Structural,Electrical,and Lithium Ion Dynamics of Li2MnO3 from Density Functional Theory

The layered Li2MnO3 is investigated by using the first-principles calculations within the GGA and GGA-t-U scheme, respectively. Within the GGA4-U approach, the calculated intercalation voltage （ranges from 4,5 V to 4.9 V） is found to be in good agreement with experiments. From the analysis of electronic structure, the pure phase Li2MnO3 is insulating, which is indicative of poor electronic-conduction properties. However, further studies of lithium ion diffusion in bulk Li2MnO3 show that unlike the two-dimensional diffusion pathways in rock salt structure layered cathode materials, lithium can diffuse in a three-dimensional pathway in Li2MnO3, with moderate lithium migration energy barrier ranges from 0.57 to 0.63 e V.

Pressure Effect on Elastic and Lattice Dynamic Properties of Beryllium Selenide from First Principles

The lattice dynamic, elastic, and thermodynamic properties of Be Se were investigated with first principles calculations. The phase transition pressure from the zinc blende（B3） to the nickel arsenide（B8） structure of Be Se was determined. The elastic stability analysis suggests that the B3 structure Be Se is mechanically stable in the applied pressure range of 0-50 GPa. Our lattice dynamic calculations show that the B3 structure is lattice dynamically stable under high pressure. Within the quasiharmonic approximation, the thermodynamic properties including the constant volume heat capacity and constant pressure heat capacity are predicted.

Multiscale modeling of electrolytes in porous electrode:From equilibrium structure to non-equilibrium transport

Understanding the mechanisms and properties of various transport processes in the electrolyte,porous electrode,and at the interface between electrode and electrolyte plays a crucial role in guiding the improvement of electrolytes,materials and microstructures of electrode.Nanoscale equilibrium properties and nonequilibrium ion transport are substantially different to that in the bulk,which are difficult to observe from experiments directly.In this paper,we introduce equilibrium and no-equilibrium thermodynamics for electrolyte in porous electrodes or electrolyte-electrode interface.The equilibrium properties of electrical double layer(EDL)including the EDL structure and capacitance are discussed.In addition,classical non-equilibrium thermodynamic theory is introduced to help us understand the coupling effect of different transport processes.We also review the recent studies of nonequilibrium ion transport in porous electrode by molecular and continuum methods,among these methods,dynamic density functional theory(DDFT)shows tremendous potential as its high efficiency and high accuracy.Moreover,some opportunities for future development and application of the non-equilibrium thermodynamics in electrochemical system are prospected.

Different defect morphologies in polyethylene crystal induced by surface physicochemical properties

The physicochemical properties of surfaces have a great effect on the micro-morphologies of the crystal structures which are in contact with them.Understanding the interaction mechanism between the internal driving forces of the crystal and external inducing forces of the surfaces is the prerequisite of controlling and obtaining the desirable morphologies.In this work,the dynamic density functional theory was applied to construct the free energy functional expression of polyethylene(PE)lattice,and the micro-dynamic evolution processes of PE lattice morphology near the surfaces with different properties were observed to reveal the interaction mechanism at atomic scale.The results showed that the physical and chemical properties of the external surfaces synergistically affect the morphologies in both the defect shapes and the distribution of the defect regions.In the absence of the contact surfaces,driven by the oriented interactions among different CH2 groups,PE lattices gradually grow and form a defect-free structure.Conversely,the presence of contact surfaces leads to lattice defects in the interfacial regions,and PE lattice shows different self-healing abilities around different surfaces.

Effect of steady shear on multi-axial texture of symmetric diblock copolymers

The effect of steady shear on multi-axial texture of symmetric diblock copolymer was investigated by using dynamic density functional theory.Through modifying the periodic boundary condition,the parallel-transverse biaxial texture and perpendicular-parallel-transverse triaxial texture have been observed.In the formation of the multi-axial texture,there are two critical velocities uper-par and upartra,at which the transition between the perpendicular and the parallel lamellar morphology,and the transition between the parallel and the transverse lamellar morphology occur,respectively.The two critical velocities increase as the inter-action parameter increases,but they almost remain constant at different shear rates.Furthermore,the rotation from the transverse lamellae to the parallel lamellae induced by the shear strain,and the increase of lamellar spacings of the three lamellae after removing the shear,have also been observed by the time evolution of the morphologies.These phenomena are consistent with experimental work.