Título: Exploring elemental 2D metals

Abstract: Common two-dimensional (2D) materials have a layered
three-dimensional (3D) structure with covalently bonded, atomically thin
layers held together by weak van der Waals forces. However, recent
experiments have suggested that even atomically thin 2D patches of
metallic elements could be stabilized inside graphene nanopores. Motivated
by such observations, we have performed systematic density-functional
studies on atomically thin elemental 2D metal films, using 45 metals in
different lattice structures. Investigations of cohesive energies,
equilibrium distances, bulk moduli, bending stiffnesses, interactions with
graphene edges, and other related trends across the periodic table confirm
many expectations but also reveal surprises. In effect, metallic 2D
structures turn out more stable than expected.


Short bio:
Pekka Koskinen is a senior lecturer and the vice head of the Department of
Physics at the University of Jyväskylä. He finished his Ph.D. in 2003,
continued with a post-doc in Germany for a few years, and has since 2007
led a simulations group at the University of Jyväskylä. His research has
evolved from quantum dots to metal clusters to graphene and other
low-dimensional materials, and even to educational research. His current
research focuses on the mechanics and electromechanics of low-dimensional
nanostructures using methods ranging from density-functional theory and
density-functional tight-binding to classical force fields and continuum
modeling. He is an enthusiastic teacher as well as an active developer and
advocate of modern teaching methods.