First-principles calculation of structural stability,lattice dynamic and thermodynamic properties of BeX (X = S,Se and Te) compounds under high pressure

The phase transitions, lattice dynamical and thermodynamic properties of BeS, BsSe and BeTe at high pressure have been investigated with the density functional theory. The calculated equilibrium structural parameters agree well with the available experimental and theoretical values. The phase transition pressures from the zinc-blende (ZB) to the nickel arsenide (NiAs) phase of these compounds are determined. The calculated phonon dispersion curves of these compounds in ZB phase at zero pressure do not show any anomaly or instability. Dynamically, the ZB phase of BeS, BeSe and BeTe is found to be stable near transition pressures P_T. Within the quasiharmonic approximation, the thermodynamic properties including the thermal expansion coefficient, heat capacity at constant volume, heat capacity at constant pressure and entropy are predicted.     

High pressure study of structural and electronic properties of magnesium telluride

The full-potential linear muffin-tin orbital method (FP-LMTO) within the local density approximation (LDA) is used to calculate the electronic band structures and the total energies of MgTe in its stable (NiAs-B8) and high pressure phases. The latter provide us with the ground state properties such us lattice parameter, bulk modulus and its pressure derivatives. The transition pressure at which this compound undergoes the structural phase transition from the NiAs to CsCl phase is calculated. The energy band gaps and their volume and pressure dependence in the stable NiAs-B8 phase are investigated. The ground state properties, the transition pressure are found to agree with the experimental and other theoretical results. The elastic constants at equilibrium in both NiAs and CsCl structure are also determined.     

Phase stability and electronic behavior of MgS,MgSe and MgTe compounds

Ab initio calculations based on density functional theory using the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method have been carried out to find the structural stability of different crystallographic phases, the pressure-induced phase transition and the electronic properties of the magnesium chalcogenides MgS, MgSe and MgTe. The zinc blende (B3), wurtzite (B4), rock salt (B1), CsCl (B2), NiAs (B8), β-BeO, 5-5 and TiP crystal structures are considered and the exchange and correlation potential is treated by the generalized-gradient approximation using the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof parameterization. Moreover, the modified Becke-Johnson (mBJ) scheme is also applied to optimize the corresponding potential for the band structure calculations. Results show that the wurtzite phase is the stable structure in the ground state adopted by MgSe and MgTe compounds while MgS adopts the rock-salt one. Moreover, the band structure calculations reveal a metallic behavior in the CsCl structure for all the compounds, whereas for the other structures, a semiconducting behavior is observed.     

First principles study of structural stability,electronic structure and mechanical properties of ReN and TcN

The crystal structure, structural stability, electronic and mechanical properties of ReN and TcN are investigated using first principles calculations. We have considered five different crystal structures: NaCl, zinc blende (ZB), NiAs, tungsten carbide (WC) and wurtzite (WZ). Among these ZB phase is found to be the lowest energy phase for ReN and TcN at normal pressure. Pressure induced structural phase transitions from ZB to WZ phase at 214 GPa in ReN and ZB to NiAs phase at 171 GPa in TcN are predicted. The electronic structure reveals that both ReN and TcN are metallic in nature. The computed elastic constants indicate that both the nitrides are mechanically stable. As ReN in NiAs phase has high bulk and shear moduli and low Poisson's ratio, it is found to be a potential ultra incompressible super hard material.     

Study of DOS and energy band structures in beryllium chalcogenides

The electronic properties of beryllium chalcogenides namely, BeS, BeSe and BeTe have been investigated theoretically using the full potential-linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method within density functional theory (DFT). The exchange correlation effects have been treated in the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The results so obtained were compared with the experimental and the theoretical results. The energy-volume relations for these compounds have been calculated to obtain the equilibrium lattice parameters. The results of density of states (DOS) shows an indirect band gap in BeS and BeSe with no band gap for BeTe.     

Pressure effect on the structural,electronic and optical properties of the cubic triangular quaternary BNxAsyP1−x−y alloys: First principle study

Predicted results of the structural, electronic and optical properties of the cubic zinc-blende phase of BN, BAs and BP binary compounds and their related ternary and quaternary alloys are presented. The density functional theory (DFT) within full potential linearized augmented plan wave (FP-LAPW) is employed. Different exchange correlation approximations were used to calculate the structural properties as well as the total energies, lattice parameters, bulk modulus and its first pressure derivative. The electronic band structures were treated with the local density approach and Tran Blaha modified Beck-Johnson (TB-mBJ) approximation. A quadratic fit of the lattice parameter, bulk modulus and band gap was performed, where a nonlinear variation with the composition x and y is found. Moreover, the optical properties have been investigated, where the dielectric behavior, the refractive index variations and the loss energy were studied. Furthermore, the electronic and optical properties were computed under hydrostatic pressure. Our results showed great agreement with the previous available experimental and theoretical data found in the literature.     

A first-principles study on the structural, lattice dynamical and thermodynamic properties of beryllium chalcogenides

First-principles calculations, which are based on the plane-wave pseudopotential approach to the density functional theory and the density functional perturbation theory within the local density approximation, have been performed to investigate the structural, lattice dynamical and thermodynamic properties of zinc blende (B3) structure beryllium chalcogenides: BeS, BeSe and BeTe. The results of ground-state parameters and phonon dispersion are compared and contrasted with the experimental and theoretical data of previous literature. The phonon frequencies at the zone-center are analyzed. We also used the phonon density of states and quasiharmonic approximation to calculate and predict some thermodynamic properties such as entropy, heat capacity, internal energy and free energy of the B3 phase beryllium chalcogenides.     

Structural stability,electronic structure and mechanical properties of 4d transition metal nitrides TMN (TM=Ru,Rh, Pd)

Ab initio calculations are performed to investigate the structural stability, electronic, structural and mechanical properties of 4d transition metal nitrides TMN (TM=Ru, Rh, Pd) for five different crystal structures, namely NaCl, CsCl, zinc blende, NiAs and wurtzite. Among the considered structures, zinc blende structure is found to be the most stable one among all three nitrides at normal pressure. A structural phase transition from ZB to NiAs phase is predicted at a pressure of 104 GPa, 50.5 GPa and 56 GPa for RuN, RhN and PdN respectively. The electronic structure reveals that these nitrides are metallic. The calculated elastic constants indicate that these nitrides are mechanically stable at ambient condition.     

Structural, electronic and vibrational properties of InN under high pressure

The structural, electronic and vibrational properties of InN under pressures up to 20 GPa have been investigated using the pseudo-potential plane wave method (PP-PW). The generalized-gradient approximation (GGA) in the frame of density functional theory (DFT) approach has been adopted. It is found that the transition from wurtzite (B4) to rocksalt (B1) phase occurs at a pressure of approximately 12.7 GPa. In addition, a change from a direct to an indirect band gap is observed. The mechanism of these changes is discussed. The phonon frequencies and densities of states (DOS) are derived using the linear response approach and density functional perturbation theory (DFPT). The properties of phonons are described by the harmonic approximation method. Our results show that phonons play an important role in the mechanism of phase transition and in the instability of B4 (wurtzite) just before the pressure of transition. At zero pressure our data agree well with recently reported experimental results.     

Theoretical investigation of the structural stabilities,elastic properties and band structure characteristics of platinum carbide

Ab initio calculations based on the density functional theory within the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method were carried out to investigate the structural stabilities of the different crystallographic phases, the pressure-induced phase transition and the electronic properties of the platinum carbide (PtC) compound. The zinc-blende (ZB), rock-salt (RS), cesium chloride (CsCl), wurtzite (WZ), nickel arsenide (NiAs), lead monoxide (PbO) and the tungsten carbide (WC) phases were considered. The exchange and correlation potential was treated by the generalized-gradient approximation using the Perde–Burke–Ernzerhof parameterization. The thermodynamic properties such as variation of the bulk modulus, lattice constant, heat capacity, thermal expansion and Debye temperature versus pressures and temperatures are investigated. The band structure results show the metallic character of the PtC compound in all the considered phases and the present study also shows that the PtC compound crystallizes in the ZB phase at ambient conditions. The theoretical transition pressures from the ZB to RS for the NiAs, PbO and CsCl transformations were also computed.     

Intersubband resonant enhancement of the nonlinear optical properties in asymmetric (CdS/ZnSe) based quantum wells

In this work, the linear and nonlinear optical properties are studied theoretically in asymmetric (CdS/ZnSe/BeTe)/(ZnSe/BeTe) quantum wells. The electronic states are calculated using the envelope wave function approximation and the intersubband transition energies are studied as a function of CdS and ZnSe well thicknesses as well as doping concentration. The optimum parameters carrying out the transition energy 0.8 eV (1.55 μm wavelength) are given. Results are presented for the linear, the third order nonlinear optical absorption and the refractive index changes in the studied heterostructure. Results show that the changes in the linear and the third order nonlinear optical absorption as well as refractive index change are as important as the temperature is high, the nonlinear terms must be taken into consideration especially near the resonance.     

First-principles investigation of structural, electronic, optical and dynamical properties in CsAu

The structural, electronic, optical and dynamical properties of CsAu compound in the CsCl(B2) phase were investigated using the density functional theory (DFT) within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The calculated lattice constant, static bulk modulus and first-order pressure derivative of the bulk modulus are reported and compared with previous experimental and theoretical calculations. The calculated electronic band structure for this compound is in good agreement with available theoretical and experimental studies. The present band calculation indicates that CsAu compound has an indirect gap at R→X points. Furthermore, the linear photon-energy-dependent dielectric functions have been calculated. For the first time, the electronic structure results are used, within the implementation of a linear-response technique, for calculations of phonon properties.     

Structural,electronic, and optical properties of ZnO_(1-x)Se_x alloys using first-principles calculations

The structural, electronic, and optical properties of binary ZnO, ZnSe compounds, and their ternary ZnO 1-x Se x alloys are computed using the accurate full potential linearized augmented plane wave plus local orbital (FP-LAPW + lo) method in the rocksalt (B1) and zincblende (B3) crystallographic phases. The electronic band structures, fundamental energy band gaps, and densities of states for ZnO 1-x Se x are evaluated in the range 0 ≤ x ≤ 1 using Wu-Cohen (WC) generalized gradient approximation (GGA) for the exchange-correlation potential. Our calculated results of lattice parameters and bulk modulus reveal a nonlinear variation for pseudo-binary and their ternary alloys in both phases and show a considerable deviation from Vegard's law. It is observed that the predicted lattice parameter and bulk modulus are in good agreement with the available experimental and theoretical data. We establish that the composition dependence of band gap is semi-metallic in B1 phase, while a direct band gap is observed in B3 phase. The calculated density of states is described by taking into account the contribution of Zn 3d, O2p, and Se 4s, and the optical properties are studied in terms of dielectric functions, refractive index, reflectivity, and energy loss function for the B3 phase and are compared with the available experimental data.     

Electronic properties and stability of ZnO from computational study

The ground-state properties of ZnO in the rock-salt (B1), CsCl (B2), zinc-blende (B3), wurtzite (B4), cinnabar, cmcm, d-β-tin, NiAs, Immm, and Imm2 structures were investigated using an accurate first-principles total-energy calculations based on the full-potential augmented plane-wave plus local orbitals (APW+lo) method. The local density approximation was used for the exchange and correlation energy density functional. The ground state properties such as lattice parameter, bulk modulus and its pressure derivative as well as the structural phase stability were calculated and compared to the available experimental data and previous theoretical works.     

Electronic,optical and thermoelectric investigations of Zintl phase AE3AlAs3 (AE = Sr,Ba): First-principles calculations

First principles calculations were performed to investigate the electronic, optical and thermoelectric properties of Zintl orthorhombic phase AE₃AlAs₃ (AE?=?Sr, Ba) compounds using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave method. The exchange-correlation potential is treated with the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and modified Becke-Johnson potential (TB-mBJ) to improve the electronic structure calculations. These two compounds are semiconductors have direct band gaps. The optical transitions are investigated via dielectric function along with other related optical constants such as refractive index and absorption coefficient. Thermoelectric properties are examined using the combination of electronic structure and Boltzmann transport theory. In detail, the calculated results of Seebeck coefficient, electrical and thermal conductivity, figure of merit and power factor are reported as a function of temperature.     

First principles study of structural,elastic and electronic structural properties of strontium chalcogenides

Structural, elastic and electronic properties of strontium chalcogenides SrX (X = O, S and Se) in the B1 (NaCl) and B2 (CsCl) phases were investigated in the present work. The calculations were performed using density functional theory (DFT) within generalized gradient approximation (GGA) using scalar relativistic Vanderbilt-type ultrasoft pseudopotentials. Results for structural properties of both phases, the pressure at which transition from B1 to B2 phase occurs and the volume compression ratio for each compound were reported. Elastic properties of the B1 phase of these compounds, such as elastic constants C₁₁, C₁₂, and C₄₄, shear modulus (G), Young's modulus (E), Poisson's ratio (σ), Kleinman parameter (ξ), and anisotropy factor (A) were also calculated at ambient conditions. The band gaps and density of states were studied too for the B1 structure of these compounds. The present results were compared with the available experimental and other theoretical results, and found to be in satisfactory agreement with them.     

First-principles investigation of the structural,optoelectronic and thermodynamic properties of InAsxP1-x ternary alloys under hydrostatic pressure effect

The main objective of our work is the study of structural, optoelectronic and thermodynamic properties of InAs_xP_1-x alloys in the zinc-blende structure using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave method (FP-LAPW) based on density functional theory (DFT). Different exchange correlation potentials were used, as well as the local density approximation (LDA) and the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) parameterized by Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE-GGA) and PBE sol-GGA of Perdew, to estimate structural properties such as lattice parameters, the bulk modulus and its first pressure derivative. For electronic properties, the Tran-Blaha modified Becke–Johnson potential (TB-mBJ) was used for density of states (DOS) and band structure calculations. The results show that the compounds of interest are semiconductors with direct band gaps for the full range of x compositions and that the optical band gap decreases from 1.58 to 0.41 eV with increasing As concentrations. The obtained results show a good agreement with experimental and theoretical data found in the literature. In addition, we have investigated the dielectric function as well as the refractive index and the reflectivity. The electronic and optical properties were studied under hydrostatic pressure (P = 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 GPa), and it was found that the band gaps of the binary compounds change from a direct to an indirect harmonic Debye model was used, which takes into account the effect of pressure P and temperature T on the lattice parameter, to explore the heat capacity, the Debye temperature and the entropy under pressures ranging from 0 to 20 GPa and temperatures ranging from 0 to 1200 K.     

Electronic and optical properties of BAs under pressure

The electronic and optical properties of boron arsenide (BAs) in the zinc-blende (ZB) and rock-salt (RS) phases have been studied by the density functional theory (DFT) method based on the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). Using the enthalpy-pressure data, the structural phase transition from ZB to RS is observed at 141 GPa. Our calculated electronic properties show that ZB-BAs is a semiconductor, whereas RS-BAs is a semi-metal. Calculations of the dielectric function and absorption coefficient have been performed for the energy range 0-30 eV. The dependence of pressure on band structure and optical spectra is also investigated. The results are compared with available theoretical and experimental data.     

Phase transition,electronic and optical properties of III-Sb compounds under pressure

III-V semiconductors are the backbone of optoelectronic industry. Here, we have performed first principle calculations to investigate the structural, electronic and optical properties of III-Sb (III = B, Al, Ga, Sb) compounds under the effect of pressure. The structural phase transition from zincblende to rocksalt phases is determined by the common tangent of the two E–V curves. The obtained results are in good agreement with the available literature. Compounds make electronic transition from semiconductors to metals under pressure. The calculated band structure in zincblende structure was compared with experimental and theoretical findings. Optical properties including real and imaginary parts of the complex dielectric function, frequency-dependent reflectivity and optical conductivity are explained to characterize the optical nature of these compounds in both phases.     

Theoretical Prediction for Structural Stabilities and Optical Properties of SrS, SrSe and SrTe under High Pressure

An investigation on the structural stabilities and electronic properties of SrX （X =S, Se and Te） under high pressure is conducted using the first-principles calculation based on density functional theory （DFT） with the plane wave basis set as implemented in the CASTEP code. Our results demonstrate that the sequence of the pressure-induced phase transition of the three compounds is the NaCl-type （B1） structure （Fm3rn） to the CsC1- type （B2） structure （Pm3m）. The phase transition and the metallization pressures are determined theoretically. The pressure effect on the optical properties is discussed. The results are compared with the previous calculations and experimental data.