Effect of Valence Electron Structure on Temper Process and Hardness of the Supersaturated Carburized Layer

By measuring the hardness of carburized layer of a new type supersaturated carburizing steel （35Cr3SiMnMoV） at different temper temperature for 2 h, the relationship curve between the carburized layer hardness and the temper temperature is established. The result indicates that the hardness goes down firstly, then up and down, just like a wave consistent with the temperature increase. A secondary hardening peak appears at 570 ℃ or so. Based on Empirical Election Theory （EET） of Solids and Molecules, the valence electron structures （VESs） containing α-Fe-C, α-Fe-C-Me segregation structure units and carbide are calculated. The laws of temper process and hardness change with the temper temperature are explained, and the fact that reconstruction of θ-Fe3C is prior to that of special carbide at high tempering is analyzed with the phase structure formation factor, S, being taken into consideration. Therefore, the laws of temper process and hardness change of supersaturated carburized layer at different temper temperature can be traced back to valence electron structure （VES） level of alloy phase.

A Valence Electron Structure Criterion of Ionic Conductivity of Sr- and Mg-doped LaGaO_3 Ceramics

The valence electron structures of Sr- and Mg-doped LaGaO3 ceramics with different compositions were calculated by Empirical Electron Theory of Solids and Molecules （EET）. A criterion for the ionic conductivity was proposed, i.e. the 1/（nAnB） increases with increasing the ionic conductivity when x or y〈20% （in molar fraction）.

Analysis of Valence Electron Structure of RE in Solid Solution in Medium and Low Carbon Steel

According to EET theory, the valence electron structures of RE in the solid solution of austenite, pearlite and martensite were calculated. The influence of RE in solid solution on phase transformation of pearlite and recrystallization of martensite was explained by the valence electron structure data of phases. Calculating results indicate that C element is favorite to enhance the number of RE in the solid solution. RE in the solute solution shortens the incubation period of proeutectoid ferrite, increases its quantity and carbon content, decreases the quantity of pearlite and thickness of its lamellas and lamellar spacing, then the strength and hardness of pearlite are improved and granular pearlite can be obtained. RE dissolved in martensite intensifies martensite, enhances tempering stability of martensite, increases its recrystallization temperature and prolongs the holding time needed during tempering.

Calculations of stability of alloyed cementite from valance electron structure

Based on the empirical electronic theory of solids and molecules （EET）, the actual model for unit cell of cementite （0-FeaC） was built and the valence electron structures （VES） of cementite with specified site and a number of Fe atoms substituted by alloying atoms of M （ M=Cr, V, W, Mo, Mn ） were computed by statistical method. By defining P as the stability factor, the stability of alloyed cementite with different numbers and sites of Fe atoms substituted by M was calculated. Calculation results show that the density of lattice electrons, the symmetry of distribution of covalent electron pairs and bond energy have huge influence on the stability of alloyed cementite. It is more stable as M substitutes for FeE than for Fe1. The alloyed cementite is the most stable when Cr, Mo, W and V substitute for 2 atoms of Fe2 at the sites of Nos. 2 and 3 （or No. 6 and No. 7）. The stability of alloyed cementite decreases gradually as being substitutional doped by W, Cr, V, Mo and Mn.

Tuning the electron structure enables the NiZn alloy for CO_(2) electroreduction to formate

Formate is an important liquid chemical,which can be produced by electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction reaction(CO_(2) RR).Most of the metal catalysts for CO_(2) RR to formate are toxic or noble metals,such as Cd,Hg,Pb and Pd,leading to the environmental pollution or increased production costs.Herein,we develop an environmentally friendly and low-cost NiZn alloy catalyst for CO_(2) RR to formate.The X-ray diffraction(XRD),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) and transmission electron microscopy(TEM) confirm the alloy structure of the prepared NiZn catalyst. As for a catalyst for CO_(2) RR,the NiZn alloy exhibits the FE_(HCOO)^(-)(Faraday efficiency of HCOO^(-)) of 36±0.7% at-0.9 V vs.RHE in 0.1 M KHCO_(3), and remarkable stability for 40,000 s at-0.8,-0.9,-1.0 and-1.1 V vs.RHE,respectively.Theoretical calculation results indicate that the NiZn alloy exhibits the middle valence electron structure between the Zn and Ni metal,resulting in the favorable pathway for HCOOH formation but unfavorable for the hydrogen evolution reaction and CO production.The Ultraviolet Photoelectron Spectroscopy results verify the modulated valence electron structure for NiZn alloy as compared to Ni and Zn,consistent with the theoretical calculation results.This work provides new insights into design of alloy catalysts for CO_(2) RR to formate.

Study Segregation of Alloying Elements in Continuous Casting Slab with Valence Electron Structure

By calculating the electron structures of the phases that phosphor, sulfur and alloying elements dissolving inγ-Fe, the reason why alloying elements can bring centerline segregation in continuous casting slab (CCS) with nA, the number of electrons on the strongest covalent bonds, and the structure formation factor S were investigated, and an electron structural criterion to control and to eliminate the centerline segregation was advanced. Basing on this, the electron structures of a part of rare earth phosphides and sulfides are calculated, the physical mechanism that rare earth elements can control the segregation of phosphor and sulfur is analyzed, and the criterion is well verified.

Magnetic-Bottle and Velocity-Map Imaging Photoelectron Spectroscopy of APS-(A=C14H10 or Anthracene):Electron Structure,Spin-Orbit Coupling of APS,and Dipole-Bound State of APS-

Gaseous dibenzo-7-phosphanorbornadiene P-sulfide anions APS （A C14H10 or anthracene） were generated via electrospray ionization, and characterized by magnetic-bottle photoelec- tron spectroscopy, velocity-map imaging （VMI） photoelectron spectroscopy, and quantum chemical calculations. The electron affinity （EA） and spin-orbit （SO） splitting of the APS＂ radical are determined from the photoelectron spectra and Franck-Condon factor simulations to be EA （2.62-4-0.05） eV and SO splitting （43-4-7） meV. VMI photoelectron images show strong and sharp peaks near the detachment threshold with an identical electron kinetic energy （eKE） of 17.9 meV at three different detachment wavelengths, which are therefore assigned to autodetachment from dipole-bound anion states. The B3LYP/6-31＋＋G（d,p） calculations indicate APS has a dipole moment of 3.31 Debye, large enough to support a dipole-bound electron.

Tuning electronic structure of RuO_(2)by single atom Zn and oxygen vacancies to boost oxygen evolution reaction in acidic medium

The poor stability of RuO_(2)electrocatalysts has been the primary obstacles for their practical application in polymer electrolyte membrane electrolyzers.To dramatically enhance the durability of RuO_(2)to construct activity-stability trade-off model is full of significance but challenging.Herein,a single atom Zn stabilized RuO_(2)with enriched oxygen vacancies(SA Zn-RuO_(2))is developed as a promising alternative to iridium oxide for acidic oxygen evolution reaction(OER).Compared with commercial RuO_(2),the enhanced Ru–O bond strength of SA Zn-RuO_(2)by forming Zn-O-Ru local structure motif is favorable to stabilize surface Ru,while the electrons transferred from Zn single atoms to adjacent Ru atoms protects the Ru active sites from overoxidation.Simultaneously,the optimized surrounding electronic structure of Ru sites in SA ZnRuO_(2)decreases the adsorption energies of OER intermediates to reduce the reaction barrier.As a result,the representative SA Zn-RuO_(2)exhibits a low overpotential of 210 mV to achieve 10 mA cm^(-2)and a greatly enhanced durability than commercial RuO_(2).This work provides a promising dual-engineering strategy by coupling single atom doping and vacancy for the tradeoff of high activity and catalytic stability toward acidic OER.

Enhancing Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution through Electronic Structure and Wettability Adjustment of ZnIn2S4/Bi2O3 S-Scheme Heterojunction

The production of renewable fuels through water splitting via photocatalytic hydrogen production holds significant promise.Nonetheless,the sluggish kinetics of hydrogen evolution and the inadequate water adsorption on photocatalysts present notable challenges.In this study,we have devised a straightforward hydrothermal method to synthesize Bi_(2)O_(3)(BO)derived from metal‐organic frameworks(MOFs),loaded with flower-like ZnIn_(2)S_(4)(ZIS).This approach substantially enhances water adsorption and surface catalytic reactions,resulting in a remarkable enhancement of photocatalytic activity.By employing triethanolamine(TEOA)as a sacrificial agent,the hydrogen evolution rate achieved with 15%(mass fraction)ZIS loading on BO reached an impressive value of 1610μmol∙h^(−1)∙g^(−1),marking a 6.34-fold increase compared to that observed for bare BO.Furthermore,through density functional theory(DFT)and ab initio molecular dynamics(AIMD)calculations,we have identified the reactions occurring at the ZIS/BO S-scheme heterojunction interface,including the identification of active sites for water adsorption and catalytic reactions.This study provides valuable insights into the development of high-performance composite photocatalytic materials with tailored electronic properties and wettability.

Rational modulation of electronic structure in PtAuCuNi alloys boosts efficient electrocatalytic ethanol oxidation assisted with energy-saving hydrogen evolution

Compared to conventional electrocatalytic water splitting,electrocatalytic ethanol oxidation reaction(EOR)along with hydrogen production is considered a more energy-efficient strategy.Herein,we prepared a type of novel quaternary alloy catalyst(PtAuCuNi@NF)that exhibits excellent activity for EOR(0.215 V at 10 mA cm^(-2))and hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)(7 mV at 10 mA cm^(-2)).Experimental results demonstrated that both Cu and Ni modulated the electronic environment around Pt and Au.The electron-rich active center facilitates the rapid adsorption and dissociation of reactants and intermediates for both EOR and HER.Impressively,in the ethanol-assisted overall water splitting(E-OWS),a current density of 10 mA cm^(-2)was achieved at 0.28 V.Moreover,an advanced acid-base self-powered system(A-Bsps)that can achieve a self-powered voltage of 0.59 V was assembled.Accordingly,the self-driven hydrogen production with zero external power supply was realized by integrating A-Bsps with the E-OWS equipment.The interesting results can provide a feasible strategy for designing and developing advanced nanoalloy-based materials for clean energy integration and use in various fields.

Tuning the surface electronic structure of noble metal aerogels to promote the electrocatalytic oxygen reduction

The sluggish kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)is the bottleneck for various electrochemical energy conversion devices.Regulating the electronic structure of electrocatalysts by ligands has received particular attention in deriving valid ORR electrocatalysts.Here,the surface electronic structure of Ptbased noble metal aerogels(NMAs)was modulated by various organic ligands,among which the electron-withdrawing ligand of 4-methylphenylene effectively boosted the ORR electrocatalysis.Theoretical calculations suggested the smaller energy barrier for the transformation of O^(*) to OH^(*) and downshift the d-band center of Pt due to the interaction between 4-methylphenylene and the surface metals,thus enhancing the ORR intrinsic activity.Both Pt3Ni and Pt Pd aerogels with 4-methylphenylene decoration performed significant enhancement in ORR activity and durability in different media.Remarkably,the 4-methylphenylene modified Pt Pd aerogel exhibited the higher halfwave potential of 0.952 V and the mass activity of 10.2 times of commercial Pt/C.This work explained the effect of electronic structure on ORR electrocatalytic properties and would promote functionalized NMAs as efficient ORR electrocatalysts.

Re-delocalization of localized d-electrons in VO_(2)(R)-VS_(4)hetero-structure enables high performance of rechargeable Mg-ion batteries

Rechargeable Mg-ion batteries(MIBs)have attracted much more attentions by virtue of the high capacity from the two electrons chemistry.However,the reversible Mg^(2+)diffusion in cathode materials is restricted by the strong interactions between the high-polarized bivalent Mg^(2+)ions and anionic lattice.Herein,we design and propose a hetero-structural VO_(2)(R)-VS_(4)cathode,in which the re-delocalized d-electrons can effectively shield the polarity of Mg^(2+)ions.Theoretically,the electrons should spontaneously transfer from VS_(4)to VO_(2)(R)through the interfaces of hetero-structure due to the lower work function value of VS_(4).Furthermore,the internal electrons transfer lead to the electronic injection into VO_(2)(R)from VS_(4)and the partially broken V-V dimers,indicating the presence of lone pair electrons and charge re-delocalization.Benefiting from the shield effect of re-delocalized electrons,and the weakened attraction between cations and O/S anions enables more S^(2-)-S_(2)^(2-)redox groups to participate the electrochemical reactions and compensate the double charge of Mg^(2+)ions.Accordingly,VO_(2)(R)-VS_(4)hetero-structure exhibits a high specific capacity of 554 mA h g^(-1)at 50 mA g^(-1).It is believed that the charge re-delocalization of cathode extremely boost the Mg^(2+)ions migration for the high-capacity of MIBs.

Electronic structure and spin state regulation of vanadium nitride via a sulfur doping strategy toward flexible zinc-air batteries

Owing to the distinctive structural characteristics,vanadium nitride(VN)is highly regarded as a catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)in zinc-air batteries(ZABs).However,VN exhibits limited intrinsic ORR activity due to the weak adsorption ability to O-containing species.Here,the S-doped VN anchored on N,S-doped multi-dimensional carbon(S-VN/Co/NS-MC)was constructed using the solvothermal and in-situ doping methods.Incorporating sulfur atoms into VN species alters the electron spin state of vanadium in the S-VN/Co/NS-MC for regulating the adsorption energy of vanadium sites to oxygen molecules.The introduced sulfur atoms polarize the V 3d_(z)^(2) electrons,shifting spin-down electrons closer to the Fermi level in the S-VN/Co/NS-MC.Consequently,the introduction of sulfur atoms into VN species enhances the adsorption energy of vanadium sites for oxygen molecules.The*OOH dissociation transitions from being unspontaneous on the VN surface to a spontaneous state on the S-doped VN surface.Then,the ORR barrier on the S-VN/Co/NS-MC surface is reduced.The S-VN/Co/NS-MC demonstrates a higher half-wave potential and limiting current density compared to the VN/Co/N-MC.The S-VN/Co/NS-MC-based liquid ZABs display a power density of 195.7 m W cm^(-2),a specific capacity of 815.7 m A h g^(-1),and a cycling stability exceeding 250 h.The S-VN/Co/NS-MC-based flexible ZABs are successfully employed to charge both a smart watch and a mobile phone.This approach holds promise for advancing the commercial utilization of VN-based catalysts in ZABs.

Fine-tuning electronic structure of N-doped graphitic carbon-supported Co-and Fe-incorporated Mo_(2)C to achieve ultrahigh electrochemical water oxidation activity

Mo_(2)C is an excellent electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction(HER).However,Mo_(2)C is a poor electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction(OER).Herein,two different elements,namely Co and Fe,are incorporated in Mo_(2)C that,therefore,has a finely tuned electronic structure,which is not achievable by incorporation of any one of the metals.Consequently,the resulting electrocatalyst Co_(0.8)Fe_(0.2)-Mo_(2)C-80 displayed excellent OER catalytic performance,which is evidenced by a low overpotential of 214.0(and 246.5)mV to attain a current density of 10(and 50)mA cm^(-2),an ultralow Tafel slope of 38.4 mV dec^(-1),and longterm stability in alkaline medium.Theoretical data demonstrates that Co_(0.8)Fe_(0.2)-Mo_(2)C-80 requires the lowest overpotential(1.00 V)for OER and Co centers to be the active sites.The ultrahigh catalytic performance of the electrocatalyst is attributed to the excellent intrinsic catalytic activity due to high Brunauer-Emmett-Teller specific surface area,large electrochemically active surface area,small Tafel slope,and low chargetransfer resistance.

Mechanical Properties and Electronic Structures of M(M=Ti,V,Cr,Mn and Fe)Dopedβ-Si_(3)N_(4) from First-Principle

The structures,mechanical properties and electronic structures of M metals(M=Ti,V,Cr,Mn and Fe)dopedβ-Si_(3)N_(4) were investigated by First-principles calculations within CASTEP.The calculated lattice parameters ofβ-Si_(3)N_(4) were consistent with previous date.The cohesive energy and formation enthalpy show that initialβ-Si_(3)N_(4) has the highest structural stability.The calculated elastic constant and the Voigt-Reuss-Hill approximation indicate that elastic moduli ofβ-Si_(3)N_(4) are slightly reduced by M doping.Based on Poisson’s and Pugh’s ratio,β-Si_(3)N_(4) is a ductile material and the toughness ofβ-Si_(3)N_(4) increases with M doping,and Fe doping exhibited the best toughness.The results of density of states,charge distributions and overlapping populations indicate thatβ-Si_(3)N_(4) has the strong covalent and ionic bond strength between N and Si.

Geometries and electronic structures of Zr_(n)Cu(n=2–12) clusters: A joint machine-learning potential density functional theory investigation

Zr-based amorphous alloys have attracted extensive attention because of their large glassy formation ability, wide supercooled liquid region, high elasticity, and unique mechanical strength induced by their icosahedral local structures.To determine the microstructures of Zr–Cu clusters, the stable and metastable geometry of Zr_(n)Cu(n=2–12) clusters are screened out via the CALYPSO method using machine-learning potentials, and then the electronic structures are investigated using density functional theory. The results show that the Zr_(n)Cu(n ≥ 3) clusters possess three-dimensional geometries, Zr_(n)Cu(n≥9) possess cage-like geometries, and the Zr_(12)Cu cluster has icosahedral geometry. The binding energy per atom gradually gets enlarged with the increase in the size of the clusters, and Zr_(n)Cu(n=5,7,9,12) have relatively better stability than their neighbors. The magnetic moment of most Zr_(n)Cu clusters is just 1μB, and the main components of the highest occupied molecular orbitals(HOMOs) in the Zr_(12)Cu cluster come from the Zr-d state. There are hardly any localized two-center bonds, and there are about 20 σ-type delocalized three-center bonds.

Electronic structure and effective mass of pristine and Cl-doped CsPbBr_(3)

Organic–inorganic lead halide perovskites(LHPs) have attracted great interest owing to their outstanding optoelectronic properties.Typically,the underlying electronic structure would determinate the physical properties of materials.But as for now,limited studies have been done to reveal the underlying electronic structure of this material system,comparing to the huge amount of investigations on the material synthesis.The effective mass of the valance band is one of the most important physical parameters which plays a dominant role in charge transport and photovoltaic phenomena.In pristine CsPbBr_(3),the Fr?hlich polarons associated with the Pb–Br stretching modes are proposed to be responsible for the effective mass renormalization.In this regard,it would be very interesting to explore the electronic structure in doped LHPs.Here,we report high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy(ARPES) studies on both pristine and Cl-doped CsPbBr_(3).The experimental band dispersions are extracted from ARPES spectra along both ■ and ■ high symmetry directions.DFT calculations are performed and directly compared with the ARPES data.Our results have revealed the band structure of Cl-doped CsPbBr_(3) for the first time,which have also unveiled the effective mass renormalization in the Cl-doped CsPbBr_(3) compound.Doping dependent measurements indicate that the chlorine doping could moderately tune the renormalization strength.These results will help understand the physical properties of LHPs as a function of doping.

Structure,electronic,and nonlinear optical properties of superalkaline M_(3)O(M=Li,Na)doped cyclo[18]carbon

Cyclo[18]carbon has received considerable attention thanks to its novel geometric configuration and special electronic structure.Superalkalis have low ionization energy.Doping a superalkali in cyclo[18]carbon is an effective method to improve the optical properties of the system because considerable electron transfer occurs.In this paper,the geometry,bonding properties,electronic structure,absorption spectrum,and nonlinear optical(NLO)properties of superalkaline M_(3)O(M=Li,Na)-doped cyclo[18]carbon were studied by using density functional theory.M_(3)O and the C_(18) rings are not coplanar.The C_(18) ring still exhibits alternating long and short bonds.The charge transfer between M_(3)O and C_(18) forms stable[M_(3)O]+[C_(18)]-ionic complexes.C_(18)M_(3)O(M=Li,Na)shows striking optical nonlinearity,i.e.,their first-and second-order hyperpolarizability(βvec andγ||)increase considerably atλ=1907 nm and 1460 nm.

First-Principle Study on the Electronic Structure and Optical Property of New Diluted Magnetic Semiconductor(Y_(0.75)Ca_(0.25))(Cu_(0.75)Mn_(0.25))SO

The band structure,DOSs,and optical properties of(Y_(0.75)Ca_(0.25))(Cu_(0.75)Mn_(0.25))SO,including dielectric function,absorption function,reflection function,and energy loss spectrum were studied by using the first-principles calculation.The calculation results indicate that(Y_(0.75)Ca_(0.25))(Cu_(0.75)Mn_(0.25))SO is a direct bandgap semiconductor with a bandgap of 1.1 eV.The Fermi surface is asymmetric and exhibits spin splitting phenomenon.The new type of dilute magnetic semiconductor(Y_(0.75)Ca_(0.25))(Cu_(0.75)Mn_(0.25))SO exhibits significant light loss around 70 eV,with light reflection gradually increasing after 30 eV,and light absorption mainly occurring around 8-30 eV.These results also provide a basis for the discovery of more types of 1111 phase new dilute magnetic semiconductors in the future.

An Electron Model Based on the Fine Structure Constant

In previous publications, the author has proposed a model of the electron’s internal structure, wherein a positively-charged negative mass outer shell and a negatively-charged positive mass central core are proposed to resolve the electron’s charge and mass inconsistencies. That model is modified in this document by assuming the electron’s radius is exactly equal to the classical electron radius. The attributes of the internal components of the electron’s structure have been recalculated accordingly. The shape of the electron is also predicted, and found to be slightly aspherical on the order of an oblate ellipsoid. This shape is attributed to centrifugal force and compliant outer shell material. It is interesting to note that all of the electron’s attributes, both external and internal, with the exception of mass and angular moment, are functions of the fine structure constant a, and can be calculated from just three additional constants: electron mass, Planck’s constant, and speed of light. In particular, the ratios of the outer shell charge and mass to the electron charge and mass, respectively, are 3/2a. The ratios of the central core charge and mass to the electron charge and mass, respectively, are 1-(3/2a). Attributes of the electron are compared with those of the muon. Charge and spin angular momentum are the same, while mass, magnetic moment, and radius appear to be related by the fine structure constant. The mass of the electron outer shell is nearly equal to the mass of the muon. The muon internal structure can be modeled exactly the same as for the electron, with exactly the same attribute relationships.