Phase transition in CeSe, EuSe and LaSe under high pressure

The high pressure phase transition and elastic behavior of rare earth monoselenides (CeSe, EuSe and LaSe) which crystallize in a NaCl-structure have been investigated using the three body interaction potential (TBIP) approach. These interactions arise due to the electronshell deformation of the overlapping ions in crystals. The TBP model consists of a long range Coulomb, three body interactions and the short range overlap repulsive forces operative up to the second neighboring ions. The authors of this paper estimated the values of the phase transition pressure and the associated volume collapse to be closer than other calculations. Thus, the TBIP approach also promises to predict the phase transition pressure and pressure variations of elastic constants of lanthanide compounds.      

Structural phase transition and elastic properties of ZnSe at high pressure

We have evolved an effective interionic interaction potential to investigate the pressure-induced phase transitions from zinc blende (B3) to rock salt (B1) structure in II-VI [ZnSe] semiconductors. The elastic constants, including the long-range Coulomb and van der Waals (vdW) interactions and the short-range repulsive interaction of up to second-neighbor ions within the Hafemeister and Flygare approach, are deduced. Keeping in mind that both of the ions are polarisable, we employed the Slater-Kirkwood variational method to estimate the vdW coefficients. The estimated value of the phase transition pressure (P _t ) is higher than in the reported data, and the magnitude of the discontinuity in volume at the transition pressure is consistent with that data. The major volume discontinuity in the pressure-volume phase diagram identifies the structural phase transition from zinc blende to rock salt structure.

The variation of second-order elastic constants with pressure resembles that observed in some binary semiconductors. It is inferred that the vdW interaction is effective in obtaining the thermodynamic parameters such as the Debye temperature, the Gruneisen parameter, the thermal expansion coefficient and the compressibility. However, the inconsistency between the thermodynamic parameters as obtained from present model calculations and their experimental values is attributed to the fact that we have derived our expressions by assuming the overlap repulsion to be significant only up to the nearest second-neighbor ions, as well as neglecting thermal effects. It is thus argued that full analysis of the many physical interactions that are essential to binary semiconductors will lead to a consistent explanation of the structural and elastic properties of II–VI semiconductors.     

High pressure behavior of alkaline earth tellurides

We have predicted high pressure structural behavior and elastic properties of alkaline earth tellurides (AETe; AE = Ca, Sr, Ba) by using two body interionic potential approach with modified ionic charge (Z _m e). This method has been found quite satisfactory in case of the rare earth compounds. The equation of state curve, structural phase transition pressure from NaCl (B1) to CsCl (B2) phase and associated volume collapse at transition pressure of alkaline earth tellurides (AETe) obtained from this approach, so have been compared with experimentally measured data reveal good agreement. We have also investigated bulk modulus, second and third order elastic constants and pressure derivatives of second order elastic constants at ambient pressure which shows predominantly ionic nature of these compounds. First time, we have calculated the Poisson ratio, Young and Shear modulus of these compounds.      

Structural and elastic properties of barium chalcogenides (BaX,X=O,Se, Te) under high pressure

In the present paper we have investigated the high-pressure, structural phase transition of Barium chalcogenides (BaO, BaSe and BaTe) using a three-body interaction potential (MTBIP) approach, modified by incorporating covalency effects. Phase transition pressures are associated with a sudden collapse in volume. The phase transition pressures and associated volume collapses obtained from TBIP show a reasonably good agreement with experimental data. Here, the transition pressure, NaCl-CsCl structure increases with decreasing cation-to-anion radii ratio. In addition, the elastic constants and their combinations with pressure are also reported. It is found that TBP incorporating a covalency effect may predict the phase transition pressure, the elastic constants and the pressure derivatives of other chalcogenides as well.      

Study of phase transformation and elastic properties of ThX (X = N,P, As and Sb) under high-pressure

An improved interaction potential model (IIPM) has been formulated to theoretically predict the pressure induced phase transition, elastic properties and thermophysical properties of thorium monopnictides (ThX; X = N, P, As and Sb). The phase transition pressures and volume drop obtained from this model show a better agreement with the available experimental than theoretical results. We have achieved elastic moduli, anisotropy factor, Poisson's ratio, Kleinman parameter, shear and stiffness constants on the basis of the calculated elastic constants. To know the anharmonic properties, we have also computed the third-order elastic constants, first-order pressure derivatives of second-order elastic constants and thermophysical quantities. Our results are in reasonable agreement with available measured and others reported data which supports the validity of model.     

Pressure induced phase transition in rare earth mono-antimonides

Pressure induced structural phase transition of mono-antimonides of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium and neodymium (LnSb, Ln=La, Ce, Pr and Nd) has been studied theoretically using an inter-ionic potential with modified ionic charge which parametrically includes the effect of Coulomb screening by the delocalized f electrons of rare earth (RE) ion. The anomalous structural properties of these compounds have been interpreted in terms of the hybridization of f electrons with the conduction band and strong mixing of f states of Ln ion with the p orbital of neighbouring antimonide ion. All the four compounds are found to undergo from their initial NaCl (B₁) phase to body centered tetragonal (BCT) phase at high pressure and agree well with the experimental results. The body centered tetragonal phase is viewed as distorted CsCl structure and is highly anisotropic with c/a=0.82. The transition pressure of LnSb compounds is observed to increase with decreasing lattice constant in NaCl phase. The nature of bonds between the ions is predicted by simulating the ion-ion (Ln-Ln and Ln-Sb) distances at high pressure. The calculated values of elastic constants are also reported.     

MgO高温高压特性及相变的第一性原理研究

应用第一性原理密度泛函理论计算了MgO在零温(0K)下和0~200GPa静水压范围内的晶体结构和弹性模量,以及B1、B4和B8相结构的MgO的声速随压力的变化。利用准简谐近似下的Debye模型,通过拟合三阶Birch-Murnaghan物态方程模拟了高温效应并对三个相在高温高压下的相稳定性做了研究。本工作的计算结果与前人的理论和实验结果符合较好,说明第一性原理结合准简谐Debye模型能够比较准确的模拟矿物如MgO在高温高压下的热力学性质。     

MgO高温高压特性及相变的第一性原理研究

应用第一性原理密度泛函理论计算了MgO在零温(0K)下和0~200GPa静水压范围内的晶体结构和弹性模量,以及B1、B4和B8相结构的MgO的声速随压力的变化。利用准简谐近似下的Debye模型,通过拟合三阶Birch-Murnaghan物态方程模拟了高温效应并对三个相在高温高压下的相稳定性做了研究。本工作的计算结果与前人的理论和实验结果符合较好,说明第一性原理结合准简谐Debye模型能够比较准确的模拟矿物如MgO在高温高压下的热力学性质。     

Study of high pressure behavior and elastic properties of praseodymium monochalcogenides and monopnictides

The structural and elastic properties of praseodymium monochalcogenides (PrX: X = S, Se, Te) and monopnictides (PrY: Y = P, As, Sb, Bi) with NaCl-type structure have been investigated by using an interionic potential theory with necessary modification to include the effect of Coulomb screening due to the delocalized f-electrons of rare earth ion. The calculations are done at ambient as well as at high pressure. The structure of the high pressure phase of PrX compounds is CsCl-type while all the PrY compounds have been found to undergo from their initial NaCl-type structure to high pressure body centered tetragonal (BCT) structure, which can be seen as the distorted CsCl-type with c/a ratio ≈ 0.82–0.87. The calculated transition pressures are in good agreement with the experimental results. The elastic properties like second-order elastic constants for PrX, Y compounds are calculated for the first time. The nature of the bonding is also predicted by calculating the distance between the ions with the increasing pressure.     

Pressure and temperature induced high spin–low spin phase transition: Macroscopic and microscopic consideration

The behavior under pressure of the high spin–low spin phase transition in the coordination compounds containing 3d ions is analyzed using thermodynamic and microscopic approaches. For thermodynamic approach the mean field model with interactions between spin-crossover molecules is considered. Microscopic model takes into account the interaction of d electrons of the transition metal ions with full symmetric distortions of the ligands. The relationship of the thermodynamic interaction parameters with microscopic ones is installed and shown how the quantum–mechanical interactions form the cooperativity of the system. Within the microscopic model the temperature and pressure dependences of the high spin fraction in 2-D compounds {Fe(3-Fpy)₂[M(CN)₄]} (M=Pd, Pt) are simulated and microscopic parameters are evaluated. It is concluded that different experimental behaviors of the temperature and pressure induced spin transitions are determined by different variations of the inelastic and elastic energies under pressure, and vibrational component of the free energy drives the ST equally with electronic part.     

高压下RhB的相变、弹性性质、电子结构及硬度的第一性原理计算

采用密度泛函理论中的赝势平面波方法系统地研究了高压下RhB的结构相变、弹性性质、电子结构和硬度.分析表明,RhB在25.3 GPa时从anti-NiAs结构相变到FeB结构,这两种结构的弹性常数、体弹模量、剪切模量、杨氏模量和弹性各向异性因子的外压力效应明显.电子态密度的计算结果显示,这两种结构是金属性的,且费米能级附近的峰随着压强的增大向两侧移动,赝能隙变宽,轨道杂化增强,共价性增强,非局域化更加明显.此外,硬度计算结果显示,anti-NiAs-RhB的金属性比较弱,有着较高的硬度,属于硬质材料.     

A polymerization-depolymerization model for generation of contractile force during bacterial cell division

We have investigated the pressure-induced phase transition of NiO and other structural properties using three-body potential approach. NiO undergoes phase transition from B1 (rocksalt) to B2 (CsCl) structure associated with a sudden collapse in volume showing first-order phase transition. A theoretical study of high pressure phase transition and elastic behaviour in transition metal compounds using a three-body potential caused by the electron shell deformation of the overlapping ion was carried out. The phase transition pressure and other properties predicted by our model is closer to the phase transition pressure predicted by Eto et al.      

Elastic properties of alkaline earth oxides under high pressure

In this article, we have investigated the high-pressure structural phase transition of alkaline earth oxides using the three-body potential (TBP) model. Phase transition pressures are associated with elastic constants. An effective inter-ionic interaction potential (TBP) with long-range Coulomb interactions and the Hafemeister–Flygare type short-range overlap repulsion and the vdWl interaction is developed. The present calculations have revealed reasonably good agreement with the available experimental data on structural transition (B1–B2 structure). The phase transition pressures Pt of MgO, CaO, SrO, and BaO occur at 220, 45, 40, and 100?GPa, respectively. Further, the variations of the second-order elastic constants with pressure have followed a systematic trend, which are almost identical to those exhibited by the observed data measured for other semiconducting compounds with rocksalt (B1)-type crystal structure. It is found that TBP promises that we would be able to predict phase transition pressure and elastic constants for other chalcogenides as well. The results may be useful for geophysical study.     

High pressure effect on structural and mechanical properties of some LnO (Ln=Sm, Eu, Yb) compounds

The structural and mechanical properties of LnO (Ln=Sm, Eu, Yb) compounds have been investigated using a modified interionic potential theory, which includes the effect of Coulomb screening. We predicted a structural phase transition from NaCl (B₁)- to CsCl (B₂)-type structure and elastic properties in LnO compounds at very high pressure. The anomalous properties of these compounds have been correlated in terms of the hybridisation of f-electrons of the rare earth ion with conduction band and strong mixing of f-states of lanthanides with the p-orbital of neighbouring chalcogen ion. For EuO, the calculated transition pressure, bulk modulus and lattice parameter are close to the experimental data. The nature of bonds between the ions is predicted by simulating the ion-ion (Ln-Ln and Ln-O) distances at high pressure. The second order elastic constants along with shear modulus and Young's modulus, elastic anisotropy and Poisson's ratio are also presented for these oxides.     

Structural and elastic properties of InX (X = P,As, Sb) at pressure and room temperature

We have investigated the pressure-induced phase transition of InX (X = P, As, Sb) from Zinc-Blende (ZB) to NaCl structure by using realistic interaction potential model involving the effect of temperature. This model consists of Coulomb interaction, three-body interaction and short-range overlap repulsive interaction upto the second nearest neighbor involving temperature. Phase-transition pressure is associated with a sudden collapse in volume, showing the incidence of first-order phase transition. The phase-transition pressure is associated with volume collapses, and the elastic constants obtained from the present model indicate good agreement with the available experimental and theoretical data.     

An analysis of pressure-induced phase transition and elastic properties of neodymium monopnictides

We have predicted the phase transition pressures and corresponding relative volume changes of two neodymium monopnictides (NdAs and NdSb) having NaCl-type structure at ambient conditions, using an improved interaction potential model (IIPM) approach. Both the compounds have been found to undergo from their initial NaCl(B1) phase to a body centered tetragonal (BCT) phase at high pressure. Our calculated results of phase transitions, volume collapses and elastic behavior of these compounds are found to be close to the experimental results. This shows that the inclusion of the three-body interaction and polarizability effect makes the present model suitable for high pressure studies.     

Phase transition and high pressure behavior of Zirconium and Niobium carbides

We have predicted the phase transition pressure (P _T )and high pressure behavior of Zirconium and Niobium carbide (ZrC, NbC). The high pressure structural phase transitions in ZrC and NbC has been studied by using a two body inter-ionic potential model, which includes the Coulomb screening effect, due to the semi-metallic nature of these compounds. These transition metal carbides have been found to undergo NaCl (B1) to CsCl (B2)-type structural phase transition, at high pressure like other binary systems. We predict such structural transformation in ZrC and NbC at a pressure of 98GPa and 85GPa respectively. We have also predicted second order elastic constant and bulk modulus. The present theoretical work has been compared with the corresponding experimental data and prediction of LAPW and GGA and LDA theories.      

Structural phase stability and elastic behavior of III-V scandium pnictides

A modified interaction potential (MIPM) model (including the covalency effect) has been developed and applied for the first time to investigate the high-pressure structural phase transition of scandium pnictides (ScAs and ScSb). Phase transition pressures are associated with a sudden collapse in volume indicating the occurrence of first order phase transition. The phase transition pressures and associated volume collapses obtained from present potential model show a generally better agreement with available experimental data than others. The elastic constants and their pressure derivatives are also reported. Moreover, the thermo physical properties have also been obtained successfully. Our results are in good agreement with available experimental and theoretical data.     

ZnSe弹性常数和相变的从头计算

利用平面波密度泛函理论研究了ZnSe从闪锌矿结构到盐石结构的相变.结果发现通过H相等得到的相变压力为16.8 GPa,与通过高压弹性常数值判断所得到的结果相符.