Abstract
First-principles electronic band structure investigations of monoclinic, tetragonal, and cubic Zr O2 reveal the highly anisotropic nature of the conduction and valence band topologies in the monoclinic phase with electron and hole effective masses differing by over an order of magnitude in perpendicular directions. The planes of relatively high implied electron and hole mobilities intersect along a single crystallographic direction, making this the only direction readily available for exciton motion. Conversely, in the tetragonal and cubic phases, charge carrier effective masses are more isotropic and exciton motion is less restricted. These findings may explain recent experimental observations suggesting that exciton production via gamma irradiation in zirconia crystallites immersed in water is responsible for the accelerated dissociation of adsorbed water molecules on crystallite surfaces, and for the specificity of the effect to the tetragonal zirconia phase.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 235115 |
| Journal | Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics |
| Volume | 76 |
| Issue number | 23 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 13 2007 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Condensed Matter Physics
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Screened-exchange determination of the electronic properties of monoclinic, tetragonal, and cubic zirconia. / Medvedeva, J. E.; Freeman, Arthur J; Geller, C. B.; Rishel, D. M.
In: Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, Vol. 76, No. 23, 235115, 13.12.2007.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Screened-exchange determination of the electronic properties of monoclinic, tetragonal, and cubic zirconia
AU - Medvedeva, J. E.
AU - Freeman, Arthur J
AU - Geller, C. B.
AU - Rishel, D. M.
PY - 2007/12/13
Y1 - 2007/12/13
N2 - First-principles electronic band structure investigations of monoclinic, tetragonal, and cubic Zr O2 reveal the highly anisotropic nature of the conduction and valence band topologies in the monoclinic phase with electron and hole effective masses differing by over an order of magnitude in perpendicular directions. The planes of relatively high implied electron and hole mobilities intersect along a single crystallographic direction, making this the only direction readily available for exciton motion. Conversely, in the tetragonal and cubic phases, charge carrier effective masses are more isotropic and exciton motion is less restricted. These findings may explain recent experimental observations suggesting that exciton production via gamma irradiation in zirconia crystallites immersed in water is responsible for the accelerated dissociation of adsorbed water molecules on crystallite surfaces, and for the specificity of the effect to the tetragonal zirconia phase.
AB - First-principles electronic band structure investigations of monoclinic, tetragonal, and cubic Zr O2 reveal the highly anisotropic nature of the conduction and valence band topologies in the monoclinic phase with electron and hole effective masses differing by over an order of magnitude in perpendicular directions. The planes of relatively high implied electron and hole mobilities intersect along a single crystallographic direction, making this the only direction readily available for exciton motion. Conversely, in the tetragonal and cubic phases, charge carrier effective masses are more isotropic and exciton motion is less restricted. These findings may explain recent experimental observations suggesting that exciton production via gamma irradiation in zirconia crystallites immersed in water is responsible for the accelerated dissociation of adsorbed water molecules on crystallite surfaces, and for the specificity of the effect to the tetragonal zirconia phase.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=37249033698&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevB.76.235115
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevB.76.235115
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:37249033698
VL - 76
JO - Physical Review B-Condensed Matter
JF - Physical Review B-Condensed Matter
SN - 1098-0121
IS - 23
M1 - 235115
ER -