Strain-Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution, Electrical, Optical, and Thermoelectric Properties of the Multifunctional 2D CrSi2N4 Monolayer

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Ahmad, Rao Uzair, Khan, Fahd Sikandar, Javed, Nasir
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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_version_ 1866909041880465408
author Ahmad, Rao Uzair
Khan, Fahd Sikandar
Javed, Nasir
author_facet Ahmad, Rao Uzair
Khan, Fahd Sikandar
Javed, Nasir
contents First-principles density functional theory (DFT) is employed to evaluate the structural, electronic, optical, thermoelectric, and electrocatalytic properties of monolayer CrSi2N4. Its symmetric N-Si-N-Cr-N-Si-N septuple-layer structure exhibits dynamic, thermal (300 K), and mechanical stability, supported by a -8.76 eV/atom cohesive energy. PBE and HSE06 functionals reveal an indirect bandgap of 0.58 eV and 2.16 eV, respectively, driven by localized Cr-3d and N-2p states. The monolayer features 15.57 static dielectric constant and maximum absorption coefficients of 0.9 X 10^6 cm-1 (visible) and 1.4 X 10^6 cm-1 (deep-UV). Semiclassical Boltzmann calculations predict an outstanding room-temperature n-type thermoelectric power factor of 3.5 x mW/mK2. For hydrogen evolution (HER), the basal plane yields a baseline hydrogen adsorption free energy (ΔGH) of 1.05 eV at the N-site. Applying +5% expansive biaxial strain improves HER kinetics, reducing ΔGH to 0.46 eV. Thus, CrSi2N4 is a resilient, tuneable candidate for waste-heat recovery, photodetectors, and sustainable electrocatalysis.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_14408
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Strain-Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution, Electrical, Optical, and Thermoelectric Properties of the Multifunctional 2D CrSi2N4 Monolayer
Ahmad, Rao Uzair
Khan, Fahd Sikandar
Javed, Nasir
Materials Science
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Applied Physics
Chemical Physics
First-principles density functional theory (DFT) is employed to evaluate the structural, electronic, optical, thermoelectric, and electrocatalytic properties of monolayer CrSi2N4. Its symmetric N-Si-N-Cr-N-Si-N septuple-layer structure exhibits dynamic, thermal (300 K), and mechanical stability, supported by a -8.76 eV/atom cohesive energy. PBE and HSE06 functionals reveal an indirect bandgap of 0.58 eV and 2.16 eV, respectively, driven by localized Cr-3d and N-2p states. The monolayer features 15.57 static dielectric constant and maximum absorption coefficients of 0.9 X 10^6 cm-1 (visible) and 1.4 X 10^6 cm-1 (deep-UV). Semiclassical Boltzmann calculations predict an outstanding room-temperature n-type thermoelectric power factor of 3.5 x mW/mK2. For hydrogen evolution (HER), the basal plane yields a baseline hydrogen adsorption free energy (ΔGH) of 1.05 eV at the N-site. Applying +5% expansive biaxial strain improves HER kinetics, reducing ΔGH to 0.46 eV. Thus, CrSi2N4 is a resilient, tuneable candidate for waste-heat recovery, photodetectors, and sustainable electrocatalysis.
title Strain-Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution, Electrical, Optical, and Thermoelectric Properties of the Multifunctional 2D CrSi2N4 Monolayer
topic Materials Science
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Applied Physics
Chemical Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.14408