Abstract
Super-ionic solids, which exhibit ion mobilities as high as those in liquids or molten salts, have been employed as solid-state electrolytes in batteries, improved thermoelectrics and fast-ion conductors in super-capacitors and fuel cells. Fast-ion transport in many of these solids is supported by a disordered, 'liquid-like' sub-lattice of cations mobile within a rigid anionic sub-lattice, often achieved at high temperatures or pressures via a phase transition. Here we show that ultrasmall clusters of copper selenide exhibit a disordered cationic sub-lattice under ambient conditions unlike larger nanocrystals, where Cu+ ions and vacancies form an ordered super-structure similar to the bulk solid. The clusters exhibit an unusual cationic sub-lattice arrangement wherein octahedral sites, which serve as bridges for cation migration, are stabilized by compressive strain. The room-temperature liquid-like nature of the Cu+ sub-lattice combined with the actively tunable plasmonic properties of the Cu2 Se clusters make them suitable as fast electro-optic switches.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Article number | 14514 |
| Journal | Nature communications |
| Volume | 8 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 20 2017 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Chemistry(all)
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
Cite this
Liquid-like cationic sub-lattice in copper selenide clusters. / White, Sarah L.; Banerjee, Progna; Jain, Prashant K.
In: Nature communications, Vol. 8, 14514, 20.02.2017.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Liquid-like cationic sub-lattice in copper selenide clusters
AU - White, Sarah L.
AU - Banerjee, Progna
AU - Jain, Prashant K.
PY - 2017/2/20
Y1 - 2017/2/20
N2 - Super-ionic solids, which exhibit ion mobilities as high as those in liquids or molten salts, have been employed as solid-state electrolytes in batteries, improved thermoelectrics and fast-ion conductors in super-capacitors and fuel cells. Fast-ion transport in many of these solids is supported by a disordered, 'liquid-like' sub-lattice of cations mobile within a rigid anionic sub-lattice, often achieved at high temperatures or pressures via a phase transition. Here we show that ultrasmall clusters of copper selenide exhibit a disordered cationic sub-lattice under ambient conditions unlike larger nanocrystals, where Cu+ ions and vacancies form an ordered super-structure similar to the bulk solid. The clusters exhibit an unusual cationic sub-lattice arrangement wherein octahedral sites, which serve as bridges for cation migration, are stabilized by compressive strain. The room-temperature liquid-like nature of the Cu+ sub-lattice combined with the actively tunable plasmonic properties of the Cu2 Se clusters make them suitable as fast electro-optic switches.
AB - Super-ionic solids, which exhibit ion mobilities as high as those in liquids or molten salts, have been employed as solid-state electrolytes in batteries, improved thermoelectrics and fast-ion conductors in super-capacitors and fuel cells. Fast-ion transport in many of these solids is supported by a disordered, 'liquid-like' sub-lattice of cations mobile within a rigid anionic sub-lattice, often achieved at high temperatures or pressures via a phase transition. Here we show that ultrasmall clusters of copper selenide exhibit a disordered cationic sub-lattice under ambient conditions unlike larger nanocrystals, where Cu+ ions and vacancies form an ordered super-structure similar to the bulk solid. The clusters exhibit an unusual cationic sub-lattice arrangement wherein octahedral sites, which serve as bridges for cation migration, are stabilized by compressive strain. The room-temperature liquid-like nature of the Cu+ sub-lattice combined with the actively tunable plasmonic properties of the Cu2 Se clusters make them suitable as fast electro-optic switches.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85013335534&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/ncomms14514
DO - 10.1038/ncomms14514
M3 - Article
C2 - 28216615
AN - SCOPUS:85013335534
VL - 8
JO - Nature Communications
JF - Nature Communications
SN - 2041-1723
M1 - 14514
ER -