Search arXiv⌕ Search
Home/Archive/arXiv

arXiv · 1611.04377

Origin of enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity of transition metal (Fe, Cr and Co) doped CeO2: Effect of 3d-orbital splitting

Ke Yang·Dong-Feng Li·Wei-Qing Huang·Liang Xu·Gui-Fang Huang·Shuangchun Wen
View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity of transition metal-doped ceria (CeO2) nanomaterials have experimentally been demonstrated, whereas there are very few reports mentioning the mechanism of this behavior. Here we use first-principles calculations to explore the origin of enhanced photocatalytic performance of CeO2 doped with transition metal impurities (Fe, Cr and Co). When a transition metal atom substitutes a Ce atom into CeO2, t2g and eg levels of 3d orbits appear in the middle of band gap owing to the effect of cubic ligand field, and the former is higher than latter. Interestingly, t2g subset of FeCe (CoCe and CrCe)-Vo-CeO2 is split into two parts: one merges into the conduction band, the other as well as eg will remain in the gap, because O vacancy defect adjacent to transition metal atom will break the symmetry of cubic ligand field. These eg and t2g levels in the band gap are beneficial for absorbing visible light and enhancing quantum efficiency because of forbidden transition, which is one key factor for enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity. The band gap narrowing also leads to a redshift of optical absorbance and high photoactivity. These findings can rationalize the available experimental results and provide some new insights for designing CeO2-based photocatalysts with high photocatalytic performance.

Explore related subjects

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Ke Yang, Dong-Feng Li, Wei-Qing Huang, Liang Xu, Gui-Fang Huang, Shuangchun Wen. 2016-11-14. Origin of enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity of transition metal (Fe, Cr and Co) doped CeO2: Effect of 3d-orbital splitting. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-016-0700-9

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

arXiv2026

Incommensurate structural and magnetic modulations in potassium-rich cryptomelane, K$_x$Mn$_8$O$_{16}$ ($x\approx1.45$)

Cryptomelane is a hollandite-like material consisting of K$^+$ cations in an $α$-MnO$_2$ tunnel-like crystallographic motif. Cryptomelane with stoichiometry K$_x$Mn$_8$O$_{16}$ ($x\approx1.45$) has been synthesized and its magnetic properties investigated using variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility, heat capacity, and neutron powder diffraction. Three distinct transitions at $T_1=184$\,K, $T_2=54.5$\,K, and $T_3=24$\,K are observed. At $T_1$ there is a subtle tetragonal$\rightarrow$monoclinic transition associated with emergence of a set of non-magnetic superstructure peaks indexable to a $\vec{k}_\mathrm{struc}\approx0.74\vec{c^*}$ incommensurate modulation parallel to the $α$-MnO$_2$ tunnels. Our findings are consistent with a relation previously reported in titanate hollandites, that $x\approx2|\vec{k}_\mathrm{struc}|$. Magnetic Bragg peaks emerge below $T_2=54.5$\,K, and their positions indicate an incommensurate modulated magnetic structure. The model consistent with the data is a dual-$\vec{k}_\mathrm{mag}$ structure with a ferromagnetic $|\vec{k}_\mathrm{mag}|=0$ component and an incommensurate $\vec{k}_\mathrm{mag}\approx0.37\vec{c^*}$, with the latter most likely to be helical. The period of oscillation of the incommensurate magnetic component is in line with predictions based on a Heisenberg spin Hamiltonian [Mandal \textit{et al}. Phys. Rev. B 90, 104420 (2014)]. Below $T_3=24$\,K, there is a magnetic transition, which gives rise to a different set of magnetic Bragg peaks indicative of a highly complex magnetic structure.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2026

An anisotropic functional for two-dimensional material systems

Density function theory is the workhorse of modern electronic structure theory. However, its accuracy in practical calculations is limited by the choice of the exchange-correlation potential. In this respect, two-dimensional materials pose a special challenge, as all these materials and their heterostructures have a crucial similarity. The underlying atomic structures are strongly spatially inhomogeneous, implying that current exchange-correlation functionals, that in almost all cases are isotropic, are ill-prepared for an accurate description. We present an anisotropic screened-exchange potential, that remedies this problem and reproduces the band-gap of 2D materials as well as the piecewise linearity of the total energy with fractional occupation number.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2026

Thermally-driven reorientation of the Néel vector in altermagnetic MnTe

Altermagnets are novel magnetic systems that possess a spin-polarized electronic band structure without a net magnetic moment, making them promising for device applications. Hexagonal MnTe, a prototypical altermagnet, arguably exhibits the most properties consistent with theoretical predictions, including an anomalous Hall effect despite a vanishing net magnetization, and altermagnetinduced electronic band splitting. However, fundamental questions remain, including why some effects only appear significantly below the magnetic ordering temperature. Here, we resolve this discrepancy by revealing a reorientation of the Néel vector in single-crystalline MnTe. The Néel vector points 30° from the a-axis at low $T$, before aligning directly with the a-axis around $T\simeq 260$ K. We attribute this to single-ion anisotropy, which depends on temperature-dependent lattice parameters. We obtained these results using muon-spin spectroscopy, magnetization measurements, and X-ray diffraction; we show that the findings are consistent with neutron diffraction. Manipulating this effect, for example through strain, could unlock sensitive electronic detection schemes for external stimuli, paving the way for functional altermagnetic devices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗