TY - JOUR

T1 - ZnN and ZnP as novel graphene-like materials with high Li-ion storage capacities

AU - Mortazavi, Bohayra

AU - Bafekry, Asadollah

AU - Shahrokhi, Masoud

AU - Rabczuk, Timon

AU - Zhuang, Xiaoying

N1 - Funding information: B. M. and X. Z. appreciate the funding by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Germany's Excellence Strategy within the Cluster of Excellence PhoenixD (EXC 2122, Project ID 390833453 ).

PY - 2020/2/21

Y1 - 2020/2/21

N2 - In this work, we employed first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations to investigate the dynamical and thermal stability of graphene-like ZnX (X = N, P, As) nanosheets. We moreover analyzed the electronic, mechanical and optical properties of these novel two-dimensional (2D) systems. Acquired phonon dispersion relations reveal the absence of imaginary frequencies and thus confirming the dynamical stability of predicted monolayers. According to ab-initio molecular dynamics results however only ZnN and ZnP exhibit the required thermally stability. The elastic modulus of ZnN, ZnP and ZnAs are estimated to be 31, 21 and 17 N/m, respectively, and the corresponding tensile strengths values are 6.0, 4.9 and 4.0 N/m, respectively. Electronic band structure analysis confirms the metallic electronic character for the predicted monolayers. Results for the optical characteristics also indicate a reflectivity of 100% at extremely low energy levels, which is desirable for photonic and optoelectronic applications. According to our results, graphene-like ZnN and ZnP nanosheets can yield high capacities of 675 and 556 mAh/g for Li-ion storage, respectively. Acquired results confirm the stability and acceptable strength of ZnN and ZnP nanosheets and highlight their attractive application prospects in optical and energy storage systems.

AB - In this work, we employed first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations to investigate the dynamical and thermal stability of graphene-like ZnX (X = N, P, As) nanosheets. We moreover analyzed the electronic, mechanical and optical properties of these novel two-dimensional (2D) systems. Acquired phonon dispersion relations reveal the absence of imaginary frequencies and thus confirming the dynamical stability of predicted monolayers. According to ab-initio molecular dynamics results however only ZnN and ZnP exhibit the required thermally stability. The elastic modulus of ZnN, ZnP and ZnAs are estimated to be 31, 21 and 17 N/m, respectively, and the corresponding tensile strengths values are 6.0, 4.9 and 4.0 N/m, respectively. Electronic band structure analysis confirms the metallic electronic character for the predicted monolayers. Results for the optical characteristics also indicate a reflectivity of 100% at extremely low energy levels, which is desirable for photonic and optoelectronic applications. According to our results, graphene-like ZnN and ZnP nanosheets can yield high capacities of 675 and 556 mAh/g for Li-ion storage, respectively. Acquired results confirm the stability and acceptable strength of ZnN and ZnP nanosheets and highlight their attractive application prospects in optical and energy storage systems.

KW - 2D materials

KW - Electronic

KW - Energy storage

KW - Mechanical

KW - Optical

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85079678141&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.mtener.2020.100392

DO - 10.1016/j.mtener.2020.100392

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85079678141

VL - 16

JO - Materials Today Energy

JF - Materials Today Energy

M1 - 100392

ER -