Synthesis of Co2N by a simple direct nitriding reaction between nitrogen and cobalt under 10 GPa and 1800 K using diamond anvil cell and YAG laser heating

Synthesis of cobalt nitrides has been tried in a supercritical nitrogen fluid at high pressure (about 10 GPa) and high temperature (about 1800 K) using diamond anvil cell and YAG laser heating system. We have succeeded to synthesize a single phase of the CFe₂-type Co₂N easily in a short time. This is the first synthesis by a simple reaction between the pure cobalt and pure nitrogen (supercritical fluid nitrogen). The cell parameters of the synthesized Co₂N are a=4.662(9) Å, b=4.332(5) Å and c=2.749(9) Å, respectively.     

Novel structures and mechanical properties of Zr2N:Ab initio description under high pressures

With the formation of structural vacancies,zirconium nitrides(key materials for cutting coatings,super wearresistance,and thermal barrier coatings) display a variety of compositions and phases featuring both cation and nitrogen enrichment.This study presents a systematic exploration of the stable crystal structures of zirconium heminitride combining the evolutionary algorithm method and ab initio density functional theory calculations at pressures of 0 GPa,30 GPa,60 GPa,90 GPa,120 GPa,150 GPa,and 200 GPa.In addition to the previously proposed phases P42/mnm-,Pnnn-,and Cmcm-Zr2 N,five new high-pressure Zr₂N phases of PA/nmm,IA/mcm,P2₁/m,P3 m1,and C2/m are discovered.An enthalpy study of these candidate configurations reveals various structural phase transformations of Zr2 N under pressure.By calculating the elastic constants and phonon dispersion,the mechanical and dynamical stabilities of all predicted structures are examined at ambient and high pressures.To understand the structure-property relationships,the mechanical properties of all Zr₂N compounds are investigated,including the elastic moduli,Vickers hardness,and directional dependence of Young’s modulus.The Cmncm-Zr2 N phase is found to belong to the brittle materials and has the highest Vickers hardness(12.9 GPa) among all candidate phases,while the I4/mcm-Zr2 N phase is the most ductile and has the lowest Vickers hardness(2.1 GPa).Furthermore,the electronic mechanism underlying the diverse mechanical behaviors of Zr2 N structures is discussed by analyzing the partial density of states.     

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.     

Ultrastiff cubic TiO2 identified via first-principles calculations

The crystal structures and compressibilities of fluorite- and pyrite-structured TiO2 under varying hydrostatic pressures are calculated using gradient-corrected density functional as well as hybrid density functional-Hartree-Fock formulations. The results suggest that fluorite TiO2 is a highly incompressible solid with a large bulk modulus value (K(0) approximately 395 GPa), approaching that of ultrahard cotunnite TiO2 (K(0)=431 GPa). The bulk modulus obtained for pyrite TiO2 is considerably smaller (K(0) approximately 220-260 GPa), nonetheless larger than the value determined experimentally for cubic TiO2. Calculated shear modulus values indicate that fluorite TiO2 has the potential to be an ultrahard material, if it could be stabilized under ambient conditions.     

Superconducting Single-Layer T-Graphene and Novel Synthesis Routes

Single-layer superconductors are ideal materials for fabricating superconducting nano devices.However,up to date,very few single-layer elemental superconductors have been predicted and especially no one has been successfully synthesized yet.Here,using crystal structure search techniques and ab initio calculations,we predict that a single-layer planar carbon sheet with 4-and 8-membered rings called T-graphene is a new intrinsic elemental superconductor with superconducting critical temperature(T_c)up to around 20.8 K.More importantly,we propose a synthesis route to obtain such a single-layer T-graphene,that is,a T-graphene potassium intercalation compound(C_4 K with P4/mmm symmetry)is firstly synthesized at high pressure(11.5 GPa)and then quenched to ambient condition;and finally,the single-layer T-graphene can be either exfoliated using the electrochemical method from the bulk C4 K,or peeled off from bulk T-graphite C4,where C4 can be obtained from C4 K by evaporating the K atoms.Interestingly,we find that the calculated T_c of C4 K is about 30.4 K at 0 GPa,which sets a new record for layered carbon-based superconductors.The present findings add a new class of carbon-based superconductors.In particular,once the single-layer T-graphene is synthesized,it can pave the way for fabricating superconducting devices together with other 2 D materials using the layer-by-layer growth techniques.     

Synthesis of new La nitrides at high pressure and temperature

We have succeeded in synthesizing two new lanthanum nitrides in a supercritical nitrogen fluid at high pressure (about 30 GPa) and high temperature (about 2000 K), using a diamond anvil cell and a YAG laser heating system. These nitrides were found to be stable down to 5 GPa and ∼300 K in a nitrogen atmosphere. One of the new lanthanum nitrides is a cubic P lattice-type phase, which is a main phase synthesized nitride. The calculated lattice parameter is at 5 GPa, 300 K. The other nitride is of a trigonal P lattice-type. The calculated lattice parameters are and at 5 GPa, 300 K. The most likely phase of the former new La nitride is , the structure of which may be similar to the   Mn₂O₃-type (Ia80). The phase of the latter nitride is , the structure of which is the same as the   La₂O₃-type (hP5).     

压力对TlPbxBaCa3Cu3O超导电性的影响

 在零电阻温度T_c0达到120 K的TlBaCa₃Cu₃O_y超导体中，掺入不同含量的Pb后，超导电性受到抑制，点阵常数减小。加压时，T_c先随压力p的增加而上升，样品1（x_Pb=0.05）的dT_c0/dp=1.7 K/GPa，样品2（x_Pb=0.5）的dT_c0/dp=2.2 K/GPa。T_c的峰值随Pb的增加而减小。加压时，对由于Pb的加入引起的Cu—O层的精细结构变化起到调制作用。     

贵金属氮化物晶体结构、电子结构和力学性能的实验与理论研究进展

氮化铂（Pt-N）是高温高压条件下合成的第一种块体二元贵金属氮化物，由于该化合物具有高的体弹性模量和特殊的电子结构从而吸引了世界范围内一些理论研究者的目光．Pt-N中金属原子的质量远远大于非金属原子的质量，因此X射线衍射仅能确定Pt原子的位置，拉曼光谱虽然能限制N原子的对称性，但仍不能确定其具体位置．以上因素使得确定这种新合成物质的晶体结构成了理论研究的焦点，这些工作已经在高压科学中开拓了一个新的领域，即贵金属元素氮化物的高压合成与物性研究．     

Re_3N的变温拉曼散射与高压同步辐射研究

本工作通过高压固相复分解反应(HPSSM)合成块体Re_3N。利用X射线粉末衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和能量色散X射线分析(EDS)对高压样品进行结构表征与元素成分确定,结果表明利用HPSSM法合成的Re_3N具有较高的晶体质量。在77K到873K温度范围内利用拉曼散射研究Re_3N的晶格振动特性。基于三(四)声子耦合模型,研究Re_3N拉曼声子模频率的红移和拉曼峰的宽化现象,结果表明高温条件下Re_3N拉曼散射效应中三声子耦合过程占主导。高压同步辐射研究表明Re_3N具有很高的体弹模量(B0=417GPa),是一种潜在的超硬材料。     

Structural, Elastic and Electronic Properties of ReO2

Structural, elastic and electronic properties of ReO₂ are investigated by first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. The ground stateof ReO₂ has an orthorhombic symmetry which belongs to space group Pbcn with a=4.7868Å b=5.5736Å, and c=4.5322Å. The calculated bulk moduli are 322GPa, 353GPa, and 345GPa for orthorhombic, tetragonal, and monoclinic ReO₂, respectively, indicating that ReO₂ has a strong incompressibility. ReO₂ is a metal ductile solid and presents large elastic anisotropy. The obtained Debye temperatures are 850K for orthorhombic, 785K for tetragonal, and 791K for monoclinic ReO₂.     

High-pressure phases and pressure-induced phase transition of MoN6 and ReN6

Transition metal nitrides have been widely used in many scientific and technical areas because of their unique physical and mechanical properties. We report two new nitrogen-rich transition metal nitrides, MoN₆ and ReN₆, by crystal structure searching technique. Under high pressure, MoN₆ will undergo phase transition (from R-3m to Pm-3 phase) at 54 GPa, and ReN₆ always keep the R-3m phase in the pressure range from 50 to 100 GPa. There are benzene-like six-membered “N6” rings with nitrogen single bonds in the R-3m phase structures, indicating that MoN₆ and ReN₆ are expected to be the high-energy-density materials.     

Synthesis and high-resolution study distinguishing between very similar interstitial iron nitride structures

Angle-dispersive X-ray diffraction and microfluorescence together with precession electron diffraction (PED) and scanning electron microscopy measurements on iron nitride prepared at 15?GPa and 1800?K from iron and sodium azide starting materials reveal synthesis of both hexagonal P6₃22 and trigonal P312 Fe₃N_1+x modifications (a?=?4.745 (1) Å, c?=?4.403 (1) Å, Z?=?2). Nitrogen access to vacant interstitial sites, repulsions between nitrogen ions and metal nitride thermal stability are the factors relating iron nitride-phase relations to those of other early (Hf, Zr, Ti)-N and late (Ni-N) transition metal nitrides subjected to similar pressure and temperature conditions. Here, Fe₃N_1+x can accommodate pressure and x variability by situating nitrogen in a broader range of interstitial crystallographic sites in the intimately related hexagonal and trigonal crystal structures.     

Ultrastability and enhanced stiffness of approximately 6 nm TiO2 nanoanatase and eventual pressure-induced disorder on the nanometer scale

At 300 K ultrafine approximately 6 nm grain-size nanoanatase retains its structural integrity up to 18 GPa. There is progressive pressure-induced structural disorder to a highly disordered state at P>18 GPa. Signatures of short-range order persist to well beyond 18 GPa in both the synchrotron-x-ray diffraction and Raman data. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest disorder initiated in the surface shell of a nanograin with crystallinity being retained in the core. A bulk modulus B0=237+/-3 GPa for the nanoanatase (approximately 30% higher than the bulk value) is derived from the P-V data, concordant with the MD calculations.     

Advances in data reduction of high-pressure x-ray powder diffraction data from two-dimensional detectors: a case study of schafarzikite (FeSb(2)O(4))

Methods have been developed to facilitate the data analysis of multiple two-dimensional powder diffraction images. These include, among others, automatic detection and calibration of Debye-Scherrer ellipses using pattern recognition techniques, and signal filtering employing established statistical procedures like fractile statistics.All algorithms are implemented in the freely available program package Powder3D developed for the evaluation and graphical presentation of large powder diffraction data sets.As a case study, we report the pressure dependence of the crystal structure of iron antimony oxide FeSb(2)O(4) (p≤21?GPa, T = 298?K) using high-resolution angle dispersive x-ray powder diffraction. FeSb(2)O(4) shows two phase transitions in the measured pressure range. The crystal structures of all modifications consist of frameworks of Fe(2+)O(6) octahedra and irregular Sb(3+)O(4) polyhedra. At ambient conditions, FeSb(2)O(4) crystallizes in space group P4(2)/mbc (phase I). Between p = 3.2?GPa and 4.1?GPa it exhibits a displacive second order phase transition to a structure of space group P 2(1)/c (phase II, a = 5.7792(4)??, b = 8.3134(9)??, c = 8.4545(11)??, β = 91.879(10)°, at p = 4.2?GPa). A second phase transition occurs between p = 6.4?GPa and 7.4?GPa to a structure of space group P4(2)/m (phase III, a = 7.8498(4)??, c = 5.7452(5)??, at p = 10.5?GPa). A nonlinear compression behaviour over the entire pressure range is observed, which can be described by three Vinet equations in the ranges from p = 0.52?GPa to p = 3.12?GPa, p = 4.2?GPa to p = 6.3?GPa and from p = 7.5?GPa to p = 19.8?GPa. The extrapolated bulk moduli of the high-pressure phases were determined to K(0) = 49(2)?GPa for phase I, K(0) = 27(3)?GPa for phase II and K(0) = 45(2)?GPa for phase III. The crystal structures of all phases are refined against x-ray powder data measured at several pressures between p = 0.52?GPa, and 10.5?GPa.     

Calculated elastic properties of M2AlC (M=Ti, V, Cr, Nb and Ta)

M₂AlC phases, where M is a transition metal, are layered ternary compounds that possess unusual properties. In this paper, we have calculated the elastic properties of M₂AlC, with M=Ti, V, Cr, Nb and Ta, by means of ab initio total energy calculations using the projector augmented-wave method. We have derived the bulk and shear moduli, Young's moduli and Poisson's ratio for ideal polycrystalline M₂AlC aggregates. We have estimated the elastic modulus of Cr₂AlC with 357.7 GPa while the values of all other phases are in the range 309±10 GPa. We suggest that this can be understood based on the calculated bond energies for the M-C bonds. Furthermore, our results indicate a profound elastic anisotropy of M₂AlC even compared to materials with a well-established anisotropic character such as α-alumina. Finally, we have estimated the Debye temperatures of M₂AlC from the average sound velocity.     

Predicting Physical Properties of Tetragonal,Monoclinic and Orthorhombic M_3N_4(M=C,Si,Sn) Polymorphs via First-Principles Calculations

The recently discovered tetragonal,monoclinic and orthorhombic polymorphs of M_3N_4(M=C,Si,Sn) are investigated by using first-principles calculations.A set of anisotropic elastic quantities,i.e.,the bulk and shear moduli,Young's modulus,Poisson ratio,B/G ratio and Vickers hardness of M_3N_4(M=C,Si,Sn) are predicted.The quasi-harmonic Debye model,assuming that the solids are isotopic,may lead to large errors for the non-cubic crystals.The thermal effects are obtained by the traditional quasi-harmonic approach.The dependences of heat capacity,thermal expansion coefficient and Debye temperature on temperature and pressure are systematically discussed in the pressure range of 0-10 GPa and in the temperature range of 0-1100 K.More importantly,o-C_3N_4 is a negative thermal expansion material.Our results may have important consequences in shaping the understanding of the fundamental properties of these binary nitrides.     

Investigation of tetragonal ReN2 and WN2 with high shear moduli from first-principles calculations

Two new transition metal dinitrides, ReN₂ and WN₂, with the P4/mmm structure are investigated by the first-principles calculations. The computed shear moduli of 327 GPa for ReN₂ and 334 GPa for WN₂ exceed those of all transition metal dinitrides previously reported. The estimated theoretical hardness are 46.3 GPa for ReN₂ and 47.9 GPa for WN₂, respectively. The calculated high shear moduli and hardness indicate that they are potential ultrahard materials. It is important to note that the computed hardness of the weakest bond are 34.7 GPa (W-N) for WN₂ and 33.1 GPa (Re-N) for ReN₂, much higher than that of 21.1 GPa (Re-B) for ReB₂, which suggests that tetragonal ReN₂ and WN₂ are probably harder than ReB₂. The total and partial electron density of states and the electron localization function for ReN₂ and WN₂ are analyzed. We attribute the high bulk modulus, shear modulus, and hardness to a three-dimensional covalently bonded framework in tetragonal ReN₂ and WN₂. Our calculations show that tetragonal ReN₂ is expected to be synthesized above 62.7 GPa and tetragonal WN₂ may be hard to be synthesized.     

超高强块体非晶合金的研究进展

研制具有极限力学性能的金属材料一直是材料研究人员的梦想.超高强块体非晶合金是一类具有极高断裂强度(4 GPa)、高热稳定性(玻璃化转变温度通常高于800 K)和高硬度(通常高于12 GPa)的新型先进金属材料,其代表合金材料Co-Ta-B的断裂强度可达6 GPa,为目前公开报道的块体金属材料的强度记录值.本文系统地综述了该类超高强度块体非晶合金的组分、热学性能、弹性模量及力学性能,阐述了该类材料的研发历程;以弹性模量为联系桥梁,阐明了该类超高强块体非晶合金材料各物理性能的关联性,并揭示了其高强度、高硬度的价键本质.相关内容对于材料工作者了解该类超高强度金属材料的性能和特点,并推进该类材料在航空航天先进制造、超持久部件、机械加工等领域的实际应用有着重要意义.     

Zirconium nitrides deposited by dual ion beam sputtering: physical properties and growth modelling

Zirconium nitrides reveal interesting optical and electrical properties which highly depend on the nitrogen stoichiometry. Indeed, the material exhibits a transition from the stable metallic ZrN (optical index for bulk at 633 nm: N=0.5−i3.2) to the metastable semi-transparent insulating Zr₃N₄ (N=3.2−i0.4). This work deals with the elaboration of homogeneous ZrN-like and Zr₃N₄-like coatings. These have been prepared using reactive Dual Ion Beam Sputtering (DIBS) using a Zr target and N₂ or N₂+Ar reactive gas. The influence of different elaboration parameters (ion energy, gas composition of the reactive beam and substrate temperature) on the nitrides composition and on their optical and electrical properties was particularly studied. A model was proposed to explain the influence of energy and temperature on the nitrogen composition. The nitrogen stoichiometry was shown to be controlled by a competitive mechanism between implantation of excess nitrogen amount in the subsurface and their elimination by exodiffusion. The first phenomenon is mainly controlled by the ion energy whereas the second one is enhanced by a high temperature and a high irradiation defects density. Therefore, the Zr₃N₄-like nitrides were obtained with low temperature and high energy (200 eV) conditions whereas high temperature and low energy led to ZrN-like materials.     

Ab initio study of ultra-incompressible ternary BeCN2 polymorph

The structural, mechanical, thermodynamic, and electronic properties calculated by projector-augmented wave method are presented for BeCN₂ in chalcopyrite and wurtzite-like structures. The calculated high bulk modulus (321 and 309 GPa) and large shear modulus (302 and 298 GPa) suggest that they are ultra-incompressible and hard materials. The ultra-incompressibility is attributed to a stacking of strongly three-dimensional covalent bonded CN₄ and BeN₄ tetrahedrons connected by corners. Thermodynamic study demonstrates that these two structures can be synthesized at ambient condition. Furthermore, the structural transformation from the wurtzite-like to the chalcopyrite phase was predicted at about 17 GPa according to the enthalpy difference calculations.