First principles investigation on the ultra‐incompressible and hard TaN

The structural, electronic, and mechanical properties of TaN were investigated by use of the density functional theory (DFT). Eight structures were considered, i.e., hexagonal WC, TaN, NiAs, wurtzite, and CoSn structures, cubic NaCl, zinc‐blende and CsCl structures. The results indicate that TaN in TaN‐type structure is the most stable at ambient conditions among the considered structures. Above 5 GPa, TaN in WC‐type structure becomes energetically the most stable phase. They are also stable both thermodynamically and mechanically. TaN in WC‐type has the largest shear modulus 243 GPa and large bulk modulus 337 GPa among the considered structures. The volume compressibility is slightly larger than diamond, but smaller than c‐BN at pressures from 0 to 100 GPa. The compressibility along the c axis is smaller than the linear compressibility of both diamond and c‐BN. The estimated hardness is 34 GPa. Thus, TaN in WC‐type structure is a potential candidate to be ultra‐incompressible and hard. The unique mechanical properties of TaN in WC‐type structure would make it suitable for applications under extreme conditions. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2009     

Ab initio study on the electronic and mechanical properties of ReB and ReC

The structural, electronic, and mechanical properties of ReB and ReC have been studied by use of the density functional theory. For each compound, six structures are considered, i.e., hexagonal WC, NiAs, wurtzite, cubic NaCl, CsCl, and zinc-blende type structures. The results indicate that for ReB and ReC, WC type structure is energetically the most stable among the considered structures, followed by NiAs type structure. ReB-WC (i.e., ReB in WC type structure) and ReB-NiAs are both thermodynamically and mechanically stable. ReC-WC and ReC-NiAs are mechanically stable and becomes thermodynamically stable above 35 and 55 GPa, respectively. The estimated hardness from shear modulus is 34 GPa for ReB-WC, 28 GPa for ReB-NiAs, 35 GPa for ReC-WC and 37 GPa for ReC-NiAs, indicating that they are potential candidates to be ultra-incompressible and hard materials.     

Structural stability and phase transition in OsC and RuC

The structural stability and phase transition of osmium and ruthenium carbides (OsC and RuC) were investigated by first principles. Nine structures were considered for each carbide. Zinc blende structure has the lowest energy among the considered structures at ambient conditions for both carbides. For OsC at elevated pressures, the most stable phase is zinc blende structure from 0 to 10 GPa, FeSi from 10 to 32 GPa. In these two structures, Os atom is fourfold coordinated. From 32 to 40 GPa, tungsten carbide (WC) and NiAs are energetically competitive with Os atom sixfold coordinated. NiAs becomes energetically the most stable structure above 40 GPa. For RuC, zinc blende structure is the most stable from 0 to 20 GPa. From 20 to 100 GPa, WC structure is the most stable.     

Structural and dynamical stability of cadmium nitride using first principles calculations

We report the results of a theoretical study on the behavior of the structural parameters, electronic band structure, vibrational and thermodynamical properties of transition metal nitride, CdN in the rocksalt (RS), NiAs (P63/mmc) and CuS (B₁₈) phases at ambient pressure. The calculations are based on the ab-initio plane-wave pseudopotential density functional theory (DFT), within the generalized gradient approximations (GGA) for the exchange and correlation functional. The calculated values of lattice parameters, bulk modulus and its first order pressure derivative are in good agreement with other reports. A linear response approach to the density functional theory is used to derive the phonon frequencies, phonon densities of states and thermodynamical properties. We discuss the contribution of the phonons in the dynamical stability of CdN and detailed analysis of thermodynamical properties of specific heat and Debye temperature for CdN in all considered structures.     

CdO及CdxZn1-xO化合物的结构、能量和电子性能分析

采用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理的平面波超软赝势计算方法, 研究了纤锌矿结构的CdxZn1-xO化合物以及CdO在纤锌矿结构、岩盐结构和闪锌矿结构的基态电子特性和体结构, 分析了CdO的稳定性. 通过对比纤锌矿结构、岩盐结构和闪锌矿结构CdO的内聚能, 发现岩盐结构和纤锌矿结构CdO的稳定性好, 闪锌矿结构相对较差; 通过对CdxZn1-xO化合物在不同Cd组分下的电子结构计算, 得到了较好的禁带宽度拟合结果, 能带弯曲参量B=1.02 eV; 通过形成能与组分关系的分析, 我们认为当Cd的组分x=0.4左右时, CdxZn1-xO化合物最不稳定, 容易出现相分离现象.     

掺氮碳化钨的制备及其电催化性能的研究

碳化钨是一种具有应用前景的电催化剂,本文尝试对碳化钨的非金属位进行氮掺杂,以钨酸钠为钨源,经由中间体氮化钨（WN）,并在一氧化碳气体中进行渗碳后合成掺氮的碳化钨纳米片（WN|WC）. 通过扫描电镜（SEM）和透射电镜（TEM）观测发现,WN|WC纳米片尺寸均匀,碳原子进入WN晶格中形成具有密排六方结构的WC晶相,并和WN的晶格条纹紧密联结而形成异质结构. X射线衍射（XRD）结果显示碳化后的样品中含有WN和WC两种晶型,XPS结果进一步表明WN|WC表面形成了WN和WC的异质结构. 为讨论氮元素掺杂对电催化性能的影响,本文通过微波辅助加热法负载少量铂制备Pt/WN|WC催化剂,并以甲醇氧化为指针反应,纯相碳化钨和商用铂碳材料（Pt/C）等为对比样,评价了Pt/WN|WC催化剂的电化学性能. 电化学测试表明,该催化剂甲醇氧化的电流密度是商业Pt/C的3倍,具有较高的交换电流密度和速率常数,且经过200周的循环伏安扫描后,正扫峰电位（Ep_f）和负扫峰电位（Ep_b）仍保持稳定,结果表明氮的掺杂改变了碳化钨表面的电子状态,形成了WN和WC的异质界面,有利于催化性能的提高.     

Ab initio computation of the low-temperature phase diagrams of the alkali metal iodide-bromides: MBr(x)I1-x (0 </= x </= 1), Where M = Li, Na, K, Rb, or Cs

We have studied the low-temperature phase diagrams of the systems MBr-MI (M = Li, Na, K, Rb, or Cs) via global exploration of the enthalpy landscapes for many different compositions, leading to candidates for solid solution-like and ordered crystalline phases. For all of these candidates the free enthalpies are computed at the ab initio level, and the low-temperature phase diagrams of the five chemical systems are derived. We find not only the expected stable solid solution in the rocksalt structure type but also metastable solid solutions based on the CsCl type for the RbBr-RbI and CsCl-CsI systems. Furthermore, additional metastable structure candidates exhibiting ordered crystalline structures exist for several compositions. In the case of the LiBr-LiI system, the metastable solid solution based on the wurtzite type was generated, and the location of the miscibility gap was predicted.     

Structural,electronic, elastic,thermodynamic and vibration properties of TbN compound from first principles calculations

We have predicted structural, electronic, elastic, thermodynamic and vibration characteristics of TbN, using density functional theory within generalized-gradient (GGA) apraximation. For the total energy calculation we have used the projected augmented plane-wave (PAW) implementation of the Vienna Ab initio Simulation Package (VASP). We have used to examine structure parameter in eight different structures such as in NaCl (B1), CsCl (B2), ZB (B3), Tetragonal (L1₀), WC (Bh), NiAs (B8), PbO (B10) and Wurtzite (B4). We have performed the thermodynamics properties for TbN by using quasi-harmonic Debye model. We have, also, predicted the temperature and pressure variation of the volume, bulk modulus, thermal expansion coefficient, heat capacities and Debye temperatures in a wide pressure (0–130 GPa) and temperature ranges (0–2000 K). Furthermore, the band structure, phonon dispersion curves and corresponding density of states are computed. Our results are compared to other theoretical and experimental works, and excellent agreement is obtained.     

Effect of Pressure on Electronic Structures and Optical Properties of Rocksalt InN

The electronic structures and optical properties of rocksalt indium nitride (InN) under pres-sure were studied using the first-principles calculation by considering the exchange and cor-relation potentials with the generalized gradient approximation. The calculated lattice con-stant shows good agreement with the experimental value. It is interestingly found that the band gap energy E_g at the Γ or X point remarkably increases with increasing pressure, but E_g at the L point does not increase obviously. The pressure coefficient of E_g is calculated to be 44 meV/GPa at the Γ point. Moreover, the optical properties of rocksalt InN were calculated and discussed based on the calculated band structures and electronic density of states.     

Dendritic structures of poly(ethylene glycol) on silicon nitride and gold surfaces

A hydrophilic silicon nitride surface was grafted with poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether (average formula weight of 5000 Da) in a one-step protocol. The domains of stable dendritic structures of self-assembled monolayer islands on a silicon nitride surface were observed with atomic force microscopy. The moduli of elasticity of these dendritic structures in air and in KCl aqueous solution were compared. The value of the Young's modulus of these structures is reduced by more than 3 orders of magnitude, from approximately 12 GPa measured in air to approximately 5 MPa in KCl solution. This dramatic reduction in elasticity was attributed to the swelling of the dendritic structures in aqueous solution, which was verified by the increased film thickness. These dendritic structures were not stable in the aqueous environment and could be removed by soaking in water for 22 h because of the hydrolysis of the silicate bonds. This fact was confirmed by the reduction of the C1s signal in the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy experiments. These morphologies are not unique to silicon nitride substrate; similar features were also observed for thiolated poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether molecules absorbed on a gold surface.     

高压相BeO晶体的电子结构和光学性质

应用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理研究方法,考虑广义梯度近似(GGA)下的交换关联势,模拟计算了高压下纤维锌矿(WZ)、闪锌矿(ZB)和岩盐(RS)结构氧化铍(BeO)晶体的电子结构和光学性质等.计算结果表明,随着压力的增加,同种结构下原子间的键长和电荷转移有所减小,并且价带和导带分别向低能和高能方向移动,禁带展宽.与常压下的BeO相比,随着压力的增加,三种结构的BeO晶体的光学性质有一定的变化,介电函数、吸收系数、折射率以及电子能量损失谱曲线出现更多的精细结构,峰的数量增多;各高压相结构的吸收谱和能量损失谱宽度逐次展宽;吸收系数曲线的吸收峰及其位于低能区域的吸收边以及电子能量损失谱峰的位置均发生一定程度的蓝移.     

The band structures of some transition metals and their NaCl-type compounds

The band structures of Group IVB (Ti,Zr,Hf),VB (V,Nb,Ta) and VIB (Cr,Mo,W) transition metals and some of their carbides and nitrides (TiN,ZrN,HfN,VC,NbC,TaC,VN,NbN,TaN) with NaCl-type (Bl-type) structure have been calculated by using the tight-binding method within the Extended Hiickel approximation (EHT).The energy bands,densities of states and crystal orbital overlap populations are given.The relationship between the bonding properties and the superconducting transition temperatures (Tc) of them is discussed.The influences of various kinds of metallic atoms and changes of bond lengths on Tc are also discussed.     

Effects of nitrogen composition on the resistivity of reactively sputtered TaN thin films

Nanocrystalline tantalum nitride (TaN) thin films have been deposited by reactive direct current magnetron sputtering technique on Si/SiO₂ (100) substrate with nitrogen flow rate ranging from 0, 3, 5, 7, 9 to 11 standard cubic centimeter per minute (sccm). Structural properties, surface morphology, chemical composition and and resistivity of the TaN films were investigated by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and four‐point probe measurements, respectively. In the XRD spectra, a classical formation sequence of tantalum nitride phases in the order of Ta‐Ta₂N‐TaN‐Ta₄N₅ and decreasing amount of metallic Ta were observed with increasing nitrogen flow. The electrical resistivity of the TaN film was found to increase with increasing N/Ta ratio as a result of the increased electron scattering from interstitial N atoms. In the XPS analysis, two groups of Ta4f doublets relating to different TaN phases were observed in the core level spectra of TaN films. No strong coupling was observed between the Ta4f doublets and the Ta4p and the N1s groups. The appropriate nitrogen flow was believed to be helpful in the bonding and formation of stoichiometric TaN. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Creating Reactivity with Unstable Endmembers using Pressure and Temperature: Synthesis of Bulk Cubic Mg0.4Fe0.6N

Alloy and nitride solid solutions are prominent for structural, energy and information processing applications. There are frequently however barriers to making them. We remove barriers to reactivity here using pressure with a new synthetic approach. We target pressures where the reasons for cubic endmember nitride instability can become the driving force for cubic nitride solid solution stability. Using this approach we form a novel rocksalt Mg_0.4Fe_0.6N solid solution at between 15 and 23 GPa and up to 2500 K. This is a system where, neither an alloy nor a nitride solid solution form at ambient conditions and bulk MgN and FeN endmembers do not form, either at ambient or at high pressure. The new nitride is formed, by removing endmember lattice mismatch with pressure, allowing a stabilizing redistribution of valence electrons upon heating. This approach can be employed for a range of normally unreactive systems. Mg, Fe and enhanced nitrogen presence, may also indicate a richer reaction chemistry in our planets interior.     

Synthesis of Plasmonic Group‐4 Nitride Nanocrystals by Solid‐State Metathesis

Ceramic nanoparticles that exhibit a plasmonic response are promising next‐generation photonic materials. In this contribution, a solid‐state metathesis method has been reported for the synthesis of Group 4 nitride (TiN, ZrN, and HfN) nanocrystals. A high‐temperature (1000 °C) reaction between Group 4 metal oxide (TiO₂, ZrO₂, and HfO₂) nanoparticles and magnesium nitride powder yielded nitride nanocrystals that were dispersible in water. A localized surface plasmonic resonance was observed in the near‐infrared region for TiN and in the visible region of light for ZrN and HfN nanocrystals. The frequency of the plasmon resonance was dependent on the refractive index of the solvent and the nanocrystal size.     

New-phase retention in colloidal core/shell nanocrystals via pressure-modulated phase engineering

Core/shell nanocrystals (NCs) integrate collaborative functionalization that would trigger advanced properties, such as high energy conversion efficiency, nonblinking emission, and spin–orbit coupling. Such prospects are highly correlated with the crystal structure of individual constituents. However, it is challenging to achieve novel phases in core/shell NCs, generally non-existing in bulk counterparts. Here, we present a fast and clean high-pressure approach to fabricate heterostructured core/shell MnSe/MnS NCs with a new phase that does not occur in their bulk counterparts. We determine the new phase as an orthorhombic MnP structure (B31 phase), with close-packed zigzagged arrangements within unit cells. Encapsulation of the solid MnSe nanorod with an MnS shell allows us to identify two separate phase transitions with recognizable diffraction patterns under high pressure, where the heterointerface effect regulates the wurtzite → rocksalt → B31 phase transitions of the core. First-principles calculations indicate that the B31 phase is thermodynamically stable under high pressure and can survive under ambient conditions owing to the synergistic effect of subtle enthalpy differences and large surface energy in nanomaterials. The ability to retain the new phase may open up the opportunity for future manipulation of electronic and magnetic properties in heterostructured nanostructures.

Core/shell MnSe/MnS nanocrystals with the B31 phase are thermodynamically stable under high pressure and can survive under ambient conditions owing to the synergistic effect of subtle enthalpy differences and high surface energy in nanomaterials.     

The origin of the stereochemically active Pb(II) lone pair: DFT calculations on PbO and PbS

The concept of a chemically inert but stereochemically active 6s² lone pair is commonly associated with Pb(II). We have performed density functional theory calculations on PbO and PbS in both the rocksalt and litharge structures which show anion dependence of the stereochemically active lone pair. PbO is more stable in litharge while PbS is not, and adopts the symmetric rocksalt structure showing no lone pair activity. Analysis of the electron density, density of states and crystal orbital overlap populations shows that the asymmetric electron density formed by Pb(II) is a direct result of anion-cation interactions. The formation has a strong dependence on the electronic states of the anion and while oxygen has the states required for interaction with Pb 6s, sulphur does not. This explains for the first time why PbO forms distorted structures and possesses an asymmetric density and PbS forms symmetric structures with no lone pair activity. This analysis shows that distorted Pb(II) structures are not the result of chemically inert, sterically active lone pairs, but instead result from asymmetric electron densities that rely on direct electronic interaction with the coordinated anions.     

Nitride Spinel: An Ultraincompressible High-Pressure Form of BeP2N4

Owing to its outstanding elastic properties, the nitride spinel γ-Si₃N₄ is of considered interest for materials scientists and chemists. DFT calculations suggest that Si₃N₄-analog beryllium phosphorus nitride BeP₂N₄ adopts the spinel structure at elevated pressures as well and shows outstanding elastic properties. Herein, we investigate phenakite-type BeP₂N₄ by single-crystal synchrotron X-ray diffraction and report the phase transition into the spinel-type phase at 47 GPa and 1800 K in a laser-heated diamond anvil cell. The structure of spinel-type BeP₂N₄ was refined from pressure-dependent in situ synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction measurements down to ambient pressure, which proves spinel-type BeP₂N₄ a quenchable and metastable phase at ambient conditions. Its isothermal bulk modulus was determined to 325(8) GPa from equation of state, which indicates that spinel-type BeP₂N₄ is an ultraincompressible material.     

Boron Phosphorus Nitride at Extremes: PN6 Octahedra in the High‐Pressure Polymorph β‐BP3N6

The high‐pressure behavior of non‐metal nitrides is of special interest for inorganic and theoretical chemistry as well as materials science, as these compounds feature intriguing elastic properties. The double nitride α‐BP₃N₆ was investigated by in situ single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (XRD) upon cold compression to a maximum pressure of about 42 GPa, and its isothermal bulk modulus at ambient conditions was determined to be 146(6) GPa. At maximum pressure the sample was laser‐heated, which resulted in the formation of an unprecedented high‐pressure polymorph, β‐BP₃N₆. Its structure was elucidated by single‐crystal XRD, and can be described as a decoration of a distorted hexagonal close packing of N with B in tetrahedral and P in octahedral voids. Hence, β‐BP₃N₆ is the first nitride to contain PN₆ octahedra, representing the much sought‐after proof of principle for sixfold N‐coordinated P that has been predicted for numerous high‐pressure phases of nitrides.