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Monolayer SnP3 is a novel two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor material with high carrier mobility and large optical absorption coefficient, implying its potential applications in the photovoltaic and thermoelectric (TE) fields.

Plutonium dioxide is of high technological importance in nuclear fuel cycle and is particularly crucial in long-term storage of Pu-based radioactive waste. Using first-principles density-functional theory, in this paper we systematically study the structural, electronic, mechanical, thermodynamic properties, and pressure induced structural transition of PuO 2 . To properly describe the strong correlation in Pu 5f electrons, the local density approximation+U and the generalized gradient approximation+U theoretical formalisms have been employed. We optimize U parameter in calculating the total energy, lattice parameters, and bulk modulus at nonmagnetic, ferromagnetic, and antiferromagnetic configurations for both ground state fluorite structure and high pressure cotunnite structure. Best agreement with experiments is obtained by tuning the effective Hubbard parameter U at around 4 eV within LDA+U approach. After carefully testing the validity of the ground-state calculation, we further investigate the bonding nature, elastic constants, various moduli, Debye temperature, hardness, ideal tensile strength, and phonon dispersion for fluorite PuO 2 . Some thermodynamic properties, e.g., Gibbs free energy, volume thermal expansion, and specific heat, are also calculated. As for cotunnite phase, besides elastic constants, various moduli, and Debye temperature at 0 GPa, we have further presented our calculated electronic, structural, and magnetic properties for PuO 2 under pressure up to 280 GPa. A metallic transition at around 133 GPa and an isostructural transition in pressure range of 75-133 GPa are predicted. Additionally, as an illustration on the valency trend and subsequent effect on the mechanical properties, the calculated results for other actinide metal dioxides (ThO 2 , UO 2 , and NpO 2 ) are also presented.

We present a study of the structural phase transition and the mechanical and thermodynamic properties of UO2 by means of the local density approximation (LDA)+U approach. A phase transition pressure of 40 GPa is obtained from theory at 0 K, and agrees well with the experimental value of 42 GPa. The pressure-induced enhancements of elastic constants, elastic moduli, elastic wave velocities, and Debye temperature of the ground-state fluorite phase are predicted. The phonon spectra of both the ground state fluorite structure and high pressure cotunnite structure calculated by the supercell approach show that the cotunnite structure is dynamically unstable under ambient pressure. Based on the imaginary mode along the Γ−X direction and soft phonon mode along the Γ−Z direction, a transition path from cotunnite to fluorite has been identified. We calculate the lattice vibrational energy in the quasiharmonic approximation using both first-principles phonon density of state and the Debye model. The calculated temperature dependence of lattice parameter, entropy, and specific heat agrees well with experimental observations in the low temperature domain. The difference of the Gibbs free energy between the two phases of UO2 has predicted a boundary in the pressure-temperature phase diagram. The solid-liquid boundary is approximated by an empirical equation using our calculated elastic constants.

Combining the first-principles density functional method and crystal structure prediction techniques, we report a series of hexagonal two-dimensional transition metal borides including Sc2B2, Ti2B2, V2B2, Cr2B2, Y2B2, Zr2B2, and Mo2B2. Their dynamic and thermal stabilities are testified by phonon and molecular dynamics simulations. We investigate the potential of the two-dimensional Ti2B2 monolayer as an anode material for Li-ion and Na-ion batteries. The Ti2B2 monolayer possesses high theoretical specific capacities of 456 and 342 mA h g-1 for Li and Na, respectively. The very high Li/Na diffusivity with an ultralow energy barrier of 0.017/0.008 eV indicates an excellent charge-discharge capability. In addition, good electronic conductivity during the whole lithiation process is found by electronic structure calculations. The very small change in volume after the adsorption of one, two, and three layers of Li and Na ions indicates that the Ti2B2 monolayer is robust. These results highlight the suitability of Ti2B2 monolayer as well as the other two-dimensional transition metal borides as excellent anode materials for both Li-ion and Na-ion batteries.

Monolayer KAgX are a class of novel two-dimensional (2D) layered materials with efficient optical absorption and superior carrier mobility, signifying their potential application prospect in photovoltaic (PV) and thermoelectric (TE) fields. Motivated by the recent theoretical studies on the KAgX monolayer, we carried out systematic investigations on the TE performance of KAgS and KAgSe monolayers, employing density functional theory (DFT) and semiclassical Boltzmann transport equation (BTE). For both KAgSe and KAgS monolayers, large Gruneisen parameters, low group velocities, and short phonon scattering time greatly hinder their heat transport and result in an ultralow thermal conductivity, 0.26 and 0.33 W m −1 K −1 at 300 K, respectively. A twofold degeneracy appearing at the Γ point and the abrupt slope of the density of states (DOS) near the Fermi level give rise to high Seebeck coefficients of KAgX monolayers. Due to the ultralow thermal conductivity and excellent electronic transport performance, the ZT values as high as 4.65 (3.11) and 4.05 (2.63) at 500 (300) K in the n-type doping for KAgSe and KAgS monolayers are obtained. The exceptional performance of KAgX monolayers sheds light on their immense potential applications in the medium-temperature (around 300−500 K) thermoelectric devices and greatly stimulates further experimental synthesis and validation.

Cathode performance is generally considered the bottleneck of further increasing energy in Li-ion battery technology. Novel Li-rich disordered rock salts have a lithium storage capacity much higher than those of the current cathodes, making them attractive as next-generation materials. The path to commercialization, however, is hindered by the lack of fundamental understanding in a material's properties and behavior. Here, we show how structural defects can be used to influence Li diffusion and kinetic properties, providing critical insights needed for the design and optimization of these new materials.

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