Oxygen vacancies in crystal have important impacts on the electronic properties of ZnO. With ZnO(2) as precursors, we introduce a high concentration of oxygen vacancies into ZnO successfully. The obtained ZnO exhibits a yellow color, and the absorption edge shifts to longer wavelength. Raman and XPS spectra reveal that the concentration of oxygen vacancies in the ZnO decreased when the samples are annealed at higher temperature in air. It is consistent with the theory calculation. The increasing of oxygen vacancies results in a narrowing bandgap and increases the visible light absorption of the ZnO. The narrowing bandgap can be confirmed by the enhancement of the photocurrent response when the ZnO was irradiated with visible light. The ZnO with oxygen vacancies are found to be efficient for photodecomposition of 2,4-dichlorophenol under visible light irradiation.

First-principles calculations are performed to study the electronic and magnetic properties of VX(2) monolayers (X = S, Se). Our results unveil that VX(2) monolayers exhibit exciting ferromagnetic behavior, offering evidence of the existence of magnetic behavior in pristine 2D monolayers. Furthermore, interestingly, both the magnetic moments and strength of magnetic coupling increase rapidly with increasing isotropic strain from -5% to 5% for VX(2) monolayers. It is proposed that the strain-dependent magnetic moment is related to the strong ionic-covalent bonds, while both the ferromagnetism and the variation in strength of magnetic coupling with strain arise from the combined effects of both through-bond and through-space interactions. These findings suggest a new route to facilitate the design of nanoelectronic devices for complementing graphene.

The geometric and electronic structures of graphene adsorption on MoS(2) monolayer have been studied by using density functional theory. It is found that graphene is bound to MoS(2) with an interlayer spacing of 3.32 Å and with a binding energy of -23 meV per C atom irrespective of adsorption arrangement, indicating a weak interaction between graphene and MoS(2). A detailed analysis of the electronic structure indicates that the nearly linear band dispersion relation of graphene can be preserved in MoS(2)/graphene hybrid accompanied by a small band-gap (2 meV) opening due to the variation of on-site energy induced by MoS(2). These findings are useful complement to experimental studies of this new synthesize system and suggest a new route to facilitate the design of devices where both finite band-gap and high carrier mobility are needed.

Very recently, two-dimensional nanosheets of MoSe(2), MoTe(2) and WS(2) were successfully synthesized experimentally [Science, 2011, 331, 568]. In the present work, the electronic and magnetic properties of perfect, vacancy-doped, and nonmetal element (H, B, C, N, O, and F) adsorbed MoSe(2), MoTe(2) and WS(2) monolayers are systematically investigated by means of first-principles calculations to give a detailed understanding of these materials. It is found that: (1) MoSe(2), MoTe(2) and WS(2) exhibit surprising confinement-induced indirect-direct-gap crossover; (2) among all the neutral native vacancies of MoSe(2), MoTe(2) and WS(2) monolayers, only the Mo vacancy in MoSe(2) can induce spin-polarization and long-range antiferromagnetic coupling; (3) adsorption of nonmetal elements on the surface of MoSe(2), MoTe(2) and WS(2) nanosheets can induce a local magnetic moment; H-absorbed WS(2), MoSe(2), and MoTe(2) monolayers and F-adsorbed WS(2) and MoSe(2) monolayers show long-range antiferromagnetic coupling between local moments even when their distance is as long as ∼12 Å. These findings are a useful addition to the experimental studies of these new synthesized two-dimensional nanosheets, and suggest a new route to facilitate the design of spintronic devices for complementing graphene. Further experimental studies are expected to confirm the attractive predictions.

Identifying suitable electrodes materials with desirable electrochemical properties is urgently needed for the next generation of renewable energy technologies. Here we report an ideal candidate material, Mo2C monolayer, with not only required large capacity but also high stability and mobility by means of first-principles calculations. After ensuring its dynamical and thermal stabilities, various low energy Li and Na adsorption sites are identified, and the electric conductivity of the host material is also maintained. The calculated minor diffusion barriers imply a high mobility and cycling ability of Mo2C. In addition, the Li-adsorbed Mo2C monolayer possesses a high theoretical capacity of 526 mAh·g(-1) and a low average electrode potential of 0.14 eV. Besides, we find that the relatively low capability of Na-adsorbed Mo2C (132 mAh·g(-1)) arises from the proposed competition mechanism. These results highlight the promise of Mo2C monolayer as an appealing anode material for both lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries.