Prediction of novel ultra-incompressibility compounds TM2B (TM=Mo,W, Re and Os) by first-principles calculations

Abstract

Several novel ultra-incompressibility compounds TM₂B (TM = Mo, W, Re and Os) have been predicted by means of the first-principles calculations. Those novel compounds were assumed to have a ReB₂-type structure [P6₃/mmc space group (No.194, Z = 2), atomic sites: TM 4f (2/3, 1/3, z), B 2c (1/3, 2/3, 1/4)]. We calculated the mechanical properties of the TM₂B, and the results reveal that they exhibit brittle behaviour and mechanically stable. The hardness values are 23.8 GPa, 23.3 GPa, 26.6 GPa and 26.3 GPa for Mo₂B, W₂B, Re₂B and Os₂B, respectively, which suggests that they are hard materials. Additionally, we found that the anisotropy of Re₂B is weaker than the others. Finally, the Mo₂B has the highest Debye temperature (905.8 K), while Os₂B has the lowest Debye temperature (615.5 K). We hoped that our results can help to offer a theoretical data for future experimental work and application of TM₂B.     

高压下CaPo弹性性质和热力学性质的第一性原理研究

利用密度泛函理论的平面波赝势方法预测研究了CaPo从岩盐结构(B1结构)到氯化铯结构(B2结构)的相变以及B1结构CaPo高压下的弹性性质以及热力学性质等.通过等焓原理发现B1→B2的相变压力为22.8GPa. 同时计算了B1结构CaPo高压下的弹性常数以及剪切模量、杨氏模量等相关弹性参数,结果发现当压力超过20GPa时,B1结构CaPo开始不稳定了,这和等焓原理所得结果相符合. 最后通过Debye模型成功获取了B1结构C 关键词： 相变 弹性性质 热力学性质 CaPo     

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.     

Structural,electronic and mechanical properties of alkaline earth metal oxides MO (M=Be,Mg, Ca,Sr, Ba)

The structural, electronic and mechanical properties of alkaline earth metal oxides MO (M=Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba) in the cubic (B1, B2 and B3) phases and in the wurtzite (B4) phase are investigated using density functional theory calculations as implemented in VASP code. The lattice constants, cohesive energy, bulk modulus, band structures and the density of states are computed. The calculated lattice parameters are in good agreement with the experimental and the other available theoretical results. Electronic structure reveals that all the five alkaline earth metal oxides exhibit semiconducting behavior at zero pressure. The estimated band gaps for the stable wurtzite phase of BeO is 7.2 eV and for the stable cubic NaCl phases of MgO, CaO, SrO and BaO are 4.436 eV, 4.166 eV, 4.013 eV, and 2.274 eV respectively. A pressure induced structural phase transition occurs from wurtzite (B4) to NaCl (B1) phase in BeO at 112.1 GPa and from NaCl (B1) to CsCl (B2) phase in MgO at 514.9 GPa, in CaO at 61.3 GPa, in SrO at 42 GPa and in BaO at 14.5 GPa. The elastic constants are computed at zero and elevated pressures for the B4 and B1 phases for BeO and for the B1 and B2 phases in the case of the other oxides in order to investigate their mechanical stability, anisotropy and hardness. The sound velocities and the Debye temperatures are calculated for all the oxides using the computed elastic constants.     

Phase transition, elastic, thermodynamic properties of zinc-blend BeSe from first-principles

The structural phase transition, elastic, thermodynamics properties of BeSe in zinc-blende were investigated by performing first-principles calculations within generalized gradient approximation. The phase transition pressure P_t between the B3 phase and the B8 phase of BeSe was determined. The pressure dependencies of elastic constants, shear modulus, Young's modulus, and Poisson's ratio of BeSe are calculated. The thermodynamic properties of the zinc-blende structure BeSe are calculated by using the quasi-harmonic Debye model. The pressure and temperature dependencies of the heat capacity and the thermal expansion coefficient, as well as the Grüneisen parameter are investigated systematically in the ranges of 0–50 GPa and 0–1200 K.     

Stability and elastic properties of B2 CoX (X = Ti,Zr and Hf) intermetallic compounds as a function of pressure

By means of first-principles calculations within the generalised gradient approximation (GGA), phase stability, elastic properties and electronic structures of B2 CoX (X = Ti, Zr and Hf) compounds as a function of pressure have been investigated. The formation energy indicates that CoTi is the most stable phase in these three B2 phases under different pressures. The elastic properties of B2 Co (X = Ti, Zr and Hf), calculated via the Voigt–Reuss–Hill (VRH) approximation, increase with increasing pressure. The mechanical anisotropies are characterised by the universal anisotropy index (A^U) and the Zener anisotropy index (A^Z). The sound velocities, Debye temperatures and melting temperature under applied pressure are also evaluated. Electronic structure show that the changes in the charge distribution are moderate under applied pressure, resulting in the general characteristics of the bonding between X (X = Ti, Zr and Hf) and Co remain unchanged.     

Mechanical anisotropy and thermoacoustic properties of SnO2 under high pressures: an ab initio approach

The effects of hydrostatic pressures on the electronic, thermoacoustic and elastic anisotropies of SnO₂ in the rutile structure is analyzed up to 18 GPa. It is found that the polycrystalline bulk modulus B increases from 227 to 312 GPa between 0 and 18 GPa while the Young and shear moduli slightly decrease with pressures. The resulting polycrystalline ductility increases with pressures. The speed of the sound for longitudinal waves increases with pressure, while the transverse polarizations and the Debye temperature decrease. Large crystal anisotropy for the shear planes {001} between ? 110? and ? 010? directions under pressures, associated with the phase transition to the Cl₂Ca, is found.     

Phase stability,anisotropic elastic properties and electronic structures of C15-type Laves phases ZrM2 (M = Cr,Mo and W) from first-principles calculations

Abstract

Systematic investigations of phase stability and mechanical properties of C15-type ZrM₂ (M = Cr, Mo and W) Laves phases were performed using first-principles calculations. The formation enthalpies of ZrM₂ are in good agreement with the theoretical and experimental values. The elastic properties, including elastic constants and moduli, Poisson’s ratio and B/G, were discussed. The elastic anisotropy was also investigated via the anisotropy indexes (A^U, A^Z, A_shear and A_comp), the anisotropy of shear modulus and the 3D construction of bulk and Young’s moduli. The elastic anisotropy of ZrM₂ is in order of ZrCr₂ < ZrMo₂ < ZrW₂. The variations in the shear modulus and hardness show similar trends with increasing values from ZrCr₂ to ZrW₂. The electronic structures for these C15-type Laves phases were analysed to obtain deeper understanding of chemical bonds and phase stabilities. Finally, the sound velocities and Debye temperatures were also investigated.     

First principles study of structural phase transition of YSb and ScSb compounds

High pressure induced phase transition of YSb and ScSb compounds have been studied using Density Functional Theory method within Generalized Gradient Approximation. It was found that the phase transition from the NaCl-type (B1) to a CsCl-type structure (B2) began to occur at around 29 GPa for YSb compound, agreeing well with available experiments and theoretical calculations. For ScSb compound it was suggested that structural phase transition from B1 to B2 will occur at about 40 GPa, differing greatly with experimental and theoretical results. The finding that the transition pressures increase with decreasing lattice constant in the NaCl-type structure for YSb and ScSb compounds was found to be similar to the phenomena observed for LnSb (Ln: lanthanide) compounds. Mulliken charge and overlap population analysis revealed that YSb and ScSb compounds in B1 structure show similar interaction between anion and cation, while in B2 structure a higher degree of covalency was found for ScSb than that in YSb. Also, DOS and band structure of these two compounds in B1 and B2 structures were presented and analyzed.     

Equation of state and thermal expansivity of LiF and NaF

The high-pressure and high-temperature behaviors of LiF and NaF have been studied up to 37 GPa and 1000 K. No phase transformations have been observed for LiF up to the maximum pressure reached. The B1 to B2 transition of NaF at room temperature was observed at ～28 GPa, this transition pressure decreases with temperature. Unit-cell volumes of LiF and NaF B1 phase measured at various pressures and temperatures were fitted using a P–V–T Birch–Murnaghan equation of state. For LiF, the determined parameters are: α₀ = 1.05 (3)×10^?4 K^?1, dK/dT = ?0.025 (2) GPa/K, V ₀ = 65.7 (1) Å³, K ₀ = 73 (2) GPa, and K′ = 3.9 (2). For NaF, α₀ = 1.34 (4)×10^?4 K^?1, dK/dT = ?0.020 (1) GPa/K, V ₀ = 100.2 (2) Å³, K ₀ = 46 (1) GPa, and K′ = 4.5 (1).     

First-principles study on superconductivity of solid oxygen

The superconductivity of solid oxygen in ζ phase was investigated by first-principles calculations based on the density functional theory. Using a monoclinic C2/m structure, we calculated the superconducting transition temperature by the Allen–Dynes formula and obtained 2.4 K at 100 GPa for the effective screened Coulomb repulsion constant μ* of 0.13. The transition temperature slowly decreases with increasing pressure and becomes 1.3 K at 200 GPa. The phonon analysis shows that the electron–phonon coupling is dominantly enhanced by the intermolecular vibrations of O₂ rather than the intramolecular ones. The phonon modes showing the strong electron–phonon coupling were found to be concentrated in the phonon frequency range of 100–150 cm^?1 at around the M-point in the Brillouin zone.     

Phase transition of ZnS at high pressures and temperatures

The high-pressure behaviour of zinc sulphide, ZnS, has been investigated, using an in situ X-ray powder diffraction technique in a diamond anvil cell, at pressures and temperatures up to 35 GPa and 1000 K, respectively. The pressure-induced phase transition from a zincblende (B3) to a rocksalt (B1) structure was observed. This transition occurred at 13.4 GPa and at room temperature, and a negative dependence on temperature for this transition was confirmed. The transition boundary was determined to be P (GPa) = 14.4 ? 0.0033 × T (K).     

高压下TiN的结构转变、弹性和热力学性质的第一性原理计算

 利用基于密度泛函的第一性原理,计算了高压下TiN的结构转变、弹性和热力学性质。计算结果表明：在压力作用下,TiN经历了从NaCl型结构到CsCl型结构的转变,转变压力为348 GPa;TiN的弹性系数随着压力的增加呈线性增加规律。此外,还给出了德拜温度和热容量这两个重要热力学量与温度和（或）压力的依赖关系。     

Pressure‐induced incompressibility and point singularity of mechanical properties of TaC in NiAs‐type structure

The structural and elastic properties of TaC in NiAs‐type structure under high pressure have been investigated using first principles calculations based on density functional theory. Results indicate that the incompressibility along the c‐axis of TaC exceeds that of diamond under higher pressure. Particularly, an interesting point singularity exists in its mechanical properties as the pressure increases from 20 GPa to 40 GPa. The minimal shear modulus, Young's modulus, Debye temperature, and maximum Poisson ratio of TaC are simultaneously obtained at 28 GPa. The calculations of hardness indicate that the NiAs‐type TaC crystal possesses excellent mechanical properties. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Simultaneous electrical and X-ray diffraction studies on neodymium metal to 152 GPa

Using designer diamond anvils and angle dispersive X-ray diffraction technique at a synchrotron source, we have performed simultaneous electrical and structural studies on neodymium metal to 152 GPa in a diamond anvil cell. Four-probe electrical resistance measurement shows a 38% decrease in the electrical resistivity, associated with the delocalization of the 4f-shell electrons, starting at 100 GPa up to a final pressure of 152 GPa. The continuous decrease in electrical resistivity is consistent with the observation of a gradual phase transition to α-U structure in this pressure range. The (1 1 1) diffraction peak of α-U structure first appears at 100 GPa and increases in intensity with increasing pressure to 152 GPa. This increase in intensity is attributed to an increasing volume fraction of α-U phase and an increase in structural y-parameter from 0.07 at 118 GPa to 0.095 at 152 GPa. In contrast to the abrupt pressure-induced f-electron transition seen in cerium and praseodymium, the continuous evolution of α-U structure and electrical resistivity in neodymium confirms the gradual nature of 4f delocalization process in this element.     

高压下硫化钙的弹性和热力学性质的第一性原理计算

利用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理平面波赝势方法结合准谐德拜模型研究NaCl结构的CaS在高压下的弹性和热力学性质.计算得到的零温零压下的晶格常数、体弹模量与实验值符合得很好.弹性常数和弹性模量随着压强的增大而增大.压强对体弹模量和热膨胀系数的影响大于温度的影响.热容随压强的升高而降低,在高温下热容接近于Dulong-Petit极限.通过求解Gibbs自由能计算得到B1结构和B2结构CaS的相变压为36.61 GPa.     

Phase transition and thermodynamic properties of SrS via first-principles calculations

The phase transition of SrS from NaCl structure （B1） to CsCl structure （B2） is investigated by means of ab initio plane-wave pseudopotential density functional theory, and the thermodynamic properties of the B1 and the B2 structures are obtained through the quasi-harmonic Debye model. It is found that the transition phase from the B1 to the B2 structures occurs at 17.9 GPa, which is in good agreement with experimental data and other calculated results. Moreover, the thermodynamic properties （including specific heat capacity, the Debye temperature, thermal expansion and Griineisen parameter） have also been obtained successfully.     

Pressure-dependent phase transition in the ordered BaBi0.7Nb0.3O3 perovskite

BaBi_0.7Nb_0.3O₃, an ordered perovskite, crystallizes in a centrosymmetric rhombohedral structure with the space group R3¯. The refined cell parameters obtained from synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction data for the rhombohedral phase at ambient pressure are a=6.109 (2) Å and α=60.3 (1)°. The pressure-dependent synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction studies show a phase transition around 8.44±1 GPa, where it transforms from rhombohedral structure to a monoclinic structure. The lattice parameters obtained for the monoclinic phase at a pressure of 15±1 GPa are a=5.91 (2) Å, b=6.25 (3) Å and c=8.22 (1) Å with monoclinic angle, β=88 (1)°.     

Electronic,mechanical, phase transition,and thermo-physical properties of TMC (TM = V,Nb, and Ta): high pressure ab initio study

The structural, electronic, mechanical, phase transition, and thermo-physical properties of refractory carbides, viz. VC, NbC, and TaC have been computed in stable B1 and high pressure B2 phases by means of two different ab initio calculations using pseudo- and full-potential schemes. These materials have mixed covalent-, metallic-, and ionic-type bonding. The calculations of elastic constants show the mechanical stability of these materials in B1 phase only. The brittle nature and anisotropy is observed in these materials in B1 phase. Non-central forces are present in both the phases. Elastic wave velocities and Debye temperature have also been calculated. The present results on structural, phase transition, elastic, and other properties are in reasonably good agreement with the available experimental and theoretical data. The calculations in high pressure phase need experimental verification.     

First-principles study of structural stability, electronic and elastic properties of ZrC compounds

We theoretically study the possible pressure-induced structural phase transition, electronic and elastic properties of ZrC by using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT), in the presence and absence of spin-orbit coupling (SOC). The calculations indicate that there exists a phase transition from the NaCl-type (B1) structure to CsCl-type (B2) structure at the transition pressure of 313.2 GPa (without SOC) and 303.5 GPa (with SOC). The detailed structural changes during the phase transition were analyzed. The band structure shows that B1-ZrC is metallic. A pseudogap appears around the Fermi level of the total density of states (DOS) of the B1 phase of ZrC, which may contribute to its structural stability.