arXiv subjects

Arun Mannodi-Kanakkithodi

Publications and source records attributed to Arun Mannodi-Kanakkithodi.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

DeFecT-FF: a machine learning force field framework for high throughput defect modeling in CdTe-based solar cells

We developed a framework for predicting the energies and ground state configurations of native point defects, extrinsic dopants and impurities, and defect complexes across zinc blende-phase Cd/Zn-Te/Se/S compounds, important for CdTe-based solar cells. This framework, named DeFecT-FF, is powered by high-throughput density functional theory (DFT) computations and crystal graph-based machine learning force field (MLFF) models trained on the DFT data. The Cd/Zn-Te/Se/S chemical space is chosen because alloying at Cd or Te sites is a promising avenue to tailor the electronic and defect properties of the CdTe absorber layer to potentially improve solar cell performance. The sheer number of defect configurations achievable when considering all possible singular defects and their combinations, symmetry-breaking operations, and defect charge states, as well as the expense of running large supercell calculations, makes this an ideal problem for developing accurate and widely-applicable force field models. Here, we introduce our dataset of structures and energies from HSE06 geometry optimization, including bulk and alloyed supercells with and without defects. Data were gradually expanded using active learning and accurate MLFF models were trained to predict energies and atomic forces across different charge states. Via accelerated prediction and screening, we identified many new low energy defect configurations and obtained high-fidelity defect formation energy diagrams using HSE06 calculations with spin-orbit coupling. The DeFecT-FF framework has been released publicly as an online tool on the nanoHUB platform, allowing users to upload any crystallographic information file, generate defects of interest, and compute defect formation energies as a function of Fermi level and chemical potential conditions, thus bypassing expensive DFT calculations.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2026

Accelerating point defect simulations using data-driven and machine learning approaches

Point defects in solid-state materials are now routinely simulated using large supercell structures, requiring efficient quantum mechanical solutions. Data-driven and machine learning (ML) models trained on computational data can enable rapid defect property predictions and high-throughput screening. In this article, we provide an overview of prominent efforts to accelerate defect simulations using these approaches. We begin by discussing the motivations for data-driven techniques in defect modeling, and describe efforts over the past decade to use descriptor-based models for rapid screening of defect properties -- most notably in oxides. In particular, we discuss case studies where surrogate models and interatomic potentials were trained on density functional theory (DFT) data, leading to predictions with quantum-mechanical accuracies at a fraction of the cost. In addition to geometry relaxation and formation energy predictions, these interatomic potentials are capable of predicting phonon modes and vibrational free energies to yield defect energetics at finite temperatures -- representing a key frontier for computational defect research. We finish with a discussion on how to connect these approaches and their outputs with experimental data, and provide an outlook on this burgeoning sub-field.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Bridging the Synthesizability Gap in Perovskites by Combining Computations, Literature Data, and PU Learning

Among emerging energy materials, halide and chalcogenide perovskites have garnered significant attention over the last decade owing to the abundance of their constituent species, low manufacturing costs, and their highly tunable composition-structure-property space. Navigating the vast perovskite compositional landscape is possible using density functional theory (DFT) computations, but they are not easily extended to predictions of the synthesizability of new materials and their properties. As a result, only a limited number of compositions identified to have desirable optoelectronic properties from these calculations have been realized experimentally. One way to bridge this gap is by learning from the experimental literature about how the perovskite composition-structure space relates to their likelihood of laboratory synthesis. Here, we present our efforts in combining high-throughput DFT data with experimental labels collected from the literature to train classifier models employing various materials descriptors to forecast the synthesizability of any given perovskite compound. Our framework utilizes the positive and unlabeled (PU) learning strategy and makes probabilistic estimates of the synthesis likelihood based on DFT- computed energies and the prior existence of similar synthesized compounds. Our data and models can be readily accessed via a Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reproducible (FAIR) nanoHUB tool.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Exploring the defect landscape and dopability of chalcogenide perovskite BaZrS3

BaZrS3 is a chalcogenide perovskite that has shown promise as a photovoltaic absorber, but its performance is limited because of defects and impurities that have a direct influence on carrier concentrations. Functional dopants that show lower donor-type or acceptor-type formation energies than naturally occurring defects can help tune the optoelectronic properties of BaZrS3. In this work, we applied first principles computations to comprehensively investigate the defect landscape of BaZrS3, including all intrinsic defects and a set of selected impurities and dopants. BaZrS3 intrinsically exhibits n-type equilibrium conductivity under both S-poor and S-rich conditions, which remains largely unchanged in the presence of O and H impurities. La and Nb dopants created stable donor-type defects, which made BaZrS3 even more n-type, whereas As and P dopants formed amphoteric defects with relatively high formation energies. This work highlights the difficulty of creating p-type BaZrS3 owing to the low formation energies of donor defects, both intrinsic and extrinsic. Defect formation energies were also used to compute expected defect concentrations and make comparisons with experimentally reported values. Our dataset of defects in BaZrS3 paves the path for training machine learning models to subsequently perform larger-scale prediction and screening of defects and dopants across many chalcogenide perovskites, including cation-site or anion-site alloys.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2024

JARVIS-Leaderboard: A Large Scale Benchmark of Materials Design Methods

Lack of rigorous reproducibility and validation are major hurdles for scientific development across many fields. Materials science in particular encompasses a variety of experimental and theoretical approaches that require careful benchmarking. Leaderboard efforts have been developed previously to mitigate these issues. However, a comprehensive comparison and benchmarking on an integrated platform with multiple data modalities with both perfect and defect materials data is still lacking. This work introduces JARVIS-Leaderboard, an open-source and community-driven platform that facilitates benchmarking and enhances reproducibility. The platform allows users to set up benchmarks with custom tasks and enables contributions in the form of dataset, code, and meta-data submissions. We cover the following materials design categories: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Electronic Structure (ES), Force-fields (FF), Quantum Computation (QC) and Experiments (EXP). For AI, we cover several types of input data, including atomic structures, atomistic images, spectra, and text. For ES, we consider multiple ES approaches, software packages, pseudopotentials, materials, and properties, comparing results to experiment. For FF, we compare multiple approaches for material property predictions. For QC, we benchmark Hamiltonian simulations using various quantum algorithms and circuits. Finally, for experiments, we use the inter-laboratory approach to establish benchmarks. There are 1281 contributions to 274 benchmarks using 152 methods with more than 8 million data-points, and the leaderboard is continuously expanding. The JARVIS-Leaderboard is available at the website: https://pages.nist.gov/jarvis_leaderboard

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

Square Moiré Superlattices in Twisted Two-Dimensional Halide Perovskites

Moiré superlattices have emerged as a new platform for studying strongly correlated quantum phenomena, but these systems have been largely limited to van der Waals layer two-dimensional (2D) materials. Here we introduce moiré superlattices leveraging ultra-thin, ligand-free halide perovskites, facilitated by ionic interactions. Square moiré superlattices with varying periodic lengths are clearly visualized through high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Twist-angle-dependent transient photoluminescence microscopy and electrical characterizations indicate the emergence of localized bright excitons and trapped charge carriers near a twist angle of ~10°. The localized excitons are accompanied by enhanced exciton emission, attributed to an increased oscillator strength by a theoretically forecasted flat band. This work illustrates the potential of extended ionic interaction in realizing moiré physics at room temperature, broadening the horizon for future investigations.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

Discovering Novel Halide Perovskite Alloys using Multi-Fidelity Machine Learning and Genetic Algorithm

Expanding the pool of stable halide perovskites with attractive optoelectronic properties is crucial to addressing current limitations in their performance as photovoltaic (PV) absorbers. In this article, we demonstrate how a high-throughput density functional theory (DFT) dataset of halide perovskite alloys can be used to train accurate surrogate models for property prediction and subsequently perform inverse design using genetic algorithm (GA). Our dataset consists of decomposition energies, band gaps, and photovoltaic efficiencies of nearly 800 pure and mixed composition ABX$_3$ compounds from both the GGA-PBE and HSE06 functionals, and are combined with ~ 100 experimental data points collected from the literature. Multi-fidelity random forest regression models are trained on the DFT + experimental dataset for each property using descriptors that one-hot encode composition, phase, and fidelity, and additionally include well-known elemental or molecular properties of species at the A, B, and X sites. Rigorously optimized models are deployed for experiment-level prediction over > 150,000 hypothetical compounds, leading to thousands of promising materials with low decomposition energy, band gap between 1 and 2 eV, and efficiency > 15%. Surrogate models are further combined with GA using an objective function to maintain chemical feasibility, minimize decomposition energy, maximize PV efficiency, and keep band gap between 1 and 2 eV; hundreds more optimal compositions and phases are thus discovered. We present an analysis of the screened and inverse-designed materials, visualize ternary phase diagrams generated for many systems of interest using ML predictions, and suggest strategies for further improvement and expansion in the future.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

First Principles Investigation of Polymorphism in Halide Perovskites

Halide perovskites have been extensively studied as materials of interest for optoelectronic applications. There is a major emphasis on ways to tailor the stability, defect behavior, electronic band structure, and optical absorption in halide perovskites, by changing the composition or structure. In this work, we present our contribution to this field in the form of a comprehensive computational investigation of properties as a function of the perovskite phase, different degrees of lattice strains and octahedral distortion and rotation, and the ordering of cations in perovskite alloys. We performed first principles-based density functional theory computations using multiple semi-local and non-local hybrid functionals to calculate optimized lattice parameters, energies of decomposition, electronic band gaps, and theoretical photovoltaic efficiencies. Trends and critical observations from the high-throughput dataset are discussed, especially in terms of the range of optoelectronic properties achievable while keeping the material in a (meta)stable phase or distorted, strained, or differently ordered polymorph. All data is made openly available to the community and is currently being utilized to train state-of-the-art machine learning models for accelerated prediction and discovery, as well as to guide rational experimental discovery.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

Accelerating Defect Predictions in Semiconductors Using Graph Neural Networks

Here, we develop a framework for the prediction and screening of native defects and functional impurities in a chemical space of Group IV, III-V, and II-VI zinc blende (ZB) semiconductors, powered by crystal Graph-based Neural Networks (GNNs) trained on high-throughput density functional theory (DFT) data. Using an innovative approach of sampling partially optimized defect configurations from DFT calculations, we generate one of the largest computational defect datasets to date, containing many types of vacancies, self-interstitials, anti-site substitutions, impurity interstitials and substitutions, as well as some defect complexes. We applied three types of established GNN techniques, namely Crystal Graph Convolutional Neural Network (CGCNN), Materials Graph Network (MEGNET), and Atomistic Line Graph Neural Network (ALIGNN), to rigorously train models for predicting defect formation energy (DFE) in multiple charge states and chemical potential conditions. We find that ALIGNN yields the best DFE predictions with root mean square errors around 0.3 eV, which represents a prediction accuracy of 98 % given the range of values within the dataset, improving significantly on the state-of-the-art. Models are tested for different defect types as well as for defect charge transition levels. We further show that GNN-based defective structure optimization can take us close to DFT-optimized geometries at a fraction of the cost of full DFT. DFT-GNN models enable prediction and screening across thousands of hypothetical defects based on both unoptimized and partially-optimized defective structures, helping identify electronically active defects in technologically-important semiconductors.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

A High-Throughput Computational Dataset of Halide Perovskite Alloys

Novel halide perovskites with improved stability and optoelectronic properties can be designed via composition engineering at cation and/or anion sites. Data-driven methods, especially high-throughput first principles computations and subsequent analysis based on unique materials descriptors, are key to achieving this goal. In this work, we report a density functional theory (DFT) based dataset of 495 $ABX_3$ halide perovskite compounds, with various atomic and molecular species considered at A, B and X sites, and different amounts of mixing applied at each site using the special quasirandom structures (SQS) approach for alloys. We perform GGA-PBE calculations on all 495 pseudo-cubic perovskite structures and around 250 calculations using the HSE06 functional, with and without spin-orbit coupling, both including geometry optimization and static calculations on PBE optimized structures. Lattice constants, decomposition energy, band gap, and theoretical photovoltaic efficiency, are computed using each level of theory, and comparisons are made with collected experimental values. Trends in the data are unraveled in terms of the effects of mixing at different sites, fractions of specific elemental or molecular species present in the compound, and averaged physical properties of species at different sites. We perform screening across the perovskite dataset based on multiple definitions of tolerance factors, deviation from cubicity, computed stability and optoelectronic properties, leading to a list of promising compositions and design principles for achieving multiple desired properties. Our multi-objective, multi-fidelity, computational halide perovskite alloy dataset, one of the most comprehensive to date, is available open-source, and currently being used to train predictive and optimization models for accelerating the design of novel compositions for superior optoelectronic applications.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

Machine learning for impurity charge-state transition levels in semiconductors from elemental properties using multi-fidelity datasets

Quantifying charge-state transition energy levels of impurities in semiconductors is critical to understanding and engineering their optoelectronic properties for applications ranging from solar photovoltaics to infrared lasers. While these transition levels can be measured and calculated accurately, such efforts are time-consuming and more rapid prediction methods would be beneficial. Here, we significantly reduce the time typically required to predict impurity transition levels using multi-fidelity datasets and a machine learning approach employing features based on elemental properties and impurity positions. We use transition levels obtained from low-fidelity (i.e., local-density approximation or generalized gradient approximation) density functional theory (DFT) calculations, corrected using a recently proposed modified band alignment scheme, which well-approximates transition levels from high-fidelity DFT (i.e., hybrid HSE06). The model fit to the large multi-fidelity database shows improved accuracy compared to the models trained on the more limited high-fidelity values. Crucially, in our approach, when using the multi-fidelity data, high-fidelity values are not required for model training, significantly reducing the computational cost required for training the model. Our machine learning model of transition levels has a root mean squared (mean absolute) error of 0.36 (0.27) eV vs high-fidelity hybrid functional values when averaged over 14 semiconductor systems from the II-VI and III-V families. As a guide for use on other systems, we assessed the model on simulated data to show the expected accuracy level as a function of bandgap for new materials of interest. Finally, we use the model to predict a complete space of impurity charge-state transition levels in all zinc blende III-V and II-VI systems.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

Data-Driven Design of Novel Halide Perovskite Alloys

The great tunability of the properties of halide perovskites presents new opportunities for optoelectronic applications as well as significant challenges associated with exploring combinatorial chemical spaces. In this work, we develop a framework powered by high-throughput computations and machine learning for the design and prediction of mixed cation halide perovskite alloys. In a chemical space of ABX$_{3}$ perovskites with a selected set of options for A, B, and X atoms, pseudo-cubic structures of compounds with B-site mixing are simulated using density functional theory (DFT) and several properties are computed, including stability, lattice constant, band gap, vacancy formation energy, refractive index, and optical absorption spectrum, using both semi-local and hybrid functionals. Neural networks (NN) are used to train predictive models for every property using tabulated elemental properties of A, B, and X site atoms as descriptors. Starting from the DFT dataset of 229 points, we use the trained NN models to predict the structural, energetic, electronic and optical properties of a complete dataset of 17,955 compounds, and perform high-throughput screening in terms of stability, band gap and defect tolerance, to obtain 574 promising compounds that are ranked as potential absorbers according to their photovoltaic figure of merit. Compositional trends in the screened set of attractive mixed cation halide perovskites are revealed and additional computations are performed on selected compounds. The data-driven design framework developed here is promising for designing novel mixed compositions and can be extended to a wider perovskite chemical space in terms of A, B, and X atoms, different kinds of mixing at the A, B, or X sites, non-cubic phases, and other properties of interest.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

Defect Physics of Pseudo-cubic Mixed Halide Lead Perovskites from First Principles

Owing to the increasing popularity of lead-based hybrid perovskites for photovoltaic (PV) applications, it is crucial to understand their defect physics and its influence on their optoelectronic properties. In this work, we simulate various point defects in pseudo-cubic structures of mixed iodide-bromide and bromide-chloride methylammonium lead perovskites with the general formula MAPbI_{3-y}Br_{y} or MAPbBr_{3-y}Cl_{y} (where y is between 0 and 3), and use first principles based density functional theory computations to study their relative formation energies and charge transition levels. We identify vacancy defects and Pb on MA anti-site defect as the lowest energy native defects in each perovskite. We observe that while the low energy defects in all MAPbI_{3-y}Br_{y} systems only create shallow transition levels, the Br or Cl vacancy defects in the Cl-containing pervoskites have low energy and form deep levels which become deeper for higher Cl content. Further, we study extrinsic substitution by different elements at the Pb site in MAPbBr_{3}, MAPbCl_{3} and the 50-50 mixed halide perovskite, MAPbBr_{1.5}Cl_{1.5}, and identify some transition metals that create lower energy defects than the dominant intrinsic defects and also create mid-gap charge transition levels.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2019

Machine-learned impurity level prediction for semiconductors: the example of Cd-based chalcogenides

The ability to predict the likelihood of impurity incorporation and their electronic energy levels in semiconductors is crucial for controlling its conductivity, and thus the semiconductor's performance in solar cells, photodiodes, and optoelectronics. The difficulty and expense of experimental and computational determination of impurity levels makes a data-driven machine learning approach appropriate. In this work, we show that a density functional theory-generated dataset of impurities in Cd-based chalcogenides CdTe, CdSe, and CdS can lead to accurate and generalizable predictive models of defect properties. By converting any semiconductor + impurity system into a set of numerical descriptors, regression models are developed for the impurity formation enthalpy and charge transition levels. These regression models can subsequently predict impurity properties in mixed anion CdX compounds (where X is a combination of Te, Se and S) fairly accurately, proving that although trained only on the end points, they are applicable to intermediate compositions. We make machine-learned predictions of the Fermi-level dependent formation energies of hundreds of possible impurities in 5 chalcogenide compounds, and suggest a list of impurities which can shift the equilibrium Fermi level in the semiconductor as determined by the dominant intrinsic defects. These dominating impurities as predicted by machine learning compare well with DFT predictions, revealing the power of machine-learned models in the quick screening of impurities likely to affect the optoelectronic behavior of semiconductors.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2018

Phonon-pump electronic-probe study of methylammonium lead iodide reveals electronically decoupled organic and inorganic sublattices

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites such as methylammonium lead iodide (CH3NH3PbI3) are game-changing semiconductors for solar cells and light-emitting devices owing to their exceptionally long carrier lifetime and diffusion length. Determining whether the large dipole moment of the organic cation and dynamic disorder benefit the optoelectronic properties of CH3NH3PbI3 has been an outstanding challenge. Herein, via transient absorption measurements employing an infrared pump pulse tuned to a methylammonium vibration, we observe slow, nanosecond-long thermal dissipation from the selectively excited organic mode to the entire lattice. Resulting transient electronic signatures, during the period of thermal-nonequilibrium when the induced thermal motions are mostly concentrated on the organic sublattice, reveal that induced motions of the organic cations do not alter absorption or photoluminescence response of CH3NH3PbI3, beyond thermal effects. Our results suggest that the attractive optoelectronic properties of CH3NH3PbI3 mainly derive from the inorganic lead-halide framework.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

Machine Learning and Materials Informatics: Recent Applications and Prospects

Propelled partly by the Materials Genome Initiative, and partly by the algorithmic developments and the resounding successes of data-driven efforts in other domains, informatics strategies are beginning to take shape within materials science. These approaches lead to surrogate machine learning models that enable rapid predictions based purely on past data rather than by direct experimentation or by computations/simulations in which fundamental equations are explicitly solved. Data-centric informatics methods are becoming useful to determine material properties that are hard to measure or compute using traditional methods--due to the cost, time or effort involved--but for which reliable data either already exists or can be generated for at least a subset of the critical cases. Predictions are typically interpolative, involving fingerprinting a material numerically first, and then following a mapping (established via a learning algorithm) between the fingerprint and the property of interest. Fingerprints may be of many types and scales, as dictated by the application domain and needs. Predictions may also be extrapolative--extending into new materials spaces--provided prediction uncertainties are properly taken into account. This article attempts to provide an overview of some of the recent successful data-driven "materials informatics" strategies undertaken in the last decade, and identifies some challenges the community is facing and those that should be overcome in the near future.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2015

Accelerated materials property predictions and design using motif-based fingerprints

Data-driven approaches are particularly useful for computational materials discovery and design as they can be used for rapidly screening over a very large number of materials, thus suggesting lead candidates for further in-depth investigations. A central challenge of such approaches is to develop a numerical representation, often referred to as a fingerprint, of the materials. Inspired by recent developments in chem-informatics, we propose a class of hierarchical motif-based topological fingerprints for materials composed of elements such as C, O, H, N, F, etc., whose coordination preferences are well understood. We show that these fingerprints, when representing either molecules or crystals, may be effectively mapped onto a variety of properties using a similarity-based learning model and hence can be used to predict relevant properties of a material, given that its fingerprint can be defined. Two simple procedures are introduced to demonstrate that the learning model can be inverted to identify the desired fingerprints and then, to reconstruct molecules which possess a set of targeted properties.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗