arXiv subjects

Mateusz Wlazło

Publications and source records attributed to Mateusz Wlazło.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

Direct Optical Probing of the Magnetic Properties of the Layered Antiferromagnet CrPS$_4$

Unusual magnetic properties of Van der Waals type antiferromagnetic semiconductors make them highly attractive for spintronics and optoelectronics. A link between the magnetic and optical properties of those materials, required for practical applications, has not been, however, established so far. Here, we report on a combined experimental and theoretical study of magnetic, optical, and structural properties of bulk CrPS$_{4}$ samples. We find that the magnetic-field-dependent circular polarization degree of the photoluminescence is a direct measure of the net magnetization of CrPS$_{4}$. Complementary, Raman scattering measured as a function of magnetic field and temperature enables the determination of the magnetic susceptibility curve of the material. Our experimental results are backed by Our experimental results are supported by density functional theory calculations that take as input the lattice parameters determined from temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction measurements. This allows us to explain the impact of spin ordering on the spectral position of Raman transitions in CrPS$_4$, as well as anomalous temperature shifts of selected of them. The presented method for all-optical determination of the magnetic properties is highly promising for studies of spin ordering and magnetic phase transitions in single- or a few-layer samples of magnetic layered materials, for which a poor signal-to-noise ratio precludes any reliable neutron scattering or magnetometry measurements.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

Temperature-induced suppression of structural disproportionation in paramagnetic quantum materials

With the development of electronic structure theory, a new class of materials - quantum ones has been recognized by the community. Traditionally, it has been believed that the properties of such compounds cannot be described within the framework of modern density functional theory, and indeed, more advanced post-mean-field theory methods are needed. Motivated by this, herein, we develop a fundamental understanding of such complex materials using the example of paramagnetic YNiO3, which is experimentally known to exhibit metal-to-insulator phase transition. We show that this material has a temperature-dependent distribution of local structural and spin motifs. Thus, while at low temperatures, YNiO3 has distinct structural disproportionation with the formation of large and small octahedra, as the temperature increases, this disproportionation is suppressed. We also explain the paramagnetic monoclinic to paramagnetic orthorhombic phase transition within the double-well to single-well energy profile, predicting the variation of the corresponding energy profile as a function of octahedral size distribution. In this way, we demonstrate a fundamental understanding of structural phase transitions in quantum materials, giving insight into how it can be used for different applications and what minimum level of theory is needed to describe such types of complex materials correctly.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

Fermi Level Instability as a Way to Tailor Properties of La3Te4

Traditionally, the formation of off-stoichiometric compounds is believed to be the growth effect rather than the intrinsic tendency of the system. However, here, using the example of La3Te4, we demonstrate that in n-type gapped metals having a large internal gap between principal band edges and the Fermi level inside of the principal conduction band, Fermi-level instability can develop, resulting in a reduction of formation energy for acceptor defects. Specifically, La vacancies in La3Te4 form spontaneously to produce the acceptor states and remove a fraction of free carriers from the principal conduction band via electron-hole recombination. Such a unique self-doping mechanism allows to stabilize a range of off-stoichiometric La3-xTe4 compounds, which have different electronic properties. Moreover, we thus show how controlling synthesis conditions can be used as a knob to reach the target functionality, including controllable metal-to-insulator transition.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2018

Free energy landscape of dissociative adsorption of methane on ideal and defected graphene from ab initio simulations

We study the dissociative adsorption of methane at the surface of graphene. Free energy profiles, which include activation energies for different steps of the reaction, are computed from constrained ab initio molecular dynamics. At 300 K, the reaction barriers are much lower than experimental bond dissociation energies of gaseous methane, strongly indicating that graphene surface acts as a catalyst of methane decomposition. On the other hand, the barriers are still much higher than on nickel surface. Methane dissociation therefore occurs at a higher rate on nickel than on graphene. This reaction is a prerequisite for graphene growth from precursor gas. Thus, the growth of the first monolayer should be a fast and efficient process while subsequent layers grow at diminished rate and in a more controllable manner. Defects may also influence reaction energetics. This is evident from our results, in which simple defects (Stone-Wales defect and nitrogen substitution) lead to different free energy landscapes at both dissociation and adsorption steps of the process.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

Ab initio studies of carbon dioxide affinity to carbon compounds and minerals

We have performed quantum chemical computational studies to determine carbon dioxide affinity to carbon compounds and minerals, which could be present in shales. These studies shed light on the microscopic mechanisms of the possible carbon oxide sequestration processes. Our studies reveal that the carbon oxide can be adsorbed to various forms of carbon structures and also minerals such as periclase or illite. We find out that the strongest affinity of carbon oxide towards carbon structures occurs when the carbon structures exhibit $sp^3$ bonds.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗