The stabilities, electronic structures and elastic properties of Rb-As systems

The structural, electronic and elastic properties of Rb–As systems (RbAs in NaP, LiAs and AuCu structures, RbAs2 in the MgCu2 structure, Rb3 As in Na3As, Cu3 P and Li3Bi structures, and Rb5 As4 in the A5B4 structure) are investigated with the generalized gradient approximation in the frame of density functional theory. The lattice parameters, cohesive energies, formation energies, bulk moduli and the first derivatives of the bulk moduli (to fit Murnaghan’s equation of state) of the considered structures are calculated and reasonable agreement is obtained. In addition, the phase transition pressures are also predicted. The electronic band structures, the partial densities of states corresponding to the band structures and the charge density distributions are presented and analysed. The second-order elastic constants based on the stress-strain method and other related quantities such as Young’s modulus, the shear modulus, Poisson’s ratio, sound velocities, the Debye temperature and shear anisotropy factors are also estimated.     

Stability,elastic anisotropy,and electronic properties of Ca_2C_3

The systematic investigations of the mechanical, elastic, and electronic properties, and stability of the newly synthesized monoclinic C2/m-Ca_2C_3 are performed, based on the first-principles calculations. Ca_2C_3 is found to be mechanically and dynamically stable only from 0 GPa to 24 GPa. The elastic anisotropy studies show that Ca_2C_3 exhibits the elastic anisotropy increasing with the augment of pressure. Furthermore, using the HSE06 hybrid functional, the electronic properties of Ca_2C_3 under pressure are calculated. The structure can be regarded as a quasi-direct band gap semiconductor, and the pressure-induced direct-indirect band gap transition is studied in detail.     

ZrRh晶体结构、弹性性质和电子结构的第一性原理研究

运用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理计算方法研究了ZrRh的晶体结构、弹性性质和电子结构性质.结果表明:计算的B2、B19'和ZrIr结构的平衡晶格常数与相应的实验参数符合很好.从形成焓和态密度的角度来看,ZrRh的相稳定顺序是ZrIrFe BB19'B2,ZrIr结构是最稳定的.ZrIr结构的形成焓最小,说明ZrIr结构最容易生成.利用应力-应变的方法计算了ZrRh的弹性常数,表明B2、FeB和ZrIr结构是力学稳定的.B/G和泊松比均表明ZrRh具有很好的延展性.对ZrRh的态密度研究发现,增强的Rh4d态与Zr4d态杂化作用是ZrIr结构稳定的主要原因.     

First principle study of structural,elastic and electronic properties of APt3 (A=Mg,Sc, Y and Zr)

We report results obtained from first principle calculations on APt₃ compounds with A=Mg, Sc, Y and Zr. Our results of the lattice parameter a are in good agreement with experimental data, with deviations less than 0.8%. Single crystal elastic constants are calculated, then polycrystalline elastic moduli (bulk, shear and Young moduli, Poisson ration, anisotropy factor) are presented. Based on Debye model, Debye temperature ?_D is calculated from the sound velocities V_l, V_t and V_m. Band structure results show that the studied compounds are electrical conductors, the conduction mechanism is assured by Pt-d electrons. Different hybridisation states are observed between Pt-d and A-d orbitals. The study of the charge density distribution and the population analysis shows the coexistence of ionic, covalent and metallic bonds.     

First-principles investigations on structural,elastic, electronic properties and Debye temperature of orthorhombic Ni3Ta under pressure

The structural, elastic, electronic properties and Debye temperature of Ni₃Ta under different pressures are investigated using the first-principles method based on density functional theory. Our calculated equilibrium lattice parameters at 0 GPa well agree with the experimental and previous theoretical results. The calculated negative formation enthalpies and elastic constants both indicate that Ni₃Ta is stable under different pressures. The bulk modulus B, shear modulus G, Young’s modulus E and Poisson’s ratio ν are calculated by the Voigt–Reuss–Hill method. The bigger ratio of B/G indicates Ni₃Ta is ductile and the pressure can improve the ductility of Ni₃Ta. In addition, the results of density of states and the charge density difference show that the stability of Ni₃Ta is improved by the increasing pressure. The Debye temperature Θ _D calculated from elastic modulus increases along with the pressure.     

Structural, electronic and elastic properties of Ti2TlC, Zr2TlC and Hf2TlC

Using First-principle calculations, we have studied the structural, electronic and elastic properties of M₂TlC, with M = Ti, Zr and Hf. Geometrical optimization of the unit cell is in good agreement with the available experimental data. The effect of high pressures, up to 20 GPa, on the lattice constants shows that the contractions are higher along the c-axis than along the a axis. We have observed a quadratic dependence of the lattice parameters versus the applied pressure. The band structures show that all three materials are electrical conductors. The analysis of the site and momentum projected densities shows that bonding is due to M d-C p and M d-Tl p hybridizations. The M d-C p bonds are lower in energy and stiffer than M d-Tl p bonds. The elastic constants 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 M₂TlC aggregates. We estimated the Debye temperature of M₂TlC from the average sound velocity. This is the first quantitative theoretical prediction of the elastic properties of Ti₂TlC, Zr₂TlC, and Hf₂TlC compounds that requires experimental confirmation.      

Structural,elastic, thermodynamic and electronic properties of LuX (X = N,Bi and Sb) compounds: first principles calculations

ABSTRACT

The structural, electronic, elastic and thermodynamic properties of LuX (X = N, Bi and Sb) based on rare earth into phases, Rocksalt (B1) and CsCl (B2) have been investigated using full-potential linearized muffin-tin orbital method (FP-LMTO) within density functional theory. Local density approximation (LDA) for exchange-correlation potential and local spin density approximation (LSDA) are employed. The structural parameters as lattice parameters a₀, bulk modulus B, its pressure derivate B’ and cut-off energy (E_c) within LDA and LSDA are presented. The elastic constants were derived from the stress–strain relation at 0 K. The thermodynamic properties for LuX using the quasi-harmonic Debye model are studied. The temperature and pressure variation of volume, bulk modulus, thermal expansion coefficient, heat capacities, Debye temperature and Gibbs free energy at different pressures (0–50 GPa) and temperatures (0–1600 K) are predicted. The calculated results are in accordance with other data.     

Structural,elastic, electronic and thermal properties of M2SbP (M = Ti,Zr and Hf)

The structural, elastic, electronic and thermal properties of M₂SbP (M = Ti, Zr and Hf) were studied by means of a pseudo-potential plane-wave method based on the density functional theory within both the local density approximation and the generalised gradient approximation. The optimised zero-pressure geometrical parameters, i.e. the two unit cell lengths (a, c) and the internal coordinate (z), were in good agreement with available experimental and theoretical data. The effect of high pressure, up to 20 GPa, on the lattice constants shows that the contractions along the a-axis were higher than along c-axis. The anisotropic independent elastic constants were calculated using the static finite strain technique. Numerical estimations of the bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, average sound velocity and Debye temperature for ideal polycrystalline M₂SbP aggregates were performed in the framework of the Voigt–Reuss–Hill approximation. The calculated band structures show that all studied materials are electrical conductors. Analysis of the atomic site projected densities showed that the bonding is of covalent–ionic nature with the presence of metallic character. The density of states at the Fermi level is dictated by the transition metal d–d bands; the Sb element has little effect. Thermal effects on some macroscopic properties of M₂SbP were predicted using the quasi-harmonic Debye model, in which the lattice vibrations are taken into account. The variations of the volume expansion coefficient, heat capacity and Debye temperature with pressure and temperature in the ranges 0–50 GPa and 0–2000 K were obtained successfully.     

Theoretical calculations of structural,electronic, and elastic properties of CdSe_(1-x)Te_x:A first principles study

The plane wave pseudo-potential method was used to investigate the structural, electronic, and elastic properties of Cd Se_(1-x)Te_x in the zinc blende phase. It is observed that the electronic properties are improved considerably by using LDA + U as compared to the LDA approach. The calculated lattice constants and bulk moduli are also comparable to the experimental results. The cohesive energies for pure Cd Se and Cd Te binary and their mixed alloys are calculated. The second-order elastic constants are also calculated by the Lagrangian theory of elasticity. The elastic properties show that the studied material has a ductile nature.     

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.     

Theoretical investigation of the elastic,electronic, thermodynamic and optical properties of the zinc-blende structure AlN under high pressure

The elastic, electronic, thermodynamic and optical properties of the zinc-blende structure aluminum nitride (AlN) under high pressure have been investigated using first-principles calculations. The dependencies of the elastic constants, the bulk modulus, the shear modulus and energy gaps on the applied pressure are presented, and the results are in good agreement with comparable experimental and theoretical values. Also, the energy band structure and density of states under high pressure have been analysed. Furthermore, the optical constants, including the dielectric function, optical reflectivity, refractive index and electron energy loss, are discussed for radiation up to 50 eV.     

Structural,elastic, electronic,and thermodynamic properties of MgAgSb investigated by density functional theory

The structural, elastic, electronic, and thermodynamic properties of thermoelectric material Mg Ag Sb in γ, β, α phases are studied with first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. The optimized lattice constants accord well with the experimental data. According to the calculated total energy of the three phases, the phase transition order is determined from α to γ phase with cooling, which is in agreement with the experimental result. The physical properties such as elastic constants, bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, and anisotropy factor are also discussed and analyzed, which indicates that the three structures are mechanically stable and each has a ductile feature. The Debye temperature is deduced from the elastic properties. The total density of states(TDOS) and partial density of states(PDOS) of the three phases are investigated. The TDOS results show that the γ phase is most stable with a pseudogap near the Fermi level, and the PDOS analysis indicates that the conduction band of the three phases is composed mostly of Mg-3s,Ag-4d, and Sb-5p. In addition, the changes of the free energy, entropy, specific heat, thermal expansion of γ-MgAgSb with temperature are obtained successfully. The obtained results above are important parameters for further experimental and theoretical tuning of doped MgAgSb as a thermoelectric material at high temperature.     

Effects of alloying element on stabilities,electronic structures,and mechanical properties of Pd-based superalloys

The thermodynamic stabilities, electronic structures, and mechanical properties of the Pd-based superalloys are studied by first principles calculations. In this work, we discuss the effect of Pd-based superalloys made from Al, Si, Sc, Ti,V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir and Pt, and we also calculate a face centered cubic(fcc)structure 2 × 2 × 2 superalloy including 31 Pd atoms and one alloying element T M(Pd_(31)TM). The mixing energies of these Pd-Based superalloys are negative, indicating that all Pd-based superalloys are thermodynamically stable. The Pd_(31)Mn has the lowest mixing energy with a value of-0.97 eV/atom. The electronic structures of the Pd-based superalloys are also studied, the densities of states, elastic constants and moduli of the mechanical properties of the Pd-based superalloys are determined by the stress-strain method and Voigt–Reuss–Hill approximation. It is found that Pd_(31)TM is mechanically stable, and Pd_(31)Tc has the largest C_(11), with a value 279.7 GPa. The Pd_(31)Cr has the highest bulk modulus with a value of299.8 GPa. The Pd_(31)Fe has the largest shear modulus and Young's modulus with the values of 73.8 GPa and 195.2 GPa,respectively. By using the anisotropic index, the anisotropic mechanical properties of the Pd_(31)T M are discussed, and threedimensional(3 D) surface contours and the planar projections on(001) and(110) planes are also investigated by the Young modulus.     

First-principles study of structural,elastic, electronic and optical properties of RDX under pressure

ABSTRACT

The influences of pressure on structural, elastic, electronic and optical properties of α-RDX under pressure from 0 to 40?GPa have been investigated by performing first-principles calculations. The obtained structural parameters based on the GGA-PBE+G calculations are consistent with previous experimental values. The results of B/G, C₁₂-C₄₄ and Poisson's ratio show that α-RDX has changed to ductility under pressure between 0 and 5?GPa. The obvious rotation of NO₂ group in the equatorial position appears, especially in the range of pressure from 10 to 15?GPa, which influences the elastic and mechanical properties of α-RDX. Moreover, we find that the electrons of α-RDX become more active under higher pressure by comparing the curves of DOS under different pressure. Furthermore, the anisotropy of optical properties under different pressures has been shown.     

A density-functional theory for (BAs)n clusters (n=1 14): structures, stabilities and electronic properties

This paper investigates the lowest-energy structures,stabilities and electronic properties of (BAs) n clusters (n=1-14) by means of the density-functional theory.The results show that the lowest-energy structures undergo a structural change from two-dimensional to three-dimensional when n=4.With the increase of the cluster size (n 6),the (BAs) n clusters tend to adopt cage-like structures,which can be considered as being built from B 2 As 2 and six-membered rings with B-As bond alternative arrangement.The binding energy per atom,second-order energy differences,vertical electron affinity and vertical ionization potential are calculated and discussed.The caculated HOMO-LUMO gaps reveal that the clusters have typical semiconductor characteristics.The analysis of partial density of states suggests that there are strong covalence and molecular characteristics in the clusters.     

高压下NH_4ClO_4结构、电子及弹性性质的第一性原理研究

研究高压下NH_4ClO_4的结构和性质对于NH_4ClO_4在固体推进剂和炸药的安全应用具有重要意义.采用基于色散校正密度泛函理论的第一性原理方法,研究了0—15 GPa静水压力下NH_4ClO_4的晶体结构、分子结构、电子性质和弹性性质,计算结果与实验值具有较好的一致性.在压强为1,4和9 GPa时,NH_4ClO_4的晶体参数、键长和分子构型等均出现不连续变化,说明了在压强作用下结构发生变化.随着压强增加,氢键增多且作用增强,由分子内氢键向分子内和分子间的氢键转变;导带态密度峰值增加,电子局域性增强,晶体内N-H和Cl-O共价键作用增强,带隙增大,不同相变区域内带隙呈线性关系.0—15 GPa条件下NH_4ClO_4的弹性常数满足力学稳定性标准,采用Voigt-Reuss-Hill方法计算了体积模量B,剪切模量G和杨氏模量E,根据Cauchy压力和B/G值,说明NH_4ClO_4属于韧性材料,随着压强增加韧性增强.     

First-principles study of structural,elastic, electronic and thermodynamic properties of topological insulator Bi2Se3 under pressure

The structural, elastic, electronic and thermodynamic properties of the rhombohedral topological insulator Bi₂Se₃ are investigated by the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) with the Wu–Cohen (WC) exchange-correlation functional. The calculated lattice constants agree well with the available experimental and other theoretical data. Our GGA calculations indicate that Bi₂Se₃ is a 3D topological insulator with a band gap of 0.287 eV, which are well consistent with the experimental value of 0.3 eV. The pressure dependence of the elastic constants C_ij, bulk modulus B, shear modulus G, Young’s modulus E, and Poisson’s ratio σ of Bi₂Se₃ are also obtained successfully. The bulk modulus obtained from elastic constants is 53.5 GPa, which agrees well with the experimental value of 53 GPa. We also investigate the shear sound velocity V_S, longitudinal sound velocity V_L, and Debye temperature Θ_E from our elastic constants, as well as the thermodynamic properties from quasi-harmonic Debye model. We obtain that the heat capacity C_v and the thermal expansion coefficient α at 0 GPa and 300 K are 120.78 J mol^?1 K^?1 and 4.70 × 10^?5 K^?1, respectively.     

第一性原理计算MAlH4(M=Na,K)的结构和弹性性质

基于密度泛函理论研究并比较了两种储氢材料NaAlH₄和KAlH₄的晶格参数,弹性性质和电子结构.计算结果表明NaAlH₄和KAlH₄都是绝缘体,Al—H之间是共价键,M(M=Na,K)与AlH₄之间是离子键.NaAlH₄和KAlH₄的弹性常数都比较小而且NaAlH₄的弹性常数要大于KAlH₄的弹性常数,对此给予了解释. 关键词： 配位金属氢化物 电子结构 弹性性质     

First-principles study of elastic and electronic properties of layered ternary nitride SrZrN2 under pressure

The structural, elastic, and electronic properties of SrZrN₂ under pressure up to 100?GPa have been carried out with first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. The calculated lattice parameters at 0?GPa and 0?K by using the GGA-PW91-ultrasoft method are in good agreement with the available experimental data and other previous theoretical calculations. The pressure dependence of the elastic constants and the elastic-dependent properties of SrZrN₂, such as bulk modulus B, shear modulus G, Young's modulus E, Debye temperature Θ, shear and longitudinal wave velocity V_S and V_L, are also successfully obtained. It is found that all elastic constants increase monotonically with pressure. When the pressure increases up to 140?GPa, the obtained elastic constants do not satisfy the mechanical stability criteria and a phase transition might has occurred. Moreover, the anisotropy of the directional-dependent Young's modulus and the linear compressibility under different pressures are analysed for the first time. Finally, the pressure dependence of the total and partial densities of states and the bonding property of SrZrN₂ are also investigated.     

BaHfO3纳米薄膜电子结构、光学和弹性性质的第一性原理研究

采用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理方法,在局域密度近似（LDA）下研究了厚度为0.626～2.711nm (100)面BaHfO3薄膜的电子结构、光学和弹性性质．电子结构和光学性质计算结果表明：以BaO为表面层原子的BaHfO3纳米薄膜均为直接带隙半导体材料,带隙随薄膜厚度减小而逐渐减小,表现出明显的量子尺寸效应,此时薄膜的光学吸收边发生红移,吸收带出现窄化现象．以HfO2作为表面层原子的BaHfO3薄膜则属于间接带隙半导体材料,且带隙随薄膜厚度减小而微弱增加．弹性性质计算结果表明：体弹模量、剪切模量和杨氏模量等表征材料硬度的力学参数均随BaHfO3纳米薄膜厚度减小而显著减小,呈现尺寸效应．电荷密度分布分析揭示了薄膜厚度改变了BaHfO3纳米薄膜的价健特性,这是材料硬度改变的内在原因．该研究结果为BaHfO3纳米薄膜材料的设计与应用提供了理论依据．