First-Principles Calculations for Elastic Properties of ZnS under Pressure

The pressure dependence of elastic properties of ZnS in zinc-blende （ZB） and wurtzite （WZ） structures are investigated by the generalized gradient approximation （GGA） within the plane-wave pseudopotential density functional theory （DFT）. Our results are in good agreement with the available experimental data and other theoretical results. From the high-pressure elastic constants obtained, we find that the ZB and WZ structures of ZnS are unstable when the applied pressures are larger than 15.8 GPa and 21.3 GPa, respectively. The sound velocities along different directions for the two structures are also obtained. It is shown that as pressure increases, the sound velocities of the shear wave decrease, and those of all the longitudinal waves increase. An analysis has been made to reveal the anisotropy and highly noneentral forces in ZnS.     

Structures and Phase Transition of GaAs under Pressure

A first-principles plane wave method with the ultrasoft pseudopotential scheme in the frame of the density functional theory （DFT） is performed to calculate the lattice parameters a and c, the bulk modulus B0 and its pressure derivative B0 of the zinc-blende GaAs （ZB-GaAs）, rocksalt GaAs （RS-GaAs）, CsCl-GaAs, NiAs- GaAs and wurtzite GaAs （WZ-GaAs）. Our results are consistent with the available experimental data and other theoretical results. We also calculate the phase transition pressures among these different phases. The results are satisfactory.     

Pressure and Temperature Induced Phase Transition of ZnS from First-Principles Calculations

The pressure induced phase transition of ZnS from the wurtzite （WZ） and the zincblende （ZB） structures to the rocksalt （RS） structure and the temperature induced phase transition from the ZB structure to the WZ structure are investigated by ab initio plane-wave pseudopotential density-functional theory （DFT）, together with the quasiharmonic Debye model. It is found that the zero-temperature transition pressures from the WZ-ZnS and the ZB-ZnS to the RS-ZnS are 17.20 and 17.37 GPa, respectively. The zero-pressure transition temperature from the ZB-ZnS to the WZ-ZnS is 1199 K. All these results are consistent with the available experimental data. Moreover, the dependences of the normalized primitive cell volume V/V0 on pressure and thermal expansion coefficient α on temperature are also obtained successfully.     

Elastic properties of tantalum carbide (TaC)

Elastic properties of TaC have been investigated experimentally and by model calculations. The elastic stiffness coefficients c₁₁=597(11) GPa and c₄₄=153(2) GPa were determined on a (100)-oriented disc-shaped monocrystal at room temperature using a plane-wave ultrasound method. The corresponding theoretical values (c₁₁=621(3), c₄₄=166.8(3) GPa) agree within 4 and 8%, respectively. Therefore, we are confident that the predicted value for c₁₂ is equally accurate, and this allows the prediction of the Bulk and Young's moduli and the Poisson ratio. Data published earlier are critically reviewed and predictions concerning the possibility to synthesize extremely incompressible carbides are made.     

Phase Transition and Optical Properties of Solid Oxygen under High Pressure: A Density Functional Theory Study

Crystal structures and optical properties of the δ-O2 phase and the ε-O8 phase have been investigated by using the ab initio pseudopotential plane-wave method. It is found that the phase transition is of the first order with a discontinuous volumetric change from the antiferromagnetic δ-O2 phase to the nonmagnetic ε-O8 phase, consistent with the experimental findings. The energy band calculations show that the direct band gap changes into an indirect band gap after the phase transition. The apparent change in the optical properties can be used for identifying the phase transition from δ-O2 to ε-O8.     

Fcc-hcp phase coexistence in Al at high pressures: Explanation in terms of density of states

The density of states (DOS) of fcc and hcp structures of Al has been calculated for normal and high pressures. It has been found that the DOS of both structures, near the Fermi level, is similar over a range of compressed volumes close to the fcc-hcp transition volume (V/V₀∼0.53). This similarity is the reason for the reported coexistence of fcc-hcp phases over a wide range of pressures near the fcc-hcp phase transition. All calculations have been performed using the FP-LAPW method with GGA.     

Prediction study of structural and elastic properties under pressure effect of M2SnC (M=Ti, Zr, Nb, Hf)

Using first-principles calculations, we have studied the structural and elastic properties of M₂SnC, with M=Ti, Zr, Nb 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 along the a-axis were higher than those along the c-axis. We have observed a quadratic dependence of the lattice parameters versus the applied pressure. The elastic constants and their pressure dependence are calculated using the static finite strain technique. A linear dependence of the elastic stiffnesses on the pressure is found. We derived the bulk and shear moduli, Young's moduli and Poisson's ratio for ideal polycrystalline M₂SnC aggregates. We estimated the Debye temperature of M₂SnC from the average sound velocity. This is the first quantitative theoretical prediction of the elastic properties of Ti₂SnC, Zr₂SnC, Nb₂SnC, and Hf₂SnC compounds.     

Calculated elastic properties of M2AlC (M=Ti, V, Cr, Nb and Ta)

M₂AlC phases, where M is a transition metal, are layered ternary compounds that possess unusual properties. In this paper, we have calculated the elastic properties of M₂AlC, with M=Ti, V, Cr, Nb and Ta, by means of ab initio total energy calculations using the projector augmented-wave method. We have derived the bulk and shear moduli, Young's moduli and Poisson's ratio for ideal polycrystalline M₂AlC aggregates. We have estimated the elastic modulus of Cr₂AlC with 357.7 GPa while the values of all other phases are in the range 309±10 GPa. We suggest that this can be understood based on the calculated bond energies for the M-C bonds. Furthermore, our results indicate a profound elastic anisotropy of M₂AlC even compared to materials with a well-established anisotropic character such as α-alumina. Finally, we have estimated the Debye temperatures of M₂AlC from the average sound velocity.     

Structural, electronic and elastic properties of M2SC (M = Ti, Zr, Hf) compounds

Using ab initio calculations, we have studied the structural, electronic and elastic properties of M₂SC, with M = Ti, Zr and Hf. Geometrical optimization of the unit cell are in good agreement with the available experimental data. The band structures show that all three materials are conducting. The analysis of the site and momentum projected densities shows that the bonding is achieved through a hybridization of M-atom d states with S and C-atom p states. The Md-Sp bonds are lower in energy and are stiffer than Md-Cp bonds. The elastic constants are calculated using the static finite strain technique. We derived the bulk and shear moduli, Young's moduli and Poisson's ratio for ideal polycrystalline M₂SC aggregates. We estimated the Debye temperature of M₂SC from the average sound velocity. This is a quantitative theoretical prediction of the elastic properties of Ti₂SC, Zr₂SC, and Hf₂SC compounds, and it still awaits experimental confirmation.     

Elastic Properties of Rutile TiO2 at High Temperature

Dependence of elastic properties on temperature for rutile TiO2 is investigated by the Cambridge Serial Total Energy Package （CASTEP） program in the frame of density function theory （DFT） and the quasi-harmonic Debye model The six independent elastlc constants of rutile TiO2 at high temperature are theoretically obtained for the first time. It is found that with increasing temperature, the elastic constants will decrease monotonically. Moreover, we successfully obtain the polycrystalline moduli BH and GH, as well as the Debye temperature ⊙D.     

Structural and elastic properties under pressure effect of the cubic antiperovskite compounds ANCa3 (A = P, As, Sb, and Bi)

Using first-principles density functional calculations, the effect of high pressures, up to 40 GPa, on the structural and elastic properties of ANCa₃, with A = P, As, Sb, and Bi, were studied by means of the pseudo-potential plane-waves method. Calculations were performed within the local density approximation and the generalized gradient approximation for exchange-correlation effects. The lattice constants are in good agreement with the available results. 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, Poisson's ratio and Lamé's constants for ideal polycrystalline ANCa₃ aggregates. By analysing the ratio between the bulk and shear moduli, we conclude that ANCa₃ compounds are brittle in nature. We estimated the Debye temperature of ANCa₃ from the average sound velocity. This is the first quantitative theoretical prediction of the elastic properties of PNCa₃, AsNCa₃, SbNCa₃, and BiNCa₃ compounds, and it still awaits experimental confirmation.     

Bulk modulus and its pressure derivatives of cuprous halides

The ab initio pseudopotential approach to the total crystal energy is presented using local DF formalism. The expressions for bulk modulus, its first and second pressure derivatives for group I-VII semiconductor binary compounds are derived. The expression for the second pressure derivative of the bulk modulus for four-fold crystal structures is derived for the first time within the pseudopotential framework. The computed results of the bulk modulus for cuprous halides are very close to the available experimental data.     

Pressure-induced phase transition in tysonite LaF3

We have studied the high-pressure phase stability of LaF₃ using full-potential linear augmented plane wave method. We have shown that experimentally observed orthorhombic phase is less stable compared to the theoretically predicted tetragonal structure above 25 GPa pressure. The structural transition is mainly due to the steric repulsion of ions and electrons to higher pressures.     

Electronic topological transition and phase transition in rhodium and iridium based inter metallic compounds

Of the Rh₃Y, Rh₃La, Ir₃Y and Ir₃La inter-metallic compounds, the compound Rh₃Y exists in hexagonal structure, Ir₃Y and Ir₃La exist in rhombohedral structure, whereas the compound Rh₃La exists in both hexagonal and rhombohedral structures. Based on our tight binding-linear muffin tin orbital (TB-LMTO) study of other rhodium and iridium-based Rh₃X and Ir₃X (where X=Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta and Sc) inter-metallic compounds of AuCu₃ type cubic structure, an attempt is made to examine whether the compounds Rh₃Y, Rh₃La, Ir₃Y and Ir₃La will undergo a structural phase transition to cubic structure from their experimentally reported structures. From our study, it is observed that the compounds Rh₃Y and Rh₃La undergo a structural phase transition to cubic phase at 4.5 and 10.1 GPa, respectively, from their experimentally reported hexagonal and rhombohedral phases. Further it is predicted that both the compounds Ir₃Y and Ir₃La can exist in the cubic phase itself at ambient condition, in contrary to the experimental observation. From the band structure outputs that have been plotted for the compounds under compression, it is observed that the compounds Rh₃La, Ir₃Y and Ir₃La undergo the Lifshitz type of transition which may change the Fermi surface topology and hence the physical properties of these compounds.     

Prediction study of elastic properties under pressure effect for filled tetrahedral semiconductors LiZnN, LiZnP and LiZnAs

First principle calculations of elastic properties under pressure of the filled tetrahedral semiconductors LiZnN, LiZnP and LiZnAs are presented, using the pseudo-potential plane-waves approach based on density functional theory, within the local density approximation. Elastic constants, bulk modulus, Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio are calculated at zero pressure. A linear dependence of the bulk modulus and elastic constants with applied pressure is found. As the experimental elastic constants are not available for LiZnX, we have also calculated the elastic constants of GaN, GaP and GaAs, the binary analogues of LiZnN, LiZnP and LiZnAs, respectively, for checking the reliability and accuracy of our predicted results for LiZnX. The obtained results agree well with the available experimental data.     

Reversible luminescence thermochromism and phase transition in crystals of thiophenylacetylacetonatoboron difluoride

The low-temperature phase transition (−22.4 °C) is accompanied by marked change of the optical properties, as was first revealed for 3-phenylthiopentan-2,4-dionatoboron difluoride (1) in the series of β-diketonatoboron difluorides. This transition was investigated by luminescence and reflection spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSL), X-ray analysis and atomic force microscopy methods. It was observed by the DSL method that at the room temperature the complex existed in its high-temperature modification and transformed into the stable one with ΔH=0.981 kcal/mol below −22.4 °C. The reverse transition takes place at 43.4 °C with ΔH=0.59 kcal/mol. Cooling of 1 results in a noticeable change of its morphology: the crystal cracked along the layer borders and nanometer particles were formed. Having been cooled the light-yellow crystals turned into white powder and luminescence colour changed from aquamarine to white. Heating of the cooled 1 to the 47.9 °C (the second phase transition) results in partial coincidence of the reflection and luminescence spectra, as well as those of initial single crystals that indicates the existence of size-dependent optic properties.     

The optical properties of HgS under high pressures

The DOS (density of states) and the optical properties of HgS under high pressure are studied with the first-principle computations. The change of the imaginary part, ε₂(ω), of the dielectric function shows that HgS tends to metallization with increasing pressure, and this well agrees with the band gap calculations and the conductivities measurement results in the previous work. Under the pressures below 15 GPa, ε₂(ω) is relatively anisotropic and tends to be more anisotropic with increasing pressure; while under the pressures above 15 GPa, the anisotropy decreases and finally becomes almost absolutely isotropic after the phase transition. The behavior of ε₂(ω) is strongly related to the structure change in the cinnabar to rocksalt phase transition process under high pressure.     

Structural phase transition of boron nitride compound

The full-potential band-structure scheme based on the linear combination of overlapping nonorthogonal local-orbital (FPLO) is used. The crystal potential and density are represented as a lattice sum of local overlapping nonspherical contributions. The energetic transitions of BN of zinc-blende and wurtzite structures are calculated using the band structure scheme. The energy gap at ambient pressure is found to be indirect for the two structures. The structural properties of two structures of BN are (obtained from the total energy calculations) and the total density of states are calculated. The phase transition parameter of BN is investigated. The ionicity character of BN has been calculated to test the validity of our recent models. The results are in reasonable agreement with experimental and other theoretical results.     

Ab initio study of phase transition and thermodynamic properties of PtN

The transition phase of PtN from zincblende (ZB) structure to rocksalt (RS) structure is investigated by ab initio plane-wave pseudopotential density functional theory method, and the thermodynamic properties of the ZB and RS structures under high pressure and temperature are obtained through the quasi-harmonic Debye model. The transition phase from the ZB structure to the RS structure occurs at the pressure of 18.2 GPa, which agrees well with other calculated values. Moreover, the dependences of the relative volume V/V₀ on the pressure P, the Debye temperature Θ and heat capacity C_V on the pressure P, together with the heat capacity C_V on the temperature T are also successfully obtained.     

Pressure-Induced Phase Transition of Ruthenium Diboride

Based on the first-principles calculations, we firstly predict that RuB2 undergoes a phase transition from the orthorhombic phase to the hexagonal phase with a volume collapse of 1% when the applied pressure is 15. 7 GPa. The values of calculated elastic moduli indicate that RuB2 and RuN2 are low compressibility materials. Based on the calculated electronic density of states and valence charge density distribution, the bonding nature of RuB2 is examined to obtain a deeper insight into the physical origin of the mechanical properties. The metallieity and high elastic moduli of RuB2 and FuN2 suggest that they axe potential hard conductors.