arXiv subjects

Kuan-Rong Hao

Publications and source records attributed to Kuan-Rong Hao.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2023

Controllable spin splitting in 2D Ferroelectric few-layer ${$\gamma}$-GeSe

${\gamma}$-GeSe is a new type of layered bulk material that was recently successfully synthesized. By means of density functional theory first-principles calculations, we systematically studied the physical properties of two-dimensional (2D) few-layer ${\gamma}$-GeSe. It is found that few-layer ${\gamma}$-GeSe are semiconductors with band gaps decreasing with increasing layer number; and 2D ${\gamma}$-GeSe with layer number $n \geq 2$ are ferroelectric with rather low transition barriers, consistent with the sliding ferroelectric mechanism. Particularly, spin-orbit coupling induced spin splitting is observed at the top of the valence band, which can be switched by the ferroelectric reversal; furthermore, their negative piezoelectricity also enables the regulation of spin splitting by strain. Finally, excellent optical absorption was also revealed. These intriguing properties make 2D few-layer ${\gamma}$-GeSe promising in spintronic and optoelectric applications.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

The atlas of ferroicity in two dimensional MGeX3 family: room-temperature ferromagnetic half metals and unexpected ferroelectricity and ferroelasticity

Two-dimensional (2D) ferromagnetic and ferroelectric materials attract unprecedented attention due to the spontaneous-symmetry-breaking induced novel properties and multifarious potential applications. Here we systematically investigate a large family (148) of 2D MGeX3 (M = metal elements, X = O/S/Se/Te) by means of the high-throughput first-principles calculations, and focus on their possible ferroic properties including ferromagnetism, ferroelectricity, and ferroelasticity. We discover eight stable 2D ferromagnets including five semiconductors and three half-metals, 21 2D antiferromagnets, and 11 stable 2D ferroelectric semiconductors including two multiferroic materials. Particularly, MnGeSe3 and MnGeTe3 are predicted to be room-temperature 2D ferromagnetic half metals with Tc of 490 and 308 K, respectively. It is probably for the first time that ferroelectricity is uncovered in 2D MGeX3 family, which derives from the spontaneous symmetry breaking induced by unexpected displacements of Ge-Ge atomic pairs, and we also reveal that the electric polarizations are in proportion to the ratio of electronegativity of X and M atoms, and IVB group metal elements are highly favored for 2D ferroelectricity. Magnetic tunnel junction and water-splitting photocatalyst based on 2D ferroic MGeX3 are proposed as examples of wide potential applications. The atlas of ferroicity in 2D MGeX3 materials will spur great interest in experimental studies and would lead to diverse applications.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

High-Efficient ab initio Bayesian Active Learning Method and Applications in Prediction of Two-dimensional Functional Materials

Beyond the conventional trial-and-error method, machine learning offers a great opportunity to accelerate the discovery of functional materials, but still often suffers from difficulties such as limited materials data and unbalanced distribution of target property. Here, we propose the ab initio Bayesian active learning method that combines active learning and high-throughput ab initio calculations to accelerate prediction of desired functional materials with the ultrahigh efficiency and accuracy. We apply it as an instance to a large family (3,119) of two-dimensional hexagonal binary compounds with unbalanced materials property, and accurately screen out the materials with maximal electric polarization and proper photovoltaic band gaps, respectively, whereas the computational costs are significantly reduced by only calculating a few tenths of possible candidates in comparison to the random search. This approach shows enormous advantages for the cases with unbalanced distributions of target property. It can be readily applied to seek for a broad range of advanced materials.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Voting Data-Driven Regression Learning for Discovery of Functional Materials and Applications to Two-Dimensional Ferroelectric Materials

Regression machine learning is widely applied to predict various materials. However, insufficient materials data usually leads to a poor performance. Here, we develop a new voting data-driven method that could generally improve the performance of regression learning model for accurately predicting properties of materials. We apply it to investigate a large family (2135) of two-dimensional hexagonal binary compounds focusing on ferroelectric properties and find that the performance of the model for electric polarization is indeed greatly improved, where 38 stable ferroelectrics with out-of-plane polarization including 31 metals and 7 semiconductors are screened out. By an unsupervised learning, actionable information such as how the number and orbital radius of valence electrons, ionic polarizability, and electronegativity of constituent atoms affect polarization was extracted. Our voting data-driven method not only reduces the size of materials data for constructing a reliable learning model but also enables to make precise predictions for targeted functional materials.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Large Family of Two-Dimensional Ferroelectric Metals Discovered via Machine Learning

Ferroelectricity and metallicity are usually believed not to coexist because conducting electrons would screen out static internal electric fields. In 1965, Anderson and Blount proposed the concept of 'ferroelectric metal', however, it is only until recently that very rare ferroelectric metals were reported. Here, by combining high-throughput ab initio calculations and data-driven machine learning method with new electronic orbital based descriptors, we systematically investigated a large family (2,964) of two-dimensional (2D) bimetal phosphates, and discovered 60 stable ferroelectrics with out-of-plane polarization, including 16 ferroelectric metals and 44 ferroelectric semiconductors that contain seven multiferroics. The ferroelectricity origins from spontaneous symmetry breaking induced by the opposite displacements of bimetal atoms, and the full-d-orbital coinage metal elements cause larger displacements and polarization than other elements. For 2D ferroelectric metals, the odd electrons per unit cell without spin polarization may lead to a half-filled energy band around Fermi level and is responsible for the metallicity. It is revealed that the conducting electrons mainly move on a single-side surface of the 2D layer, while both the ionic and electric contributions to polarization come from the other side and are vertical to the above layer, thereby causing the coexistence of metallicity and ferroelectricity. Van der Waals heterostructures based on ferroelectric metals may enable the change of Schottky barrier height or the Schottky-Ohmic contact type and induce a dramatic change of their vertical transport properties. Our work greatly expands the family of 2D ferroelectric metals and will spur further exploration of 2D ferroelectric metals.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

Exploring T-carbon for Energy Applications

Seeking for next-generation energy sources that are economic, sustainable (renewable), clean (environment-friendly), and abundant in earth is crucial when facing the challenges of energy crisis. There have been numerous studies exploring the possibility of carbon based materials to be utilized in future energy applications. In this paper, we introduce T-carbon, which is a theoretically predicted but recently experimentally synthesized carbon allotrope, as a promising material for next-generation energy applications. It is shown that T-carbon can be potentially used in thermoelectrics, hydrogen storage, lithium ion batteries, \emph{etc}. The challenges, opportunities, and possible directions for future studies of energy applications of T-carbon are also addressed. With the development of more environment-friendly technologies, the promising applications of T-carbon in energy fields would not only produce scientifically significant impact in related fields but also lead to a number of industrial and technical applications.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2018

Carboneyane: A nodal line topological carbon with sp-sp2-sp3 chemical bonds

A structurally stable carbon allotrope with plentiful topological properties is predicted by means of first-principles calculations. This novel carbon allotrope possesses the simple space group C2/m, and contains simultaneously sp, sp2 and sp3 hybridized bonds in one structure, which is thus coined as carboneyane. The calculations on geometrical, vibrational, and electronic properties reveal that carboneyane, with good ductility and a much lower density 1.43 g/cm3, is a topological metal with a pair of nodal lines traversing the whole Brillouin zone, such that they can only be annihilated in a pair when symmetry is preserved. The symmetry and topological protections of the nodal lines as well as the associated surface states are discussed. By comparing its x-ray diffraction pattern with experimental results, we find that three peaks of carboneyane meet with the detonation soot. On account of the fluffy structure, carboneyane is shown to have potential applications in areas of storage, adsorption and electrode materials.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗