Theoretical investigation of phase transition properties in strontium chalcogenides using potential model

The Born–Mayer potential has been employed to predict the phase transition pressure in four strontium monochalcogenides, namely, SrO, SrS, SrSe, and SrTe, which crystallize in the NaCl (B1) phase and with the application of pressure, transforms to the CsCl (B2) phase. The compression, bulk modulus and the first-order pressure derivative of bulk modulus have also been calculated and compared with the available experimental and other theoretical results. The calculated values of transition pressure and other elastic properties predict that the hardness and strength parameters depend on the crystal structure and have the different values for different structures.     

Structural, elastic, phonon and electronic properties of a MnPd alloy

The structural, elastic, phonon and electronic properties of a MnPd alloy have been investigated using the first-principles calculation. The calculated lattice constants and electronic structure agree well with the experimental results. The microscopic mechanism of the diffusionless martensitic transition from the paramagnetic B2 (PM-B2) phase to the antiferromagnetic L10 (AFM-L10) phase through the intermediate paramagnetic L10 (PM-L10 ) phase has been explored theoretically. The obtained negative shear modulus C′= (C11-C12)/2 of the PM-B2 phase is closely related to the instability of the cubic B2 phase with respect to the tetragonal distortions. The calculated phonon dispersions for the PM-L10 and AFM-L10 phases indicate that they are dynamically stable. However, the AFM-L10 phase is energetically most favorable according to the calculated total energy order, so the PM-L10 →AFM-L10 transition is caused by the magnetism rather than the electron-phonon interaction. Additionally, the AFM-L10 state is stabilized through the formation of a pseudo gap located at the Fermi level. The calculated results show that the CuAu-I type structure in the collinear antiferromagnetic state is dynamically and mechanically stable, thus is the low temperature phase.     

压力下氮化铝相转变及结构性质的第一性原理研究

利用密度泛函理论(DFT)研究了AlN的六角纤锌矿结构(B4),岩盐矿结构(B1),过渡态中间相六方结构(Hexa)和过渡态中间相四方结构(Tetra),计算了AlN在不同压力下B4和B1结构和过渡态中间相六方结构和四方结构的焓值,计算发现B4和B1相的转变压力是17.27 GPa,低压区中间相六方结构稳定,高压区中间相四方结构更稳定,AlN的常见的B4结构是直接带隙结构,带隙宽度是4.095 eV,带隙宽度与外压力之间关系符合二次函数方程,与其它理论研究结果一致.     

First-principles studies of structural,mechanical, electronic,optical properties and pressure-induced phase transition of CuInO2 polymorph

Using the first-principles density-functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA), we have investigated the structural, elastic, mechanical, electronic, and optical properties and phase transition of CuInO₂. Structural parameters including lattice constants and internal parameter, pressure effects and phase transition pressure were calculated. We have obtained the elastic coefficients, bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio. We find that two phases of CuInO₂ are indirect band gap semiconductors (F–Γ and H–Γ for 3R and 2H, respectively). Optical properties, including the dielectric function, refractive index, extinction coefficient, reflectivity, absorption coefficient, loss function and optical conductivity have been obtained for radiations of up to 30 eV.     

The pressure dependences of elastic and lattice dynamic properties of AlAs from ab initio calculations

Ab initio calculations,based on norm-conserving nonlocal pseudopotentials and density functional theory(DFT),are performed to investigate the structural,elastic,dielectric,and vibrational properties of aluminum arsenide(AlAs) with a zinc-blende(B3) structure and a nickel arsenide(B81) structure under hydrostatic pressure.Firstly,the path for the phase transition from B3 to B81 is confirmed by analyzing the energies of different structures,which is in good agreement with previous theoretical results.Secondly,we find that the elastic constants,bulk modulus,static dielectric constants,and the optical phonon frequencies vary in a nearly linear manner under hydrostatic pressure.What is more,the softening mode of the transversal acoustic mode at the X point supports the phase transition in AlAs.     

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.     

Electronic,mechanical, phase transition,and thermo-physical properties of TMC (TM = V,Nb, and Ta): high pressure ab initio study

The structural, electronic, mechanical, phase transition, and thermo-physical properties of refractory carbides, viz. VC, NbC, and TaC have been computed in stable B1 and high pressure B2 phases by means of two different ab initio calculations using pseudo- and full-potential schemes. These materials have mixed covalent-, metallic-, and ionic-type bonding. The calculations of elastic constants show the mechanical stability of these materials in B1 phase only. The brittle nature and anisotropy is observed in these materials in B1 phase. Non-central forces are present in both the phases. Elastic wave velocities and Debye temperature have also been calculated. The present results on structural, phase transition, elastic, and other properties are in reasonably good agreement with the available experimental and theoretical data. The calculations in high pressure phase need experimental verification.     

Structural, elastic, phonon, and electronic properties of MnPd alloy

The structural, elastic, phonon, and electronic properties of MnPd alloy have been investigated by using the first-principles calculations. The calculated lattice constants and electronic structure are in good agreement with the experimental results. The microscopic mechanism of the diffusionless martensitic transition from the paramagnetic B2 (PM-B2) phase to the antiferromagnetic L1₀ (AFM-L1₀) phase through the intermediate paramagnetic L1₀ (PM-L1₀) phase has been explored theoretically. The obtained negative shear modulus C′= (C₁₁-C₁₂)/2 of the PM-B2 phase is closely related to the instability of the cubic B2 phase with respect to the tetragonal distortions. The calculated phonon dispersions for PM-L1₀ and AFM-L1₀ phases indicate that they are dynamically stable. However, the AFM-L1₀ phase is energetically most favorable according to the calculated total energy order, so the PM-L1₀ !AFM-L1₀ transition is caused by the magnetism rather than the electron–phonon interaction. Additionally, the AFM-L1₀ state is stabilized through the formation of a pseudo gap located at the Fermi level. The calculated results show that the CuAu-I type structure in the collinear antiferromagnetic state is dynamically and mechanical stable, thus is the low temperature phase.     

GaN结构相变、电子结构和光学性质

运用第一性原理平面波赝势和广义梯度近似方法,对纤锌矿结构和氯化钠结构GaN的状态方程及其在高压下的相变进行计算研究,分析相变点附近的电子态密度、能带结构和光学性质的变化机制.通过状态方程和焓相等原理得到GaN从纤锌矿到氯化钠结构的相变压强分别为43.9 Gpa和46.0 Gpa;在相变的过程中,GaN由典型的直接带隙半导体转变为间接带隙半导体材料;氯化钠结构GaN相比于纤锌矿结构,介电函数主峰值增强,本征吸收边明显往高能方向移动,氯化钠结构GaN在低能区域的光学性质差于纤锌矿结构.     

Electronic,elastic and dynamical properties of MgSe under pressure: rocksalt and iron silicide phase

The electronic, elastic and dynamical properties of MgSe in the rocksalt (B1) and iron silicide (B28) phase and the effects of pressure on these properties are investigated using first-principles method. The calculated electronic band structure indicates that the B1 phase of MgSe presents an indirect band-gap feature and the band gaps initially increase with pressure and subsequently decrease upon compression. Remarkably, an indirect-to-direct band-gap transition has been observed at the phase transition pressure. The elastic constants, bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young’s modulus, elastic anisotropy and B/G ratio of MgSe in the B1 and B28 phase at high pressure have also been investigated. The bulk modulus, shear modulus and Young’s modulus all increase monotonously with the increasing of pressure for the B1 and B28 phase of MgSe. The calculated phonon frequencies of the B1 phase at zero pressure agree well with available theoretical results. And the transverse acoustic phonon TA(X) mode of this phase completely softening to zero at 82 GPa. The phonon curves of the B28 phase under pressure have also been successfully investigated.     

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.     

Pressure dependences of elastic and lattice dynamic properties of AlAs from ab initio calculations

Ab initio calculations, based on norm-conserving nonlocal pseudopotentials and density functional theory (DFT), are performed to investigate the structural, elastic, dielectric, and vibrational properties of aluminum arsenide AlAs with zinc-blende (B3) structure and nickel arsenide (B8₁) structure under hydrostatic pressure. Firstly, the path for the phase transition from B3 to B8₁ is confirmed by analyzing the energies of different structures, which is in good agreement with previous theoretical results. Secondly, we find that the elastic constants, bulk modulus, static dielectric constants, and the optical phonon frequencies are varying in a nearly linear manner under hydrostatic pressure. What is more, the softening mode of transversal acoustic mode at X point supports the phase transition in AlAs.     

First-principles calculations of the structural, electronic, and optical properties of LiF up to 300 GPa

The structural, electronic, and optical properties of LiF are investigated at high pressures using the plane-wave pseudo-potential density functional method (DFT) within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). From the analysis of Gibbs free energies, we find that no phase transition takes place for LiF in the presented pressure range from 0 to 300 GPa. The result is consistent with the theoretical prediction obtained from the ab initio calculations [N.A. Smirnov, Phys. Rev. B 83 (2011) 014109] that the rock-salt structure is thermodynamically stable up to 1000 GPa. Meanwhile, good agreement between the calculated equation of state parameters and the experimental results is obtained, and a direct energy gap of 8.65 eV is estimated in the DFT-GGA for LiF with rock-salt structure. In addition, the dielectric function and optical properties such as reflectivity, absorption coefficient, and refractive index dependence of the photon energy from 0 to 50 eV and wavelength from 0 to 200 nm at different pressures are also calculated and analyzed. It is found that the rock-salt LiF is transparent from the partially ultra-violet to the visible light area and hardly is the transparence affected by the pressure. Furthermore, the curve of optical spectrum will shift to high energy area with increasing pressure.     

ZnTe结构相变、电子结构和光学性质的研究

运用密度泛函理论体系下的投影缀加波方法, 对闪锌矿和朱砂相结构的ZnTe在高压下的状态方程和结构相变进行了研究, 并分析了相变前后的原胞体积、电子结构和光学性质. 结果表明: 闪锌矿结构转变为朱砂相结构的相变压力为8.6 GPa, 并没有出现类似材料高压导致的金属化现象, 而是表现出间接带隙半导体特性. 相变后, 朱砂相结构Zn和Te原子态密度分布均向低能级方向移动, 带隙变小; 轨道杂化增强, 更有利于Te 5p与Zn 3d间的电子跃迁, 介电常数虚部主峰明显增强, 但宏观介电常数不受压力的影响.     

ZnS结构相变、电子结构和光学性质的研究

运用第一性原理平面波赝势和广义梯度近似方法, 对闪锌矿结构(ZB)和氯化钠结构(RS) ZnS的状态方程及其在高压下的相变进行计算研究, 分析相变点附近的电子态密度、能带结构和光学性质的变化机理. 结果表明: 通过状态方程得到ZB相到RS相的相变压强值为18.1 GPa, 而利用焓相等原理得到的相变压强值为18.0 GPa; 在结构相变过程中, sp³轨道杂化现象并未消失, RS相ZnS的金属性明显增强; 与ZB相ZnS相比, RS相ZnS的介电常数主峰明显增强, 并向低能方向出现了明显偏移, 使得介电峰向低能方向拓展, 在低能区电子跃迁大大增强. 关键词： 硫化锌 相变 电子结构 光学性质     

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.     

用密度泛函理论研究氮化硅新相的电子结构、光学性质和相变

运用第一性原理赝势方法,对氮化硅新相(六方Pˉ6和Pˉ6′相)的电子结构、光学性质和相变过程进行分析,研究能带结构、介电函数谱、反射谱和能量损失函数的变化机理.研究发现,β→Pˉ6→δ相变是可行的,在室温下β→Pˉ6和Pˉ6→δ相变的临界压强分别为42.9和47.7 GPa;相界的斜率为正值表明Pˉ6→δ相变过程伴随着晶胞体积的塌缩;Pˉ6和Pˉ6′相分别属于直接带隙和间接带隙半导体,能隙宽度分别为4.98和4.01 eV;得到了两相的零频介电常数;反射谱表明,两相的强反射峰均位于真空紫外线区域,因此可以用作紫外光屏蔽或紫外探测材料;在可见光区域,两相表现为近似透明.     

L12型铝合金的结构、弹性和电子性质的第一性原理研究

运用第一性原理方法研究了L12型铝合金相Al3Sc和Al3Zr的晶体结构、电子结构和弹性.结合能和形成能的计算表明,两种合金具有较强的合金化能力,且Al3Zr较Al3Sc具有更强的结构稳定性.电子结构分析表明,费米能级以下较多的价电子数决定了Al3Zr具有较强的结构稳定性.计算并分析比较了两种合金相的单晶弹性常数(C11,C12和C44)以及多晶弹性模量(体弹性模量B、剪切模量G、杨氏模量Y、泊松比ν和各向异性因子A).通过对比实验和其他理论计算结果,进一步分析和解释了两种合金相的力学性质.     

Effect of high pressure on polymorphic phase transition and electronic structure of XAs (X=Al,Ga, In)

The structural and electronic properties of XAs (X = Al, Ga, In) under pressure have been investigated using ab-initio pseudo-potential approach within local density approximation in B3→B1→B2 phases. The values of phase transition pressures show reasonably good agreement with the experimental data and better than others. The B1→B2 phase transition in InAs is not seen. The volume collapse computed from equation of state (EOS) is found to be in good agreement with the experimental values. Under ambient conditions, the energy of B3 phase is lowest as compared to other phases, while at high pressures beyond B1→B2 phase transition, the energy of B2 phase is found to be lower than that of B1 phase showing correct stability of the phases. There is relatively smaller enthalpy associated with B3→B1 transition as compared to B3→B2 transition. The electronic structures have also been computed at different pressures. We have also reported the effect of pressure on energy gap and valence band width.     

Elastic and thermodynamic properties of vanadium nitride under pressure and the effect of metallic bonding on its hardness

By the particle-swarm optimization method, it is predicted that tetragonal P42mc, 141md, and orthorhombic Amm2 phases of vanadium nitride （VN） are energetically more stable than NaCl-type structure at 0 K. The enthalpies of the predicted three new VN phases, along with WC, NaC1, AsNi, CsCl type structures, are calculated each as a function of pressure. It is found that VN exhibits the WC-to-CsCl type phase transition at 256 GPa. For the considered seven crystal- lographic VN phases, the structures, elastic constants, bulk moduli, shear moduli, and Debye temperatures are investigated. Our calculated equilibrium structural parameters are in very good agreement with the available experimental results and the previous theoretical results for the NaC1 phase. The Debye temperatures of VN predicted three novel phases, which are all higher than those of the remaining structures. The elastic constants, thermodynamic properties, and elastic anisotropies of VN under pressure are obtained and the mechanical stabilities are analyzed in detail based on the mechanical stability criteria. Moreover, the effect of metallic bonding on the hardness of VN is also investigated, which shows that VNs in P42mc, 141md, and Amm2 phases are potential superhard phases. Further investigation on the experimental level is highly recommended to confirm our calculations presented in this paper.