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Sooran Kim

Publications and source records attributed to Sooran Kim.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Physics-informed Machine Learning Prediction of Hubbard Interaction Parameters

Accurate determination of Hubbard interaction parameters is essential for beyond-DFT approaches such as DFT+$U$, DFT+DMFT, and DFT+$U$+$V$ in correlated materials. In practice, however, these parameters are often chosen empirically, limiting their transferability across materials. Advanced computational approaches such as the constrained random-phase approximation (cRPA) provide a rigorous route for evaluating Hubbard interactions, but their computational cost remains a bottleneck for large-scale materials screening. Here, we present machine-learning (ML) models for predicting cRPA-derived Hubbard interaction parameters: effective on-site $U_{\rm eff}$, inter-site $V$, and Hund's coupling $J$ for transition-metal oxides (TMOs). We combine ensemble-learning models with a regression-based brute-force search (BFS) approach to achieve both predictive accuracy and explicit analytical expressions. We construct features that capture electronic, structural, and atomic properties, including the TM-$d$ bandwidth and TM-$d$/O-$p$ band-center separation, as physically motivated descriptors of localization and screening. Our ensemble models achieve RMSEs of 0.148 eV, 0.062 eV, and 0.007 eV for $U_{\rm eff}$, $V$, and $J$, respectively. The derived analytical forms directly relate $U_{\rm eff}$ to electron localization and TM-$d$/O-$p$ hybridization, suggest the importance of hybridization and structural compactness in determining $V$, and indicate that $J$ is governed primarily by elemental descriptors of the TM ion. Together, the present study provides an efficient approach for predicting cRPA-derived $U_{\rm eff}$, $V$, and $J$, while offering physical insight into the factors underlying these Hubbard interactions.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Spatial mixed models for assessing environmental exposure effects on the microbiome

The influence of environmental exposures, such as air pollution, on human health has become increasingly recognized. A growing body of evidence suggests that the microbiome may mediate these effects, explaining the relationship between the environment and host biology. However, the impact of environmental exposures on the microbiome is not yet fully understood, and statistical modeling in this context is challenged by complex dependency structures. In particular, microbiome data exhibit spatial dependencies across sampling regions as well as ecological correlations among microbial taxa, which, if ignored, can substantially reduce detection power, leading to missed true signals. We introduce a novel spatial mixed modeling framework for microbiome data that accounts for both region-level spatial dependency and taxon-level ecological dependency using conditional autoregressive priors. Through simulations, we demonstrate that this framework outperforms existing methods that ignore such dependencies, by achieving high detection power in feature selection while maintaining low false positive rates and reduced mean squared error in estimation. Applied to two real studies-data from Food and Microbiome Longitudinal Investigation study and lung microbiome dataset-with fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) exposures, our model identified genera, which are known to be involved in pollution-related health outcomes, as well as novel taxa that may mediate host responses to air pollution. This novel approach offers a powerful and flexible tool for uncovering biologically meaningful associations in complex environmental data.

stat.ME

A new class of functional conditional autoregressive models

We introduce a new class of conditional autoregressive models for spatially dependent functional data, formulated through conditional means given neighboring functional observations and characterized by a covariance operator and a spatial dependence parameter. Our estimation strategy consists of three components: (i) estimating the covariance operator using conditionally centered data, (ii) estimating the spatial dependence parameter by maximizing the likelihood of projected observations, and (iii) applying a novel profile-based approach to obtain the final estimators. Under an expanding lattice framework, we establish two key theoretical results. First, we establish the consistency of the proposed covariance estimator, which is not attainable using naive methods based on marginally centered data. Second, we prove that the spatial dependence parameter estimator is superconsistent and asymptotically normal, where the latter property enables statistical inference for spatial dependence in functional data -- a contribution that is novel in the existing literature. Numerical studies support the theoretical results and demonstrate the computational efficiency of our method. Finally, we illustrate its practical utility by analyzing weekly PM$_{2.5}$ concentration trajectories in 2019 across counties in the Midwestern United States.

stat.ME

Comparison of SCAN+U and r2SCAN+U for Charge Density Wave Instability and Lattice Dynamics in CuTe

Identifying an appropriate exchange-correlation functional and computational conditions is essential for explaining the fundamental physics of materials and predicting their properties. Here, we investigate the performance of the meta-GGA functionals SCAN and r2SCAN, with and without a Hubbard U, for describing the charge density wave (CDW) in the quasi-one-dimensional material CuTe. By examining the Te-Te bond modulation, phonon dispersions, and electronic structures, we identify clear differences in how the two functionals capture the structural and dynamical properties of the CDW formation. r2SCAN+U reproduces the experimentally observed Te-chain distortions in the CDW phase and the phonon soft mode at qCDW=(0.4, 0.0, 0.5) in the non-CDW phase, whereas SCAN exhibits unphysical phonon behavior. The atomic displacements of the soft mode agree well with the experimental Te modulation. Despite their similar electronic structures and optimized lattice constants, our results demonstrate that r2SCAN is a more suitable choice than SCAN for describing CDW formation and lattice dynamics in CuTe.

cond-mat.str-el

Correlation Effects on Magnetic Structure and Lattice Dynamics of LaMn$_7$O$_{12}$: A First-Principles Study

LaMn$_7$O$_{12}$, a quadruple perovskite oxide (AA'$_3$B$_4$O$_{12}$-type), has attracted attention for its notable bifunctional activity in oxygen evolution and reduction reactions. Here, we systematically investigate the magnetic phase diagram and lattice dynamics of LaMn$_7$O$_{12}$ using two density functional theory plus Hubbard U (DFT + U) approaches: the spin-density and the charge-only-density formalism. Phase diagram analysis as a function of U and J shows that both methods stabilize the experimentally observed antiferromagnetic (AFM) configuration (C-type AFM at the B-site and ferrimagnetic structure at the A'-site Mn ions) at U = 3.5 eV and J = 0.8 eV. These U and J values are consistent with those obtained from the constrained random phase approximation. Furthermore, we observe the dynamical stability of the AFM phase through phonon dispersion curves and analyze the Raman-active phonon modes. These results highlight the critical role of appropriate U and J parameters in accurately describing the properties of LaMn$_7$O$_{12}$.

cond-mat.str-el

Exploring the role of nonlocal Coulomb interactions in perovskite transition metal oxides

Employing the density functional theory incorporating on-site and inter-site Coulomb interactions (DFT+U+V), we have investigated the role of the nonlocal interactions on the electronic structures of the transition metal oxide perovskites. Using constrained random phase approximation calculations, we derived screened Coulomb interaction parameters and revealed a competition between localization and screening effects, which results in nonmonotonic behavior with d-orbital occupation. We highlight the significant role and nonlocality of inter-site Coulomb interactions, V, comparable in magnitude to the local interaction, U. Our DFT+U+V results exemplarily show the representative band renormalization, and deviations from ideal extended Hubbard models due to increased hybridization between transition metal d and oxygen p orbitals as occupation increases. We further demonstrate that the inclusion of the inter-site V is essential for accurately reproducing the experimental magnetic order in transition metal oxides.

cond-mat.str-el

Machine Learning Prediction Models for Solid Electrolytes based on Lattice Dynamics Properties

Recently, machine-learning approaches have accelerated computational materials design and the search for advanced solid electrolytes. However, the predictors are currently limited to static structural parameters, which may not fully account for the dynamic nature of ionic transport. In this study, we meticulously curated features considering dynamic properties and developed machine-learning models to predict the ionic conductivity of solid electrolytes. We compiled 14 phonon-related descriptors from first-principles phonon calculations along with 16 descriptors related to structure and electronic properties. Our logistic regression classifiers exhibit an accuracy of 93 %, while the random forest regression model yields a root mean square error of 1.179 S/cm and $R^2$ of 0.710. Notably, phonon-related features are essential for estimating the ionic conductivity in both models. Furthermore, we applied our prediction model to screen 264 Li-containing materials and identified 11 promising candidates as potential superionic conductors.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Exploring Spatial Generalized Functional Linear Models: A Comparative Simulation Study and Analysis of COVID-19

Implementation of spatial generalized linear models with a functional covariate can be accomplished through the use of a truncated basis expansion of the covariate process. In practice, one must select a truncation level for use. We compare five criteria for the selection of an appropriate truncation level, including AIC and BIC based on a log composite likelihood, a fraction of variance explained criterion, a fitted mean squared error, and a prediction error with one standard error rule. Based on the use of extensive simulation studies, we propose that BIC constitutes a reasonable default criterion for the selection of the truncation level for use in a spatial functional generalized linear model. In addition, we demonstrate that the spatial model with a functional covariate outperforms other models when the data contain spatial structure and response variables are in fact influenced by a functional covariate process. We apply the spatial functional generalized linear model to a problem in which the objective is to relate COVID-19 vaccination rates in counties of states in the Midwestern United States to the number of new cases from previous weeks in those same geographic regions.

stat.ME

Generalized linear models with spatial dependence and a functional covariate

We extend generalized functional linear models under independence to a situation in which a functional covariate is related to a scalar response variable that exhibits spatial dependence-a complex yet prevalent phenomenon. For estimation, we apply basis expansion and truncation for dimension reduction of the covariate process followed by a composite likelihood estimating equation to handle the spatial dependency. We establish asymptotic results for the proposed model under a repeating lattice asymptotic context, allowing us to construct a confidence interval for the spatial dependence parameter and a confidence band for the regression parameter function. A binary conditionals model with functional covariates is presented as a concrete illustration and is used in simulation studies to verify the applicability of the asymptotic inferential results. We apply the proposed model to a problem in which the objective is to relate annual corn yield in counties of states in the Midwestern United States to daily maximum temperatures from April to September in those same geographic regions. The extension to an expanding lattice context is further discussed in the supplement.

stat.ME

First-principles study on Small Polaron and Li diffusion in layered LiCoO2

Li-ion conductivity is one of the essential properties that determine the performance of cathode materials for Li-ion batteries. Here, using the density functional theory, we investigate the polaron stability and its effect on the Li-ion diffusion in layered LiCoO2 with different magnetic orderings. The localized Co4+ polaron appears in the magnetic configurations and sets the Li-diffusion barrier of ~0.34 eV. The polaron also migrates in the opposite direction to the Li-diffusion direction. On the other hand, the polaron does not form in the non-magnetic structure, and the Li diffusion barrier without the polaron is 0.21 eV. Although the existence of the polaron increases the diffusion barrier, the magnetically ordered structures are more energetically stable during the migration than the non-magnetic case. Thus, our work advocates the hole polaron migration scenario for Li-ion diffusion. Moreover, we demonstrate that the strong electron correlation of Co ions plays an essential role in stabilizing the Co4+ polaron.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Stability and electronic properties of layered NaMnO2 using the SCAN(+U)

Considering electron correlation appropriately is important to predict the properties of layered transition metal oxides, which have drawn a lot of attention as cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries. Here, we explore the phonon and electronic properties of layered NaMnO2 using the recently developed strongly constrained and appropriately normed (SCAN) functional. We also introduce the Coulomb interaction U to find an accurate description of Mn 3d orbitals. The phonon dispersion curves show the structural stability with the SCAN, which is consistent with prior experimental stability at high Na concentrations. On the other hand, imaginary phonon frequencies were observed by applying U, which indicates structural instability. Namely, SCAN properly describes the phonon properties of layered NaMnO2 whereas SCAN+U does not. We further explore the Jahn-Teller (J-T) stability and magnitude of J-T distortion depending on U and find that SCAN results are consistent with Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof functional, PBE+U results. Our results suggest that SCAN itself properly describes the physical properties of NaMnO2 without adding U explicitly.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Combinatorial Discovery of Irradiation Damage Tolerant Nano-structured W-based alloys

One of the challenges in fusion reactors is the discovery of plasma facing materials capable of withstanding extreme conditions, such as radiation damage and high heat flux. Development of fusion materials can be a daunting task since vast combinations of microstructures and compositions need to be explored, each of which requires trial-and-error based irradiation experiments and materials characterizations. Here, we utilize combinatorial experiments that allow rapid and systematic characterizations of composition-microstructure dependent irradiation damage behaviors of nanostructured tungsten alloys. The combinatorial materials library of W-Re-Ta alloys was synthesized, followed by the high-throughput experiments for probing irradiation damages to the mechanical, thermal, and structural properties of the alloys. This highly efficient technique allows rapid identification of composition ranges with excellent damage tolerance. We find that the distribution of implanted He clusters can be significantly altered by the addition of Ta and Re, which play a critical role in determining property changes upon irradiation.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Large-gap insulating dimer ground state in monolayer IrTe2

Monolayers of two-dimensional van der Waals materials exhibit novel electronic phases distinct from their bulk due to the symmetry breaking and reduced screening in the absence of the interlayer coupling. In this work, we combine angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy to demonstrate the emergence of a unique insulating 2 x 1 dimer ground state in monolayer 1T-IrTe2 that has a large band gap in contrast to the metallic bilayer-to-bulk forms of this material. First-principles calculations reveal that phonon and charge instabilities as well as local bond formation collectively enhance and stabilize a charge-ordered ground state. Our findings provide important insights into the subtle balance of interactions having similar energy scales that occurs in the absence of strong interlayer coupling, which offers new opportunities to engineer the properties of 2D monolayers.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Phonon study of Jahn-Teller distortion and phase stability in NaMnO$_2$ for sodium-ion batteries

Cathode materials undergo various phase transitions during the charge/discharge process, and the structural transitions significantly affect the battery performance. Although phonon properties can provide a direct clue for structural stability and transitions, it has been less explored in sodium cathode materials. Here, using the first-principles calculations, we investigate phonon and electronic properties of various layered NaMnO$_2$ materials, especially focusing on the dependency of the Jahn-Teller distortion of Mn$^{3+}$. The phonon dispersion curves show that the O$'$3 and P$'$2 structures with the Jahn-Teller distortion are dynamically stable in contrast to undistorted O3 and P2 structures. The structural instability of O3 and P2 structures is directly observed from the imaginary phonon frequencies, as so-called phonon soft modes, whose corresponding displacements are from O atoms distorting along the local Mn-O bond direction in the MnO$_6$ octahedra. This is consistent with the experimental stability and a structural transition with the Jahn-Teller distortion at the high Na concentration. Furthermore, the orbital-decomposed density of states presents the orbital redistribution by the Jahn-Teller distortion such as $e_g$-band splitting, and the stability of O$'$3 and P$'$2 is not sensitive to the electron-electron correlation. Our results demonstrate the importance of phonon analysis to further understand the structural stability and phase transitions in cathode materials.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Direct observation of orbital driven strong interlayer coupling in puckered two-dimensional PdSe2

Interlayer coupling between individual unit layers has played a critical role for layer-dependent properties in two-dimensional (2D) materials. While recent studies have revealed the significant degrees of interlayer interactions, the overall electronic structure of the 2D material has been mostly addressed by the intralayer interactions. Here, we report the direct observation of a highly dispersive single electronic band along the interlayer direction in puckered 2D PdSe2 as an experimental hallmark of strong interlayer couplings. Remarkably large band dispersion along kz-direction near Fermi level, which is even wider than the in-plane one, is observed by the angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurement. Employing the X-ray absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations, we reveal that the strong interlayer coupling in 2D PdSe2 originates from the unique directional bonding of Pd d orbitals associated with unexpected Pd 4d9 configuration, which consequently gives rise to the strong layer-dependency of the band gap.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Lattice and Electronic properties of VO$_2$ with the SCAN(+$U$) approach

Appropriate consideration of the electron correlation is essential to reproduce the intriguing metal-insulator transition accompanying the Peierls-type structural transition in VO$_2$. In the density functional theory-based approach, this depends on the choice of the exchange-correlation functional. Here, using a newly developed strongly constrained and appropriately norm (SCAN) functional, we investigate the lattice and electronic properties of the metallic rutile phase of VO$_2$ ($R$-VO$_2$) from the first-principles calculations. We also explored the role of the Coulomb correlation $U$. By adding $U$, we found that the phonon instability properly describes the Peierls-type distortions. The orbital-decomposed density of states presents the orbital selective behavior with the SCAN+$U$, which is susceptible to the one-dimensional Peierls distortion. Our results suggest that even with the SCAN functional, the explicit inclusion of the Coulomb interaction is necessary to describe the structural transition of VO$_2$.

cond-mat.str-el

Machine-Learning-Guided Prediction Models of Critical Temperature of Cuprates

Cuprates, a member of high-Tc superconductors, have been on the long-debate on their superconducting mechanism, so that predicting the critical temperature of cuprates still remains elusive. Herein, using machine learning and first principle calculations, we predict the maximum superconducting transition temperature (Tc,max) of hole-doped cuprates and suggest the explicit functional form for Tc,max with the root-mean-square-error of 3.705 K and the coefficient of determination R2 of 0.969. We employed two machine learning models; one is a parametric brute force searching method and another is a non-parametric random forest regression model. We have found that material dependent parameters such as the Bader charge of apical oxygen, the bond strength between apical atoms, and the number of superconducting layers are important features to estimate Tc,max. Furthermore, we predict the Tc,max of hypothetical cuprates generated by replacing apical cations with other elements. When Ga is an apical cation, the predicted Tc,max is the highest among the hypothetical structures with 71, 117, and 131 K for one, two, and three CuO2 layers, respectively. These findings suggest that machine learning could guide the design of new high-Tc superconductors in the future.

cond-mat.supr-con

Superconductivity emerging from a stripe charge order in IrTe2 nanoflakes

Superconductivity in the vicinity of a competing electronic order often manifests itself with a superconducting dome, centred at a presumed quantum critical point in the phase diagram. This common feature, found in many unconventional superconductors, has supported a prevalent scenario that fluctuations or partial melting of a parent order are essential for inducing or enhancing superconductivity. Here we present a contrary example, found in IrTe2 nanoflakes of which the superconducting dome is identified well inside the parent stripe charge ordering phase in the thickness-dependent phase diagram. The coexisting stripe charge order in IrTe2 nanoflakes significantly increases the out-of-plane coherence length and the coupling strength of superconductivity, in contrast to the doped bulk IrTe2. These findings clarify that the inherent instabilities of the parent stripe phaseare sufficient to induce superconductivity in IrTe2 without its complete or partial melting. Our study highlights the thickness control as an effective means to unveil intrinsic phase diagrams of correlated vdW materials.

cond-mat.supr-con