Atomic Structure Prediction of Nanostructures, Clusters and Surfaces


Book Description

This work fills the gap for a comprehensive reference conveying the developments in global optimization of atomic structures using genetic algorithms. Over the last few decades, such algorithms based on mimicking the processes of natural evolution have made their way from computer science disciplines to solid states physics and chemistry, where they have demonstrated their versatility and predictive power for many materials. Following an introduction and historical perspective, the text moves on to provide an in-depth description of the algorithm before describing its applications to crystal structure prediction, atomic clusters, surface and interface reconstructions, and quasi one-dimensional nanostructures. The final chapters provide a brief account of other methods for atomic structure optimization and perspectives on the future of the field.




Superatoms


Book Description

Explore the theory and applications of superatomic clusters and cluster assembled materials Superatoms: Principles, Synthesis and Applications delivers an insightful and exciting exploration of an emerging subfield in cluster science, superatomic clusters and cluster assembled materials. The book presents discussions of the fundamentals of superatom chemistry and their application in catalysis, energy, materials science, and biomedical sciences. Readers will discover the foundational significance of superatoms in science and technology and learn how they can serve as the building blocks of tailored materials, promising to usher in a new era in materials science. The book covers topics as varied as the thermal and thermoelectric properties of cluster-based materials and clusters for CO2 activation and conversion, before concluding with an incisive discussion of trends and directions likely to dominate the subject of superatoms in the coming years. Readers will also benefit from the inclusion of: A thorough introduction to the rational design of superatoms using electron-counting rules Explorations of superhalogens, endohedrally doped superatoms and assemblies, and magnetic superatoms A practical discussion of atomically precise synthesis of chemically modified superatoms A concise treatment of superatoms as the building blocks of 2D materials, as well as superatom-based ferroelectrics and cluster-based materials for energy harvesting and storage Perfect for academic researchers and industrial scientists working in cluster science, energy materials, thermoelectrics, 2D materials, and CO2 conversion, Superatoms: Principles, Synthesis and Applications will also earn a place in the libraries of interested professionals in chemistry, physics, materials science, and nanoscience.




Soft Computing in Chemical and Physical Sciences


Book Description

This book can be regarded as 'Soft computing for physicists and chemists self-taught'. It prepares the readers with a solid background of soft computing and how to adapt soft computing techniques to problem solving in physical and chemical research. Soft computing methods have been little explored by researchers in physical and chemical sciences primarily because of the absence of books that bridge the gap between the traditional computing paradigm pursued by researchers in science and the new soft computing paradigm that has emerged in computer science. This book is the interface between these primary sources and researchers in physics and chemistry.




Advanced Topics in Contemporary Physics for Engineering


Book Description

This book highlights cutting-edge topics in contemporary physics, discussing exciting advances and new forms of thinking in evolving fields with emphases both on natural phenomena and applications to modern engineering. It provides material for thought and practice in nanophysics, plasma physics, and electrodynamics. Nanophysics and plasmas are synergic physical areas where the whole is more than the sum of the parts (quantum, atomic and molecular, electrodynamics, photonics, condensed matter, thermodynamics, transport phenomena). The authors emphasize both fundamentals and more complex concepts, making the contents accessible as well challenging. Nanoscale properties and physical phenomena are explained under the umbrella of quantum physics. Advances made in the physical knowledge of the nanoworld, and its metrology are addressed, along with experimental achievements which have furthered studies of extreme weak forces present at nano- or sub-micron scales. The book does not focus in detail on the diversity of applications in nanotechnology and instrumentation, considering that the reader already has basic prior knowledge on that. It also covers an introduction to plasma universe phenomenology, the basics of advanced mathematics applied to the electromagnetic field, longitudinal forces in the vacuum, concepts of helicity and topological torsion, SU(2) representation of Maxwell equations, 2D representation of the electromagnetic field, the use of the fractional derivative, and ergontropic dynamics. The chapters include theory, applications, bibliographic references, and solved exercises. The synergies of the book’s topics demonstrate their potential in critical issues, such as relieving humans from barriers imposed by energetic and entropic dependencies and penetrating the realm of weak forces at the nanoscale. The book will boost both post-graduate students and mature scientists to implement new scientific and technological projects.




Machine Learning Meets Quantum Physics


Book Description

Designing molecules and materials with desired properties is an important prerequisite for advancing technology in our modern societies. This requires both the ability to calculate accurate microscopic properties, such as energies, forces and electrostatic multipoles of specific configurations, as well as efficient sampling of potential energy surfaces to obtain corresponding macroscopic properties. Tools that can provide this are accurate first-principles calculations rooted in quantum mechanics, and statistical mechanics, respectively. Unfortunately, they come at a high computational cost that prohibits calculations for large systems and long time-scales, thus presenting a severe bottleneck both for searching the vast chemical compound space and the stupendously many dynamical configurations that a molecule can assume. To overcome this challenge, recently there have been increased efforts to accelerate quantum simulations with machine learning (ML). This emerging interdisciplinary community encompasses chemists, material scientists, physicists, mathematicians and computer scientists, joining forces to contribute to the exciting hot topic of progressing machine learning and AI for molecules and materials. The book that has emerged from a series of workshops provides a snapshot of this rapidly developing field. It contains tutorial material explaining the relevant foundations needed in chemistry, physics as well as machine learning to give an easy starting point for interested readers. In addition, a number of research papers defining the current state-of-the-art are included. The book has five parts (Fundamentals, Incorporating Prior Knowledge, Deep Learning of Atomistic Representations, Atomistic Simulations and Discovery and Design), each prefaced by editorial commentary that puts the respective parts into a broader scientific context.




Handbook of Mechanical Nanostructuring


Book Description

Providing in-depth information on how to obtain high-performance materials by controlling their nanostructures, this ready reference covers both the bottom-up and the top-down approaches to the synthesis and processing of nanostructured materials. The focus is on advanced methods of mechanical nanostructuring such as severe plastic deformation, including high pressure torsion, equal channel angular processing, cyclic extrusion compression, accumulative roll bonding, and surface mechanical attrition treatment. As such, the contents are inherently application-oriented, with the methods presented able to be easily integrated into existing production processes. In addition, the structure-property relationships and ways of influencing the nanostructure in order to exhibit a desired functionality are reviewed in detail. The whole is rounded off by a look at future directions, followed by an overview of applications in various fields of structural and mechanical engineering. With its solutions for successful processing of complex-shaped workpieces and large-scale specimens with desired properties, this is an indispensable tool for purposeful materials design.




Nanoalloys


Book Description

Nanoalloys: From Fundamentals to Emergent Applications presents and discusses the major topics related to nanoalloys at a time when the literature on the subject remains scarce. Particular attention is paid to experimental and theoretical aspects under the form of broad reviews covering the most recent developments. The book is organized into 11 chapters covering the most fundamental aspects of nanoalloys related to their synthesis and characterization, as well as their theoretical study. Aspects related to their thermodynamics and kinetics are covered as well. The coverage then moves to more specific topics, including optics, magnetism and catalysis, and finally to biomedical applications and the technologically relevant issue of self-assembly.With no current single reference source on the subject, the work is invaluable for researchers as the nanoscience field moves swiftly to full monetization. - Encapsulates physical science of structure, properties, size, composition and ordering at nanoscale, aiding synthesis of experimentation and modelling - Multi-expert and interdisciplinary perspectives on growth, synthesis and characterization of bimetallic clusters and particulates supports expansion of your current research activity into applications - Synthesizes concepts and draws links between fundamental metallurgy and cutting edge nanoscience, aiding interdisciplinary research activity




In-vitro Materials Design


Book Description

An overview of the latest computational materials science methods on an atomic scale. The authors present the physical and mathematical background in sufficient detail for this highly current and important topic, but without unnecessary complications. They focus on approaches with industrial relevance, covering real-life applications taken from concrete projects that range from tribology modeling to performance optimization of integrated circuits. Following an introduction to the fundamentals, the book describes the most relevant approaches, covering such classical simulation methods as simple and reactive force field methods, as well as highly accurate quantum-mechanical methods ranging from density-functional theory to Hartree-Fock and beyond. A review of the increasingly important multiscale approaches rounds off this section. The last section demonstrates and illustrates the capabilities of the methods previously described using recent real-life examples of industrial applications. As a result, readers gain a heightened user awareness, since the authors clearly state the conditions of applicability for the respective modeling methods so as to avoid fatal mistakes.




Computational Modelling of Nanoparticles


Book Description

Computational Modelling of Nanoparticles highlights recent advances in the power and versatility of computational modelling, experimental techniques, and how new progress has opened the door to a more detailed and comprehensive understanding of the world of nanomaterials. Nanoparticles, having dimensions of 100 nanometers or less, are increasingly being used in applications in medicine, materials and manufacturing, and energy. Spanning the smallest sub-nanometer nanoclusters to nanocrystals with diameters of 10s of nanometers, this book provides a state-of-the-art overview on how computational modelling can provide, often otherwise unobtainable, insights into nanoparticulate structure and properties. This comprehensive, single resource is ideal for researchers who want to start/improve their nanoparticle modelling efforts, learn what can be (and what cannot) achieved with computational modelling, and understand more clearly the value and details of computational modelling efforts in their area of research. - Explores how computational modelling can be successfully applied at the nanoscale level - Includes techniques for the computation modelling of different types of nanoclusters, including nanoalloy clusters, fullerines and Ligated and/or solvated nanoclusters - Offers complete coverage of the use of computational modelling at the nanoscale, from characterization and processing, to applications




Bimetallic Nanostructures


Book Description

Systematically summarizes the current status and recent advances in bimetallic structures, their shape-controlled synthesis, properties, and applications Intensive researches are currently being carried out on bimetallic nanostructures, focusing on a number of fundamental, physical, and chemical questions regarding their synthesis and properties. This book presents a systematic and comprehensive summary of the current status and recent advances in this field, supporting readers in the synthesis of model bimetallic nanoparticles, and the exploration and interpretation of their properties. Bimetallic Nanostructures: Shape-Controlled Synthesis for Catalysis, Plasmonics and Sensing Applications is divided into three parts. Part 1 introduces basic chemical and physical knowledge of bimetallic structures, including fundamentals, computational models, and in situ characterization techniques. Part 2 summarizes recent developments in synthetic methods, characterization, and properties of bimetallic structures from the perspective of morphology effect, including zero-dimensional nanomaterials, one-dimensional nanomaterials, and two-dimensional nanomaterials. Part 3 discusses applications in electrocatalysis, heterogeneous catalysis, plasmonics and sensing. Comprehensive reference for an important multidisciplinary research field Thoroughly summarizes the present state and latest developments in bimetallic structures Helps researchers find optimal synthetic methods and explore new phenomena in surface science and synthetic chemistry of bimetallic nanostructures Bimetallic Nanostructures: Shape-Controlled Synthesis for Catalysis, Plasmonics and Sensing Applications is an excellent source or reference for researchers and advanced students. Academic researchers in nanoscience, nanocatalysis, and surface plasmonics, and those working in industry in areas involving nanotechnology, catalysis and optoelectronics, will find this book of interest.