This contribution reports a comprehensive investigation into the structural, electronic and thermal properties of bulk and surface terbium dioxide (TbO2); a material that enjoys wide spectra of catalytic and optical applications. Our calculated lattice dimension of 5.36 Å agrees well with the corresponding experimental value at 5.22 Å. Density of states configuration of the bulk structure exhibits a semiconducting nature. Thermo-mechanical properties of bulk TbO2 were obtained based on the quasi-harmonic approximation formalism. Heat capacities, thermal expansions and bulk modulus of the bulk TbO2 were obtained under a wide range of temperatures and pressures. The dependency of these properties on operational pressure is very evident. Cleaving bulk terbium dioxide affords six distinct terminations. Bader's charge distribution analysis for the bulk and the surfaces portrays an ionic character for Tb-O bonds. In an analogy to the well-established finding pertinent to stoichiometric CeO2 surfaces, the (111):Tb surface appears to be the thermodynamically most stable configuration in the nearness of the lean-limit of the oxygen chemical potential. For the corresponding non-stoichiometric structures, we find that, the (111):O + 1VO surface is the most stable configuration across all values of accessible oxygen chemical potentials. The presence of an oxygen vacant site in this surface is expected to enable potent catalytic-assisted reactions, most notably production of hydrogen from water
The electrical properties of CdO/porous Si/c-Si heterojunction prepared by deposition of CdO layer on porous silicon synthesized by electrochemical etching were studied. The structural, optical, and electrical properties of CdO (50:50) thin film prepared by rapid thermal oxidation were examined. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results confirmed formation of nanostructured silicon layer the full width half maximum (FWHM) was increased after etching. The dark J-V characteristics of the heterojunction showed strong dependence on etching current density and etching time. The ideality factor and saturation current of the heterojunction were calculated from J-V under forward bias. C-V measurements confirmed that the prepared heterojunctions are abrupt
... Show MoreKlebsiella pneumoniae have an ability to form biofilm as one of strategies to persist and overcome host defenses. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of rosemary essential oil alone and in combination with some antibiotics against biofilm of K. pneumoniae isolated from urine. The antibiotics resistance pattern by disc diffusion method and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin, trimethoprim/ sulfame- thoxazole, cefotoxime and rosemary essential oil were determined. The ability to form biofilm as well as inhibition of biofilm formation of K. pneumoniae was performed. MICs 128, 0.25, 768, 64, 384 and 10 µg/ml were used. The effect of MIC and 1/2 MIC of antibiotics and rosemary essential oil
... Show MoreCerium oxide CeO2, or ceria, has gained increasing interest owing to its excellent catalytic applications. Under the framework of density functional theory (DFT), this contribution demonstrates the effect that introducing the element nickel (Ni) into the ceria lattice has on its electronic, structural, and optical characteristics. Electronic density of states (DOSs) analysis shows that Ni integration leads to a shrinkage of Ce 4f states and improvement of Ni 3d states in the bottom of the conduction band. Furthermore, the calculated optical absorption spectra of an Ni-doped CeO2 system shifts towards longer visible light and infrared regions. Results indicate that Ni-doping a CeO2 system would result in a decrease of the band gap. Finally,
... Show MoreCerium oxide (CeO2), or ceria, has gained increasing interest owing to its excellent catalytic applications. Under the framework of density functional theory (DFT), this contribution demonstrates the eect that introducing the element nickel (Ni) into the ceria lattice has on its electronic, structural, and optical characteristics. Electronic density of states (DOSs) analysis shows that Ni integration leads to a shrinkage of Ce 4f states and improvement of Ni 3d states in the bottom of the conduction band. Furthermore, the calculated optical absorption spectra of an Ni-doped CeO2 system shifts towards longer visible light and infrared regions. Results indicate that Ni-doping a CeO2 system would result in a decrease of the band gap. Finally,
... Show MoreThis study rigorously investigates three 3d transition metal carbide (TMC) structures via LDA and GGA approximations. It examines cohesive energy (Ecoh), Vickers hardness (Hv), mechanical stability, and electronic properties. Notably, most 3d TMCs exhibit higher cohesive energy than nitrides, and rs-TiC demonstrates a Vickers hardness of 25.66 GPa, outperforming its nitride counterpart. The study employs theoretical calculations to expedite research, revealing mechanical stability in CrC and MnC (GGA) and CrC (LDA in cc structure), while all 3d TMCs in rs and seven in zb structures show stability. Charge transfer and bonding analysis reveal enhanced covalency along the series, influenced by the interplay between p orbitals of carbon and d o
... Show MoreResults of a study of alloys and films with various Pb content have been reported and discussed. Films of of thickness 1.5
Gallium arsenide diamondoids structural and vibrational properties are investigated using density functional theory at the PBE/6-31(d) level and basis including polarization functions. Variation of energy gap as these diamondoids increase in size is seen to follow confinement theory for diamondoids having nearly equiaxed dimensions. Density of energy states transforms from nearly single levels to band structure as we reach larger diamondoids. Bonds of surface hydrogen with As atoms are relatively localized and shorter than that bonded to Ga atoms. Ga-As bonds have a distribution range of values due to surface reconstruction and effect of bonding to hydrogen atoms. Experimental bulk Ga-As bond length (2.45 Å) is within this distribu
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