Electronic and optical properties under pressure effect of alkali metal oxides

We report results of first-principles calculations for the electronic and optical properties under pressure effect of Li₂O, Na₂O, Ki₂O and Rb₂O compounds in the cubic antifluorite structure, using a full relativistic version of the full-potential augmented plane-wave plus local orbitals (FP-APW+lo) method based on density functional theory, within the local density approximation (LDA) and the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). Moreover, the alternative form of GGA proposed by Engel and Vosko (GGA-EV) is also used for band structure calculations. The calculated equilibrium lattices and bulk moduli are in good agreement with the available data. Band structure, density of states, and pressure coefficients of the fundamental energy gap are given. The critical point structure of the frequency dependent complex dielectric function is also calculated and analyzed to identify the optical transitions. The pressure dependence of the static optical dielectric constant is also investigated.     

Physical Properties of III-Antiminodes --- a First Principles Study

A comprehensive first principles study of III-Antimonide binary compounds ishardly found in literature. We report a broad study of structural and electronicproperties of boron antimonide (BSb), aluminium antimonide (AlSb), galliumantimonide (GaSb) and indium antimonide (InSb) in zincblende phase based on density functional theory (DFT). Our calculations are based onFull-Potential Linearized Augmented Plane wave plus local orbitals(FP-L(APW+lo)) method. Different forms of exchange-correlation energyfunctional and corresponding potential are employed for structural andelectronic properties. Our computed results for lattice parameters, bulkmoduli, their pressure derivatives, and cohesive energy are consistent withthe available experimental data. Boron antimonide is found to be the hardestcompound of this group. For band structure calculations, in addition to LDAand GGA, we used GGA-EV, an approximation employed by Engel and Vosko. The band gap results with GGA-EV are of significant improvement over the earlier work.     

加压下ZnO结构相变和电子结构的第一性原理计算

基于密度泛函(DFT)理论的第一性原理,计算半导体ZnO纤锌矿结构和岩盐矿结构状态方程及其在高压下的相变,分析加压下体相ZnO的晶格常数、电子态密度和带隙随压力的变化关系,并将计算结果与文献中的理论和实验数据进行比较.验证在计算金属氧化物时,应用局域密度(LDA)近似计算出的相变压力普遍偏高,采用广义梯度(GGA)近似得到的结果与实验符合较好.     

Elastic,thermodynamic, electronic,and optical properties of recently discovered superconducting transition metal boride NbRuB:An ab-initio investigation

The elastic, thermodynamic, electronic, and optical properties of recently discovered and potentially technologically important transition metal boride NbRuB, are investigated using the density functional formalism. Both generalized gradient approximation(GGA) and local density approximation(LDA) are used for optimizing the geometry and for estimating various elastic moduli and constants. The optical properties of NbRuB are studied for the first time with different photon polarizations. The frequency(energy) dependence of various optical constants complement quite well the essential features of the electronic band structure calculations. Debye temperature of NbRuB is estimated from the thermodynamical study. All these theoretical estimates are compared with published results, where available, and discussed in detail. Both electronic band structure and optical conductivity reveal robust metallic characteristics. The NbRuB possesses significant elastic anisotropy. Electronic features, on the other hand, are almost isotropic in nature. The effects of electronic band structure and Debye temperature on the emergence of superconductivity are also analyzed.     

The electronic structure,electronic charge density and optical properties of the diamond-like semiconductor Ag2ZnSiS4

The electronic structure, electronic charge density and optical properties of the diamond-like semiconductor Ag₂ZnSiS₄ compound with the monoclinic structure have been investigated using a full-relativistic version of the full-potential augmented plane-wave method based on the density functional theory, within local density approximation (LDA), generalized gradient approximation (GGA), Engel–Vosko GGA (EVGGA) and modified Becke Johnson (mBJ) potential. Band structures divulge that this compound is a direct energy band gap semiconductor. The obtained energy band gap value using mBJ is larger than those obtained within LDA, GGA and EVGGA. There is a strong hybridization between Si-s and S-s/p, Si-p and Zn-s, Ag-s/p and Zn-s, and Ag-s and Ag-p states. The analysis of the site and momentum-projected densities shows that the bonding possesses covalent nature. The dielectric optical properties were also calculated and discussed in detail.     

Elastic,electronic and thermodynamic properties of fluoro-perovskite KZnF3 via first-principles calculations

The elastic, electronic and thermodynamic properties of fluoro-perovskite KZnF₃ have been calculated using the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method. The exchange-correlation potential is treated with the generalized gradient approximation of Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (GGA-PBE). Also, we have used the Engel and Vosko GGA formalism (GGA-EV) to improve the electronic band structure calculations. The calculated structural properties are in good agreement with available experimental and theoretical data. The elastic constants C _ij are calculated using the total energy variation with strain technique. The shear modulus, Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio and the Lamé coefficients for polycrystalline KZnF₃ aggregates are estimated in the framework of the Voigt-Reuss-Hill approximations. The ductility behavior of this compound is interpreted via the calculated elastic constants C _ij . Electronic and bonding properties are discussed from the calculations of band structure, density of states and electron charge density. The thermodynamic properties are predicted through the quasi-harmonic Debye model, in which the lattice vibrations are taken into account. The variation of bulk modulus, lattice constant, heat capacities and the Debye temperature with pressure and temperature are successfully obtained.     

First-principles calculations of the stibnite at the level of modified Becke–Johnson exchange potential

The demand for cheaper, nontoxic and earth-abundant materials as absorbing layer for solar cell is immensely needed to replace scarce, toxic and expensive one. In this regard, chalcogenide materials have considerably attracted the attention of a lot of researchers because of showing a great potential for different applications. Stibnite (Sb₂S₃), a chalcogenide binary material is considerably investigated for exploiting its potential for different energy technologies being a less toxic, abundantly available, stable and efficient, which are the fundamentals for sustainability as well as to realize the dream of green energy. In this study, theoretical calculations of the structural, electronic and optical properties of stibnite (Sb₂S₃) crystal structure are presented using the full potential (FP) linearized augmented plane wave (LAPW) framed within density functional theory (DFT). To incorporate the exchange-correlation part in the total energy functional, besides the local density approximation (LDA), Wu-Cohen parameterized generalized gradient approximation (WC-GGA), Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof parameterized generalized gradient approximation (PBE-GGA), and Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof generalized gradient approximation for solids and surfaces (PBEsol-GGA) are used for the calculations of the structural parameters, where the Trans-Blaha approach of the modified Becke–Johnson (TB-mBJ) potential is used to get more reliable results for the fundamental band gap energy value. These calculations are performed by involving spin-orbit coupling (SOC) contribution. Additionally, optical properties, such as imaginary and real parts of the dielectric function, optical conductivity, absorption coefficient, refractive index, reflectivity, and electron energy loss function are analyzed. Our first-principles calculations show that Wu-Cohen GGA (WC-GGA) reproduces results for lattice parameters comparable to the experimental measurements. The obtained results of the band gap energy and optical properties with TB-mBJ potential are also closer to the experimental data and, endorse its potentiality for the photovoltaics applications.     

First-principles calculations of the structural, electronic and optical properties of cubic BxGa1−xAs alloys

Density functional calculations are performed to study the structural, electronic and optical properties of technologically important B_xGa_1−xAs ternary alloys. The calculations are based on the total-energy calculations within the full-potential augmented plane-wave (FP-LAPW) method. For exchange-correlation potential, local density approximation (LDA) and the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) have been used. The structural properties, including lattice constants, bulk modulus and their pressure derivatives, are in very good agreement with the available experimental and theoretical data. The electronic band structure, density of states for the binary compounds and their ternary alloys are given. The dielectric function and the refractive index are also calculated using different models. The obtained results compare very well with previous calculations and experimental measurements.     

Density functional study of optical properties of beryllium chalcogenides compounds in nickel arsenide B8 structure

The structural, electronic and optical properties of beryllium chalcogenides BeS, BeSe and BeTe using the full-potential linear augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method are investigated. The exchange-correlation energy within the local density approximation (LDA) and the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) are described. The Engel-Vosko (EVGGA) formalism is applied for electronic and optical properties. The structural parameters of our model and the transition pressure from zinc-blende (B3) to the NiAs (B8) phase are confirmed. It is found that these compounds have indirect band gaps except for BeTe in NiAs (B8) phase. The results of reflectivity, refractive index and optical dielectric functions of Be compounds are investigated. An agreement is found between our results and those of other theoretical calculations and the experimental data.     

Density functional approach to study 5f electron behavior and electric field gradient in NpRh3

We have presented results on the electronic structure and the electric field gradient (EFG) of NpRh₃ within a framework of density functional theory within the local density approximation (LDA) and generalized gradient approximation (GGA) with and without spin-orbit coupling (SOC). The electronic density of states (DOS) shows that Np-f to Rh-d hybridization leads to a narrow band 5f-electron. Using the GGA and spinpolarized calculations, the calculated EFG shows that the dominant contribution to EFG comes from electrons with strong p-character.     

氧化锌掺钡的电子结构及其铁电性能研究

运用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理方法计算了不同原子百分比含量的Ba掺杂Zn0半导体体材料超晶胞的能带结构、电子态密度、极化率和相对介电值.计算结果表明:Ba掺杂的Zn0体系为直接带隙半导体材料,其禁带宽度随着Ba原子掺杂百分比的增加呈现出逐渐增大的趋势.体系铁电性能的计算表明:与纯Zn0相比,Zn0掺入Ba原子后的极化率与相对介电值发生了较为明显的变化,其极化率随着Ba原子掺杂百分比的增加而增大,相对介电值随着Ba原子掺杂百分比的增加而减小.对角化后的极化率分量的数值结果表明:在电场作用下超胞中可能存在微畴结构,并且由于畴间电偶极矩的强相互作用,使得超胞宏观上表现为几乎具有各向同性的极化率特征.     

Ab initio calculations study of the electronic, optical and thermodynamic properties of NaMgH3, for hydrogen storage

The structural stability, electronic structure, optical and thermodynamic properties of NaMgH₃ have been investigated using the density functional theory. Good agreement is obtained for the bulk crystal structure using both the local density approximation (LDA) and the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) for the exchange-correlation energy. It is found from the electronic density of states (DOS) that the valence band is dominated by the hydrogen atoms while the conduction band is dominated by Na and Mg empty states. Also, the DOS reveals that NaMgH₃ is a large gap insulator with direct band gap 3.4 eV. We have investigated the optical response of NaMgH₃ in partial band to band contributions and the theoretical optical spectrum is presented and discussed in this study. Optical response calculation suggests that the imaginary part of dielectric function spectra is assigned to be the interband transition. The formation energy for NaMgH₃ is investigated along different reaction pathways. We compare and discuss our result with the measured and calculated enthalpies of formation found in the literature.     

First principles calculations of structural,electronic and optical properties of various phases of CaS

First principles calculations have been performed within the framework of density functional theory to investigate the structural, electronic and optical properties of all four possible B1, B2, B3 and B4 phases of CaS. Apart from the standard local density approximation (LDA) and GGA (PBE), a more accurate nonempirical density functional generalized gradient approximation (GGA), as proposed by Wu and Cohen [Phys. Rev. B 73, 235116 (2006)] for the exchange-correlation energy, E_XC, has been attempted in these calculations. Calculated electronic structure and the density of states are analyzed in terms of the contribution of Ca d states and S s and p states in determining the nature of the fundamental band gap in various phases. Reflectivity, R (ω), the real and imaginary part of the dielectric functions, ε(ω), have been calculated for all the phases and the results have been discussed and compared with the existing experimental data.     

Structural,electronic, optical and thermodynamic investigations of NaXF3 (X = Ca and Sr): First-principles calculations

The structural, electronic and optical properties for fluoro-perovskite NaXF₃ (X?=?Ca and Sr) compounds have calculated by WIEN2k code based on full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) approach within density functional theory (DFT). To perform the total energy calculations, exchange-correlation energy/potential functional has been utilized into generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and local density approximation (LDA). Our evaluated results like equilibrium lattice constants, bulk moduli, and their pressure derivatives are in agreement with the available data. The electronic band structure calculation has revealed an indirect band-gap nature of NaCaF₃, while NaSrF₃ has direct band gap. Total and partial densities of states confirm the degree of localized electrons in different bands. The optical transitions in NaCaF₃ and NaSrF₃ compounds were identified by assigning corresponding peaks obtained from the dispersion relation for the imaginary part of the dielectric function. The thermodynamic properties were calculated using quasi-harmonic Debye model to account lattice vibrations. In addition, the influence of temperature and pressure effects was analyzed on bulk modulus, lattice constant, heat capacities and Debye temperature.     

Electronic,optical and bonding properties of MgCO3

The electronic, optical and bonding properties of MgCO₃ (magnesite, rhombohedral calcite-type structure) are calculated using a first-principles density-functional theory (DFT) method considering the exchange-correlation function within the local density approximation (LDA) and the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The indirect band gap of magnesite is estimated to be 5.0 eV, which is underestimated by ～1.0 eV. The fundamental absorption edge, which indicates the exact optical transitions from occupied valence bands to the unoccupied conduction band, is estimated by calculating the photon energy dependent imaginary part of the dielectric function using scissors approximations (rigid shift of unoccupied bands). The optical properties show consistent results with the experimental calcite-type structure and also show a considerable optical anisotropy of the magnesite structure. The density of states and Mulliken population analyses reveal the bonding nature between the atoms.     

Structural,electronic, optical and bonding properties of strontianite,SrCO3: First-principles calculations

The first-principles calculations are performed within the density functional theory to investigate the crystal structure, energy band structure, density of states, optical properties, and bonding properties of strontianite. The optimized structure parameters and bonding results with the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) functional and the localized density approximation (LDA) functional are in good agreement with the earlier experimental data. The band structure, density of states and chemical bonding of strontianite have been calculated and analyzed. The indirect band gap of strontianite is estimated to be ~4.45 eV (GGA) or ~4.24 eV (LDA). The absorption, reflectivity, refractive index and extinction coefficient have been calculated using the imaginary part of the dielectric function. The calculated results of the optical properties show that strontianite has an optical anisotropy along [100] (or [010]) and [010] polarization directions of incoming light. Furthermore, the calculated results of the density of states and Mulliken population indicate that the interactions among atoms are both ionic and covalent bonding in strontianite.     

Optical properties of SiC nanocages: ab initio study

The structural, electronic and optical properties of Si _n C _n (n=12,16,20,30,35 and 60) nanocages were studied using different approximations of density functional theory, i.e. local density approximation (LDA), generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and density functional theory based tight binding approximation (DFTB). The highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMO) energy gaps were calculated for all nanocages. Time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) was also applied for estimating of the optical excitation and exciton binding energies of the nanocages and the results compared with pure DFT calculations.     

Structural and electronic properties of GaN x As1−x alloys

The structural and electronic properties of cubic GaN _x As_1−x with N-concentration varying between 0.0 and 1.0 with step of 0.25 were investigated using the full potential–linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method. We have used the local density approximation (LDA) and the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) for the exchange and correlation potential. In addition the Engel-Vosko generalized gradient approximation (EVGGA) was used for the band-structure calculations. The structural properties of the binary and ternary alloys were investigated. The electronic band structure, total and partial density of states as well as the electron charge density were determined for both the binary and their related ternary alloys. The energy gap of the alloys decreases when we move from x=0.0 to 0.25; then it increases by a factor of about 1.8 when we move from 0.25 to 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 using EVGGA. For both LDA and GGA moving from x=0.0 to 0.25 causes the band gap to close, showing the metallic nature of the GaN_0.25As_0.75 alloy. When the composition of N moves through x=0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1, the band gap increases.     

Structural,electronic and optical properties of cubic fluoroelpasolite Cs2NaYF6 by density functional theory

First-principles full-potential linearized augmented plane-wave method based on density functional theory is used to investigate the structural, electronic and optical properties of the cubic fluoroelpasolites Cs₂NaYF₆ within the local density approximation (LDA) and generalized gradient approximation (GGA) for potential exchange correlation. The modified Becke–Johnson (mBJ) potential approximation is also used for calculating the electronic and optical properties of the material. We have analyzed the structural parameters, total and partial densities of states, dielectric functions, absorption and reflectivity. The results show that the band structure of the fluoroelpasolites Cs₂NaYF₆ has an insulating behavior for the two directions of spin and as a result there is no net magnetic moment. A wide band gap of 9.6 eV is obtained with mBJ-GGA, which allows the application of this material as X-ray storage phosphor materials and scintillators.     

Structural, electronic and optical properties of SrCl2 under hydrostatic stress

The results of first-principles theoretical study of the structural, electronic and optical properties of SrCl₂ in its cubic structure, have been performed using the full-potential linear augmented plane-wave method plus local orbitals (FP-APW+lo) as implemented in the WIEN2k code. In this approach both the local density approximation (LDA) and the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) are used for the exchange-correlation (XC) potential. Also we have used the Engel-Vosko GGA formalism, which optimizes the corresponding potential for band structure calculations. We performed these calculations with and without spin-orbit interactions. Including spin-orbit coupling cause to lifts the triple degeneracy at Γ point and a double degeneracy at X point. Results are given for structural properties. The pressure dependence of elastic constants and band gaps are investigated. The dielectric function, reflectivity spectra and refractive index are calculated up to 30 eV. Also we calculated the pressure and volume dependence of the static optical dielectric constant.