-112] orientation was identified as 1 : 1, in accordance with the ideal inverse spinel structure. The saturation magnetisation calculated based on the crystal structure as determined from the TEM image is in good agreement with that measured experimentally on the spinel CoFe2O4 nanofibres, further confirming results from TEM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Zeng
- Key Laboratory for Magnetism and Magnetic Materials of the Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
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