First Principles Study of Al-Li Intermetallic Compounds

The structural properties, heats of formation, elastic properties, and electronic structures of four compositions of binary Al-Li intermetallics, Al₃Li, AlLi, Al₂Li₃, and Al₄Li₉, are ana-lyzed in detail by using density functional theory. The calculated formation heats indicate a strong chemical interaction between Al and Li for all the Al-Li intermetallics. In partic-ular, in the Li-rich Al-Li compounds, the thermodynamic stability of intermetallics linearly decreases with increasing concentration of Li. According to the computational single crystal elastic constants, all the four Al-Li intermetallic compounds considered here are mechani-cally stable. The polycrystalline elastic modulus and Poisson's ratio have been deduced by using Voigt, Reuss, and Hill approximations, and the calculated ratios of bulk modulus to shear modulus indicate that the four compositions of binary Al-Li intermetallics are brittle materials. With the increase of Li concentration, the bulk modulus of Al-Li intermetallics decreases in a linear manner.     

First-principle studies of Ca-X (X=Si,Ge,Sn,Pb) intermetallic compounds

The structural properties, elastic properties, heats of formation, electronic structures, and densities of states of 20 intermetallic compounds in the Ca-X (X=Si, Ge, Sn, Pb) systems have been systematically investigated by using first-principle calculations. Our computational results indicated that with increasing atomic weight of X, the bulk modulus of Ca-X intermetallic compounds decreases gradually. It was also found that Ca₃₆Sn₂₃ and CaPb are mechanically unstable phases. Results on the electronic energy band and densities of states also indicated that Ca₃Si₄ is an indirect band gap semiconductor with a band gap of 0.598 eV, and Ca₂Si, Ca₂Ge, Ca₂Sn, and Ca₂Pb are direct band gap semiconductors with band gaps of 0.324, 0.265, 0.06, and 0.07 eV, respectively. In addition, it is found that the absolute values of heats of formation for all Ca-X intermetallics are larger than 30 kJ/mol atom.     

Al2Pt for Oxygen Evolution in Water Splitting: A Strategy for Creating Multifunctionality in Electrocatalysis

The production of hydrogen via water electrolysis is feasible only if effective and stable catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are available. Intermetallic compounds with well‐defined crystal and electronic structures as well as particular chemical bonding features are suggested here to act as precursors for new composite materials with attractive catalytic properties. Al₂Pt combines a characteristic inorganic crystal structure (anti‐fluorite type) and a strongly polar chemical bonding with the advantage of elemental platinum in terms of stability against dissolution under OER conditions. We describe here the unforeseen performance of a surface nanocomposite architecture resulting from the self‐organized transformation of the bulk intermetallic precursor Al₂Pt in OER.     

Structural, electronic and elastic properties of MAX phases M2GaN (M = Ti, V and Cr)

Based on first-principles total energy calculations, we have investigated the systematic trends for structural, electronic and elastic properties of the MAX phases M₂GaN depending on the type of M transition metal (M are Ti, V and Cr). The optimized zero pressure geometrical parameters: the two unit cell lengths (a, c), the internal coordinate z and the bulk modulus are calculated. The results for the lattice constants are in agreement with the available experimental data. The band structures show that all studied materials are electrical conductors. The analysis of the site-projected l-decomposed density of states shows that bonding is due to M d-N p and M d-Ga p hybridizations. The elastic constants are calculated using the static finite strain technique. The shear modulus C₄₄, which is directly related to the hardness, reaches its maximum when the valence electron concentration is in the range 10.5–11.0. The isotropic elastic moduli, namely, bulk modulus (B), shear modulus (G), Young's modulus (E) and Poisson's ratio (σ) are calculated in framework of the Voigt–Reuss–Hill approximation for ideal polycrystalline M₂GaN aggregates. We estimated the Debye temperature of M₂GaN from the average sound velocity. This is the first quantitative theoretical prediction of the electronic structures, and elastic constants and related properties for Ti₂GaN, V₂GaN and Cr₂GaN compounds that require experimental confirmation.     

Electronic,elastic and thermal properties of lutetium intermetallic compounds

The electronic, structural, elastic, thermal and mechanical properties of Lutetium intermetallic compounds LuX (X = Mg, Cu, Ag, Au, Zn, Cd and Hg) have been studied using ab-initio full potential linear augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) with the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) in their non magnetic phase. The ground state properties such as lattice constant, bulk modulus, pressure derivatives of bulk modulus are reported in CsCl-(B₂ phase) structure. We also report the band structure and density of states at equilibrium lattice constant. The calculated band structures indicate that these intermetallics are metallic in nature. The second order elastic constants of these compounds are also predicted for the first time. The ductility of these compounds is determined by calculating the bulk to shear ratio B/G_H.     

La5Al3Ni2 – an Intermetallic Phase Observed upon Crystallization of La50Al25Ni25 Metallic Glass

The yet unknown intermetallic phase La₅Al₃Ni₂ was obtained by partially crystallizing amorphous La₅₀Al₂₅Ni₂₅ at 550 K (further heating above 600 K leads to irreversible disappearance of this phase), and its crystal structure was determined from X‐ray powder diffraction data. The crystal structure of the La₅Al₃Ni₂ phase constitutes a new structure type (Cmcm, a = 14.231Å, b = 6.914Å, c = 10.460Å, oC40) and is built from [Al₃Ni₂] chains surrounded by La atoms. In the ternary system La‐Al‐Ni La₅Al₃Ni₂ is located on the section La₅₀Al_50−nNi_n (0 ≤ n ≤ 50) with the binary compounds LaAl and LaNi as end members. Strikingly, also the crystal structures of the end members can be conceived as chain structures with Al and Ni chains surrounded by La, respectively.     

Solid state reactions in Al based composites made by mechanofusion

Mixtures of aluminium and other metal powders were milled in a Hosokawa AM-15F mechanofusion system in order to produce composite materials with coated or layered microstructure. These composites were then annealed or used in plasma spraying experiments. The intermetallic phases produced in the consecutive steps of the treatment were investigated by different methods.In the case of the Al-Ni powder system the presence of intermetallic phases confirmed that phase forming solid state reactions start during the first, mechanofusion step. After milling the powder mixture in the Hosokawa equipment, crystalline Al₃Ni could be detected by TEM. A second intermetallic phase, Al₃Ni₂ was also observed after a heat treatment at 750 K. In Al-Cu-Fe and Al-Cu-Co powder composites, produced by milling, binary and ternary phases could be found only after plasma spraying. That means that in these cases the thermodynamic and kinetic requirements of the reactions could not be fulfilled by this mild milling. Nevertheless, the considerably large specific surface of the metal-metal interfaces, formed during the milling process in the ternary composites, makes it possible to produce multi-phase coatings from these composites. It means that only two technological steps are required (milling — plasma spraying). All of the other known technologies consist of three steps: alloy preparation — milling — plasma spraying or alloy preparation —atomisation — plasma spraying.Similarities and differences between the reactions taking place in thin films and thin and/or small milled particles are discussed.Dedicated to Professor Dr. rer. nat. Dr. h.c. Hubertus Nickel on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

The site preference and doping effect on mechanical properties of Ni3Al-based γ′ phase in superalloys by combing first-principles calculations and thermodynamic model

The fundamental aspects of site preference of alloying elements on sublattice of the strengthen γ′ phase with L1₂ structure have not been well understood, which hinders the optimized design of advanced Ni-based high-temperature alloys. In this contribution, the temperature- and composition-dependent site occupying preferences of the binary, ternary, and quaternary of Ni₃Al-based γ′ phase alloyed with M_i where M_i represents the additional transitional metals Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Re, Ta, Ti, V, or W atoms (arranged in alphabetical order) chosen frequently, were studied using a two-sublattice thermodynamic model (Ni, Al, M_i)_1a(Ni, Al, M_i)_3c. The site occupying fractions (SOFs) were calculated based on a thermodynamic database established in this work, where the thermodynamic data of the end-members involved were obtained using first-principles calculations and phonon spectrum calculations. The calculated SOFs results show that there is an obvious site preference for stoichiometry binary Ni₃Al, and its site configuration changes from (Al)_1a(Ni)_3c at room temperature to (Al_0.9984Ni_0.0015)_1a (Al₀Ni_0.9994)_3c at 1273 K. For the γ′ phase with the composition 78Ni-26Al-4M_i (atom ratio and x_Ni/x_Al = 3:1), Mo atoms always preferred to occupy the 1a sublattice (Al site), Co, Mn, and Ti atoms always prefer the 3c sublattice (Ni site) in the whole temperature range, while the site preference of Cr, Cu, Fe, Re, Ta, V, or W atom is affected by temperature. For example, when the heat treatment temperature is lower than 700 K, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ta, V, and W atoms occupy the 1a and 3c sublattice randomly, and Re atoms prefer to 3c sublattice, while when the heat treatment temperature is higher than 1273 K, Cr, Cu, and W atoms prefer 3c sublattice, Fe and Ta atoms prefer to 1a sublattice, while all Re atoms occupy the 3c sublattice exclusively, and all V atoms occupy the 1a sublattice exclusively, respectively. Likewise, the site preference of the quaternary system with selective compositions 78Ni-26Al-2 M₁-2 M₂ was also predicted. Based on calculated SOFs results, the mechanical and thermodynamic properties were studied at the ground state. It has been revealed that Cr, Re, and V doping can improve the microhardness of Ni₃Al alloys; in particular, the effect of Cr is extraordinary; and all elements, except Mn, Mo, and Ti, would enhance the bulk modulus of Ni₃Al-based γ′ phase, in which Mn have the greatest influence on reducing the bulk and shear modulus, respectively. Furthermore, all the B/G ratios of the computed Ni₃Al-based γ′ phase are >1.75, showing inherent ductility. Only Cr doping significantly enhances the Debye temperature of the Ni₃Al-based γ′ phase.     

Cr concentration driving the structural,mechanical, and thermodynamic properties of Cr-Al compounds from first-principles calculations

Cr-Al binary compounds are regarded as the potential high-temperature structural materials. However, the structure and important properties of Cr-Al compounds are not completely unclear. Here, we report on the influence of Cr concentration on the structural, mechanical, and thermodynamic properties of Cr-Al compounds by using the first-principles calculations. Four novel Cr-Al compounds, Cr₃Al₈ with monoclinic structure (C2/m), Cr₃Al₅ with hexagonal structure (P63mc), Cr₂Al₃ with tetragonal structure (I4/mmm), and Cr₃Al with cubic structure (Pm-3 m), are predicted. The calculated elastic modulus of Cr-Al compounds gradually increases with increasing Cr concentration. Compared to other Cr-Al compounds, our predicted Cr₃Al with cubic structure exhibits a strong deformation resistance and high hardness due to symmetrical Cr Al bonds. However, the Debye temperature of Cr₇Al₃ is larger than that of other Cr-Al compounds. The calculated phonon density of state shows that the high-temperature thermodynamic properties of Cr-Al compounds are attributed to the vibration of Al atom and Cr Al bond.     

Bi12,86Ni4Br6 und Bi12,86Ni4I6: Subhalogenide mit intermetallischen und salzartigen Schichtpaketen in alternierender Abfolge

Bi_12.86Ni₄Br₆ and Bi_12.86Ni₄I₆: Subhalides with Alternating Intermetallic and Salt‐like Layers The reaction of bismuth and nickel with bromine or iodine at 730 K yields black, air insensitive, needle shaped crystals of the ternary subhalides Bi_12.86Ni₄X₆ (X = Br, I). The isotypic compounds crystallize in the orthorhombic space groups Immm with a = 405.69(6) pm, b = 874.00(8) pm, c = 3744.7(4) pm for X = Br, and a = 410.05(5) pm, b = 912.84(7) pm, c = 3826.7(3) pm for X = I. The crystal structures contain characteristic fragments of the intermetallic phase Bi₃Ni: chains consisting of face‐sharing mono‐capped trigonal prisms of bismuth atoms with a nickel atom in the center of each prism. The chains form corrugated layers which are separated by halogen atoms and oligomeric [Bi_nX_4n+2] units of varying length. The halogenobismutate(III) units consist of trans‐edge‐sharing [BiX₆] octahedra. They are disordered within the crystal structures. The non‐integer stoichiometric coefficients of Bi_12.86Ni₄X₆ are due to the metric adjustment between the ionic and intermetallic parts of the structure. Extended Hückel calculations indicate, that the partial oxidation of the intermetallic phase causes a strengthening of the chemical bonding within the Bi₃Ni chains. The subiodide Bi_12.86Ni₄I₆ is paramagnetic and shows ferromagnetic ordering below 25 K.     

Crystallographic, electronic and magnetic studies of Ce4Ni6Al23: a new ternary intermetallic compound in the cerium-nickel-aluminum phase diagram

The Al-rich portion of the ternary Ce-Ni-Al has been investigated and a new ternary phase of composition Ce₄Ni₆Al₂₃ has been found. This compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/m with the cell parameters a=16.042(8), b=4.140(4), c=18.380(8) Å and β=113.24(5)°. The structure has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The local environment of Ni and Ce is close to what is observed in the CeNi₂Al₅ and CeNiAl₄ structures. Band structure calculations, using the tight-binding-linear muffin-tin orbital-atomic-spheres approximation (TB-LMTO-ASA) method, have been performed to understand the electronic structure of Ce₄Ni₆Al₂₃ and the results are discussed in connection with those two other Ce-Ni-Al intermetallic compounds, which possess heavy-fermion behavior. Magnetic and heat capacity measurements have also been measured to analyze the low-temperature magnetic behavior of this new compound.     

First principles study of structural,electronic, elastic and thermal properties of YX (X = Cd,In, Au,Hg and Tl) intermetallics

The structural, electronic, elastic and thermal properties of YX (X = Cd, In, Au, Hg and Tl) intermetallic compounds crystallizing in B₂-type structure have been studied using first principles density functional theory within generalized gradient approximation (GGA) for the exchange correlation potential. Amongst all the YX compounds, YIn is stable in distorted tetragonal (P4/mmm) CuAu-type structure at ambient pressure with very small energy difference of 0.00681 Ry. but it undergoes to CsCl-type (B₂ phase) structure at 23.3 GPa. Rest of the compounds are stable in B₂ structure at ambient condition. The values of elastic moduli as a function of pressure are also reported. The ductility of these compounds has been analyzed using the Pugh rule. Our calculated results indicate that YTl is the most ductile amongst all the B₂-YX compounds. YAu is the hardest and less compressible compound due to the largest bulk modulus. The elastic properties such as Young's modulus (E), Poisson's ratio (σ) and anisotropic ratio (A) are also predicted. The anisotropic factor is found to be unity for YHg which shows that this compound is isotropic.     

Theoretical studies on cerium nickel aluminides: polar intermetallics with heavy fermion behavior

The electronic structures of Ce₄Ni₆Al₂₃, CeNiAl₄, CeNi₂Al₅, CeNiAl and CeNi₄Al have been calculated using the TB-LMTO-ASA (tight-binding, linear muffin-tin orbital, atomic-spheres approximation) approach to probe relationships between chemical bonding and physical properties in this series of intermetallic compounds. Analysis from crystal orbital Hamilton populations (COHP) reveal that the Al-rich compounds may be considered as “polar intermetallic” because the Fermi level coincides to the separation of bonding and antibonding states of the Ni-Al framework. On the other hand, although the densities of states (DOS) of CeNiAl suggest “polar intermetallic” behavior, the bonding is more complex. Finally, the Ni-rich example, CeNi₄Al, has significant Ni-3d character at the Fermi level. The results of these calculations are also discussed in connection with heavy fermion or possible valence fluctuation behavior observed for some of these intermetallic compounds: those showing exceptional properties also exhibit significant “lattice covalency” between Ce and the Ni-Al nets.     

The new structure type Gd3Ni7Al14

The crystal structure of Gd₃Ni₇Al₁₄ (trigadolinium heptanickel tetradecaaluminide) belongs to a family of two‐layer structures and can be described as an assembly of interpenetrating centred straight prisms. For the Ni atoms, trigonal prisms (Al₄Gd₂ and Al₆) are observed, the Al atoms are inside tetragonal (Ni₂Al₂Gd₄, Ni₂Al₄Gd₂, Al₄Gd₄, Ni₄Al₄ and Al₈) and pentagonal (Ni₄Al₆ and Al₁₀) prisms, while the Gd atoms are at the centres of pentagonal (Ni₄Al₆) and hexagonal (Ni₄Al₈) prisms. In each case, the true coordination polyhedron is a capped prism, also including atoms from the same layer. The structural features of Gd₃Ni₇Al₁₄ are similar to those of the intermetallides PrNi₂Al₃ and ZrNiAl. In all these structures, Ni‐centred trigonal prisms form infinite columns via common triangular faces. The columns share prism edges and form a three‐dimensional framework with six‐membered rings in the (001) plane in the case of the PrNi₂Al₃ and ZrNiAl types. In the case of Gd₃Ni₇Al₁₄, six‐membered rings are also observed, but only two‐thirds of the rings are interconnected via prism edges.     

Thermodynamic analysis of (Ni,Fe)3Al formation by mechanical alloying

(Ni, Fe)₃Al intermetallic compound was synthesized by mechanical alloying (MA) of Ni, Fe and Al elemental powder mixtures of composition Ni₅₀Fe₂₅Al₂₅. Phase transformation and microstructure characteristics of the alloy powders were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results show that mechanical alloying resulted in a Ni (Al, Fe) solid solution. By continued milling, this structure transformed to the disordered (Ni, Fe)₃Al intermetallic compound. A thermodynamic model developed on the basis of extended theory of Miedema is used to calculate the Gibbs free-energy changes. Final product of MA is a phase having minimal Gibbs free energy compared with other competing phases in Ni–Fe–Al system. However in Ni–Fe–Al system, the most stable phase at all compositions is intermetallic compound (not amorphous phase or solid solution). The results of MA were compared with thermodynamic analysis and revealed the leading role of thermodynamic on the formation of MA product prediction.     

Design of Energetic Materials Based on Asymmetric Oxadiazole

A new family of asymmetric oxadiazole based energetic compounds were designed. Their electronic structures, heats of formation, detonation properties and stabilities were investigated by density functional theory. The results show that all the designed compounds have high positive heats of formation ranging from 115.4 to 2122.2 kJ mol⁻¹. −N− bridge/−N₃ groups played an important role in improving heats of formation while −O− bridge/−NF₂ group made more contributions to the densities of the designed compounds. Detonation properties show that some compounds have equal or higher detonation velocities than RDX, while some other have higher detonation pressures than RDX. All the designed compounds have better impact sensitivities than those of RDX and HMX and meet the criterion of thermal stability. Finally, some of the compounds were screened as the candidates of high energy density compounds with superior detonation properties and stabilities to that of HMX and their electronic properties were investigated.     

Electronic structure and peculiar bonding properties of NdNiMg5 from first principles

The newly found ternary compound NdNiMg₅ has been studied within DFT based methodologies. Results of cohesive energy, charge transfers, elastic constants and electron localized function mapping as well as electronic structure and bonding properties have been compared with those of isostructural binary NdNi. The calculation results have shown that Mg substructures interlayering NdNi – like slabs exhibit different magnitudes of charge transfers all within range of metallic behavior and the different Mg substructures selectively bind with Nd and Ni substructures. As a consequence an enhanced cohesion with respect to binary intermetallic NdNi is identified. The whole set of elastic constants and their combinations in orthorhombic symmetry confirm the mechanical stability of NdNiMg₅ with larger compressibility and less ductility (more brittleness) with respect substructures to NdNi. While in an intermetallic compound such as NdNi the bonding is ensured mainly by Nd–Ni interaction, in NdNiMg₅ Nd–Ni, Nd–Mg, Ni–Mg as well as Mg–Mg participate to the bonding and the extra electrons brought by Mg are found within bonding states thus illustrating furthermore the enhanced cohesion of the ternary versus the binary systems.     

Isolation of the intermetallic compounds Al2Cu, Al12Mg17 Al3Fe, Al9Co2 and Al3Ni in binary aluminium alloys by application of an organic solvent

Summary For the isolation of the intermetallic compounds Al₂Cu, Al₁₂Mg₁₇, Al₃Fe, Al₉Co₂ and Al₃Ni in their binary alloys a new method is proposed: Sample alloy particles are placed in a flask with a methanolic solution of benzoic acid (20% wt.), oxine (5% wt.), chloroform (20% vol.) and sodium hydroxide (0.02% wt.). After sufficient time of agitation, the intermetallic compounds remain quantitatively in the solution.

---

Isolierung der intermetallischen Verbindungen Al₂Cu, Al₁₂Mg₁₇, Al₃Fe, Al₉Co₂ und Al₃Ni aus binären Aluminiumlegierungen mit Hilfe eines organischen Lösungsmittels

Zusammenfassung Zur Isolierung der intermetallischen Verbindungen aus den entsprechenden binären Legierungen wird die Probe mehrere Stunden bis Tage unter Rühren mit einer methanolischen Lösung von Benzoesäure (20%), Oxin (5%), Chloroform (20%) und Natriumhydroxid (0,02%) behandelt. Hierbei wird die Matrix aufgelöst und die intermetallischen Verbindungen bleiben zurück.

     

Structural,mechanical, electronic,optical properties and effective masses of CuMO2 (M = Sc,Y, La) compounds: First-principles calculations

The structural, elastic, mechanical, electronic, optical properties and effective masses of CuM_IIIBO₂ (M_IIIB = Sc, Y, La) compounds have been investigated by the plane-wave ultrasoft pseudopotential technique based on the first-principles density-functional theory under local density approximation. The equilibrium structural parameters are in good agreement with previous experimental and theoretical data. To our knowledge, there are no available data of elastic constants for comparison. The bulk, shear and Young's modulus, ratio of B/G, Poisson's ratio and Lamé's constants of CuM_IIIBO₂ have been studied. The electronic structures of CuM_IIIBO₂ are consistent with other calculations. The population analysis, charge densities and effective masses have been shown and analyzed. The imaginary and real parts of the dielectric function, refractive index and extinction coefficient of CuM_IIIBO₂ are calculated. The interband transitions to absorption of CuM_IIIBO₂ have been analyzed.     

Theoretical investigation of half‐metallicity in Co/Ni substituted AlN

Results of Co and Ni substituted AlN in the zinc blende phase are presented. For spin up states, the hybridized N‐2p and Co/Ni‐3d states form the valance bands with a bandgap around the Fermi level for both materials, while in the case of the spin down states, the hybridized states cross the Fermi level and hence show metallic nature. It is found that, Al_0.75Co_0.25N and Al_0.75Ni_0.25N are ferromagnetic materials with magnetic moments of 4 μ_B and 3 μ_B, respectively. The integer magnetic moments and the full spin polarization at the Fermi level make these compounds half‐metallic semiconductors. Furthermore it is also found that the interaction with the N‐2p state splits the 5‐fold degenerate Co/Ni‐3d states into t_2g and e_g states. The t_2g states are located at higher energies than the e_g states caused by the tetrahedral symmetry of these compounds. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011