Sn1−xBixO2 and Sn1−xTaxO2 (0≤x≤0.75): A first-principles study

The structural, elastic, electronic and optical (x=0) properties of doped Sn_1−xBi_xO₂ and Sn_1−xTa_xO₂ (0≤x≤0.75) are studied using the first-principles pseudopotential plane-wave method within the local density approximation. The independent elastic constants C_ij and other elastic parameters of these compounds have been calculated for the first time. The mechanical stability of the compounds with different doping concentrations has also been studied. The electronic band structure and density of states are calculated and the effect of doping on these properties is also analyzed. It is seen that the band gap of the undoped compound narrowed with dopant concentration, which disappeared for x=0.26 for Bi doping and 0.36 for Ta doping. The materials thus become conductive oxides through the change in the electronic properties of the compound for x≤0.75, which may be useful for potential application. The calculated optical properties, e.g. dielectric function, refractive index, absorption spectrum, loss-function, reflectivity and conductivity of the undoped SnO₂ in two polarization directions are compared with both previous calculations and measurements.     

Study of structural,elastic, electronic and thermodynamic properties of NaAlO3-perovskite

The structural, elastic, electronic, and thermodynamic properties of the cubic NaAlO₃-perovskite are calculated using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave with local orbital (FP-LAPW)+lo. The exchange-correlation energy, is treated in generalized gradient approximation (GGA) using the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE) parameterization. The calculated equilibrium parameter is in good agreement with other works. The bulk modulus, elastic constants and their related parameters, such as Young modulus, shear modulus, and Poisson ratio were predicted. The electronic band structure of this compound has been calculated using the Angel-Vosko (EV) generalized gradient approximation (GGA) for the exchange correlation potential. We deduced that NaAlO₃-perovskite exhibit a wide-gap which it is an indirect from R to Γ point. The analysis of the density of states (DOS) curves shows ionic and covalent character bond for Al–O and Na–O respectively.     

Elastic, electronic, and optical properties of hypothetical SnNNi3 and CuNNi3 in comparison with superconducting ZnNNi3

The elastic, electronic, and optical properties of MNNi₃ (M=Zn, Sn, and Cu) have been calculated using the plane-wave ultrasoft pseudopotential technique, which is based on the first-principle density functional theory (DFT) with generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The optimized lattice parameters, independent elastic constants (C₁₁, C₁₂, and C₄₄), bulk modulus B, compressibility K, shear modulus G, and Poisson's ratio υ, as well as the band structures, total and atom projected densities of states and finally the optical properties of MNNi₃ have been evaluated and discussed. The electronic band structures of the two hypothetical compounds show metallic behavior just like the superconducting ZnNNi₃. Using band structures, the origin of features that appear in different optical properties of all the three compounds has been discussed. The large reflectivity of the predicted compounds in the low energy region might be useful in good candidate materials for coating to avoid solar heating.     

Influence of valence electron concentration on elastic, electronic and optical properties of the alkaline-earth tin oxides A3SnO (A=Ca, Sr and Ba): A comparative study with ASnO3 compounds

By employing first principles method of the plane wave pseudo potential calculations (PP-PW), based on the density functional theory (DFT), within the local density approximation (LDA), the correlation between valence electron concentration and structural, elastic, electronic as well as optical properties of A₃SnO and ASnO₃ compounds where A=Ca, Sr and Ba are investigated. The elastic constants and their pressure dependence are calculated using the static finite strain technique. We derived the bulk, shear and Young's moduli for ideal monocrystalline and for polycrystalline A₃SnO and ASnO₃ aggregates. Band structures reveal that alkaline-earth tin oxides A₃SnO are direct energy band gap (G-G) materials.The hardness of these compounds was explained using chemical bonding properties and Milliken charges transfer. The optical constants, including the dielectric function, optical reflectivity, refractive index and electron energy loss, are calculated for radiation up to 20 eV. We have found that the static dielectric constants of all these compounds are in good agreement with Penn model.     

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.     

Structural,electronic and optical properties of cubic SrTiO3 and KTaO3: Ab initio and GW calculations

We present first-principles VASP calculations of the structural, electronic, vibrational, and optical properties of paraelectric SrTiO₃ and KTaO₃. The ab initio calculations are performed in the framework of density functional theory with different exchange-correlation potentials. Our calculated lattice parameters, elastic constants, and vibrational frequencies are found to be in good agreement with the available experimental values. Then, the bandstructures are calculated with the GW approximation, and the corresponding band gap is used to obtain the optical properties of SrTiO₃ and KTaO₃.     

First-principles study of the structural, elastic, electronic, optical, and vibrational properties of intermetallic Pd2Ga

The structural, elastic, electronic, optical, and vibrational properties of the orthorhombic Pd₂Ga compound are investigated using the norm-conserving pseudopotentials within the local density approximation in the frame of density functional theory. The calculated lattice parameters have been compared with the experimental values and found to be in good agreement with these results. The second-order elastic constants and the other relevant quantities, such as the Young's modulus, shear modulus, Poisson's ratio, anisotropy factor, sound velocity, and Debye temperature, have been calculated. It is shown that this compound is mechanically stable after analysing the calculated elastic constants. Furthermore, the real and imaginary parts of the dielectric function and the optical constants, such as the optical dielectric constant and the effective number of electrons per unit cell, are calculated and presented. The phonon dispersion curves are derived using the direct method. The present results demonstrate that this compound is dynamically stable.     

Structural,elastic, electronic and optical properties of the cubic perovskites CaXO3 (X=Hf and Sn)

The structural, elastic, electronic and optical properties of CaXO₃ compounds with the cubic perovskites structure have been investigated, by employing a first principles method, using the plane wave pseudo potential calculations (PP-PW), based on the density functional theory (DFT), within the local density approximation (LDA). The elastic constants and their pressure dependence are calculated using the static finite strain technique. We derived the bulk, shear and Young’s moduli for ideal monocrystalline and for polycrystalline CaXO₃ aggregates which we have classified as ductile in nature. Band structures reveal that these compounds are indirect energy band gap (R-G) semiconductors; the analysis of the site and momentum projected densities, valence charge density bond length, bond population and Milliken charges, shows that bonding is of covalent–ionic nature. We have found that the elastic constants C₁₁, C₁₂, C₄₄ are in good correlation with the bonding properties. The optical constants, including the dielectric function, optical reflectivity, refractive index and electron energy loss, are calculated for radiation up to 20 eV.     

Prediction study of the structural,elastic, electronic and optical properties of the antiperovskite BiNBa3

We use an ab initio full-potential linear muffin-tin orbital method within the local density approximation (LDA) to study the structural, elastic, electronic and optical properties of the antiperovskite BiNBa₃. The calculated lattice parameter is in good agreement with previous calculations. The elastic constants and their pressure dependence are calculated; we found a linear dependence of elastic stiffness on the pressure. We estimated the Debye temperature of this compound from the average sound velocity. We also present results of the effective masses for the electrons in the conduction band (CB) and the holes in the valence band (VB). To complete the fundamental characteristics of this compound we have analyzed the optical properties.     

First-principles study of the structural, elastic, electronic and optical properties of the monoclinic BiScO3

The structural, elastic, electronic and optical properties of the monoclinic BiScO₃ are investigated in the framework of the density functional theory. The calculated structural parameters are in agreement with the experimental values. Moreover, the structural stability of BiScO₃ system has been confirmed by the calculated elastic constants. The band structure, density of states, charge transfers and bond populations are also given. The results indicate that BiScO₃ has a direct band gap of 3.36 eV between the occupied O 2p states and unoccupied Bi 6p states, and its bonding behavior is a combination of covalent and ionic nature. Finally, the absorption spectrum, refractive index, extinction coefficient, reflectivity, energy-loss function and dielectric function of the monoclinic BiScO₃ are calculated. In addition, the variation of the static dielectric constants ε₁(0) as a function of pressure for BiScO₃ is also discussed.     

The first principles study on the Boron antimony compound

We present the results of our calculations on Boron antimony (BSb) compound in zinc-blende (ZB) and rock-salt (RS) structures by performing ab initio calculations within the local density approximation (LDA). Some basic physical properties, such as lattice constant, bulk modulus, cohesive energy, phase transition pressure, second-order elastic constants (C_ij), phonon frequencies, and some band structural parameters are calculated and compared with those obtained with other recent theoretical works. In order to further understand the behaviour of BSb compound, we have also predicted, the pressure-dependent behaviours of the band gap, second-order elastic constants (C_ij), Young's modulus, poison ratios (ν), Anizotropy factor (A), sound velocities, and Debye temperature for this hypothetical compound.     

Structural, elastic, electronic and optical properties of a new layered-ternary Ta4SiC3 compound

We propose a new layered-ternary Ta₄SiC₃ with two different stacking sequences (α- and β-phases) of the metal atoms along c axis and study their structural stability. The mechanical, electronic and optical properties are then calculated and compared with those of other compounds M₄AX₃ (M=V, Nb, Ta; A=Al, Si and X=C). The predicted compound in the α-phase is found to possess higher bulk modulus than these compounds. The independent elastic constants of the two phases are also evaluated and the results discussed. The electronic band structures for α- and β-Ta₄SiC₃ show metallic conductivity. Ta 5d electrons are mainly contributing to the total density of states (DOS). We see that the hybridization peak of Ta 5d and C 2p lies lower in energy and the Ta 5d-C 2p bond is stronger than Ta 5d-Si 3p bond. Further an analysis of the different optical properties shows the compound to possess improved behavior compared to similar types of compounds.     

First-principles study of electronic structure and elasticity of UAlx (x=1,2,3) system

A detailed theoretical study of structural, electronic, and elastic properties of cubic UAl_x (x=1,2,3) is presented employing the pseudopotential plane-wave method based on density-functional theory. The structure parameters of these three compounds have been calculated within generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and local density approximation (LDA). The calculated results were compared with the experimental data and previous research. With the GGA approximation, the elastic constants, shear modulus, Young's modulus, and Poisson's ratio of UAl_x (x=1,2,3) are derived. According to the generalized mechanical stability criteria for cubic crystals, our calculation suggested that C15 UAl₂ and L12 UAl₃ are stable substance under hydrostatic pressures, but B2 UAl might be expected as a metastable compound, which is not reported in previous literature, and future experimental confirmation is needed. Furthermore, the calculated energy band structure and density of state (DOS) are found to be in good agreement with the theoretical values. Additionally, the charge density of these compounds have also been worked out and analyzed.     

Ab-initio study of electronic and elastic properties of B2-type ductile YM (M=Cu, Zn and Ag) intermetallics

A theoretical study of structural, electronic, elastic, thermal and mechanical properties of nonmagnetic intermetallics YM (M=Cu, Zn and Ag), which crystallize in CsCl-type structure, is performed using first principles density functional theory based on full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method. The calculations are carried out within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) for the exchange correlation potential. The calculated ground state properties such as lattice constants, bulk modulus and elastic constants agree well with the experiment. From energy dispersion curves, it is found that these compounds are metallic in nature. The ductility of these intermetallics is determined by calculating the bulk to shear ratio B/G_H. The calculated results indicate that YAg is the most ductile amongst the present YM compounds. The results obtained are compared with the available experimental and theoretical results. The mechanical and thermal properties are predicted from the calculated values of elastic constants.     

Electronic structure of (BP)n/(BAs)n (0 0 1) superlattices

An accurate ab initio full potential linear muffin-tin orbital method has been used to investigate the structural, electronic and optical properties of BP, BAs and their (BP)_n/(BAs)_n superlattices (SLs). The exchange-correlation potential is treated with the local density approximation of Perdew and Wang (LDA-PW). The calculated structural properties of BP and BAs compounds are in good agreement with available experimental and theoretical data. It is found that BP, BAs and their alloys exhibit an indirect fundamental band gap. The fundamental band gap decreases with increasing the number of monolayer n. The optical properties show that the static dielectric constant significantly decreases in superlattices compared to their binary compounds.     

First-principles calculations of structural, elastic, electronic and optical properties of the antiperovskite AsNMg3

The density functional theory (DFT) calculations of structural, elastic, electronic and optical properties of the cubic antiperovskite AsNMg₃ has been reported using the pseudo-potential plane wave method (PP-PW) within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The equilibrium lattice, bulk modulus and its pressure derivative have been determined. The elastic constants and their pressure dependence are calculated using the static finite strain technique. We derived the bulk and shear moduli, Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio for ideal polycrystalline AsNMg₃ aggregate. We estimated the Debye temperature of AsNMg₃ from the average sound velocity. This is the first quantitative theoretical prediction of the elastic properties of AsNMg₃ compound, and it still awaits experimental confirmation. Band structure, density of states and pressure coefficients of energy gaps are also given. The fundamental band gap (Γ-Γ) initially increases up to 4 GPa and then decreases as a function of pressure. Furthermore, the dielectric function, optical reflectivity, refractive index, extinction coefficient, and electron energy loss are calculated for radiation up to 30 eV. The all results are compared with the available theoretical and experimental data.     

First-principles calculations of structural, electronic, optical and elastic properties of magnesite MgCO3 and calcite CaCO3

Detailed ab initio calculations of the structural, electronic, optical and elastic properties of two crystals - magnesite (MgCO₃) and calcite (CaCO₃) - are reported in the present paper. Both compounds are important natural minerals, playing an important role in the carbon dioxide cycling. The optimized crystal structures, band gaps, density of states diagrams, elastic constants, optical absorption spectra and refractive indexes dependence on the wavelength all have been calculated and compared, when available, with literature data. Both crystals are indirect band compounds, with calculated band gaps of 5.08 eV for MgCO₃ and 5.023 eV for CaCO₃. Both values are underestimated by approximately 1.0 eV with respect to the experimental data. Although both crystals have the same structure, substitution of Mg by Ca ions leads to certain differences, which manifest themselves in noticeable change in the electronic bands profiles and widths, shape of the calculated absorption spectra, and values of the elastic constants. Response of both crystals to the applied hydrostatic pressure was analyzed in the pressure range of phase stability, variations of the lattice parameters and characteristic interionic distances were considered. The obtained dependencies of lattice constants and calculated band gap on pressure can be used for prediction of properties of these two hosts at elevated pressures that occur in the Earth's mantle.     

An ab initio study of the structural,elastic, electronic and optical properties of the newly synthesized nitridoaluminate LiCaAlN2

The structural parameters, elastic constants, electronic structure and optical properties of the recently reported monoclinic quaternary nitridoaluminate LiCaAlN₂ are investigated in detail using the ab initio plane-wave pseudopotential method within the generalized gradient approximation. The calculated equilibrium structural parameters are in excellent agreement with the experimental data, which validate the reliability of the applied theoretical method. The chemical and structural stabilities of LiCaAlN₂ are confirmed by calculating the cohesion energy and enthalpy of formation. Chemical band stiffness is calculated to explain the pressure dependence of the lattice parameters. Through the band structure calculation, LiCaAlN₂ is predicted to be an indirect band gap of 2.725 eV. The charge-carrier effective masses are estimated from the band structure dispersions. The frequency-dependent dielectric function, absorption coefficient, refractive index, extinction coefficient, reflectivity coefficient and electron energy loss function spectra are calculated for polarized incident light in a wide energy range. Optical spectra exhibit a noticeable anisotropy. Single-crystal and polycrystalline elastic constants and related properties, including isotropic sound velocities and Debye temperatures, are numerically estimated. The calculated elastic constants and elastic compliances are used to analyse and visualize the elastic anisotropy of LiCaAlN₂. The calculated elastic constants demonstrate the mechanical stability and brittle behaviour of the considered material.     

Structural,elastic, electronic,optical and thermoelectric properties of the Zintl-phase Ae3AlAs3 (Ae = Sr,Ba)

First-principles calculations were performed to investigate the structural, elastic, electronic, optical and thermoelectric properties of the Zintl-phase Ae₃AlAs₃ (Ae = Sr, Ba) using two complementary approaches based on density functional theory. The pseudopotential plane-wave method was used to explore the structural and elastic properties whereas the full-potential linearised augmented plane wave approach was used to study the structural, electronic, optical and thermoelectric properties. The calculated structural parameters are in good consistency with the corresponding measured ones. The single-crystal and polycrystalline elastic constants and related properties were examined in details. The electronic properties, including energy band dispersions, density of states and charge-carrier effective masses, were computed using Tran-Blaha modified Becke-Johnson functional for the exchange-correlation potential. It is found that both studied compounds are direct band gap semiconductors. Frequency-dependence of the linear optical functions were predicted for a wide photon energy range up to 15 eV. Charge carrier concentration and temperature dependences of the basic parameters of the thermoelectric properties were explored using the semi-classical Boltzmann transport model. Our calculations unveil that the studied compounds are characterised by a high thermopower for both carriers, especially the p-type conduction is more favourable.     

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.