密度泛函理论研究BeSin(n=1-12)团簇的结构、稳定性与电子性质

运用密度泛函理论(DFT),考虑多种初始构型下的自旋多重态,在B3LYP/6-311G基组水平上研究BeSi_n(n=1-12)团簇的平衡几何结构、电子性质、振动光谱与极化率.结果表明:BeSi_n团簇在基态附近有许多能量非常接近的同分异构体,且BeSi_n团簇的基态结构绝大多数为立体结构.n=1时,体系的基态为自旋三重态,n≥2时,则为单重态.铍原子的掺入使得主团簇的电子性质发生了明显的变化,掺杂使得体系的化学稳定性降低.BeSi₃,BeSi₅,BeSi₇与BeSi₉是幻数结构.团簇中原子间的成键相互作用随n的增大而增强.     

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.