Some crystallography,chemistry, physics,and thermodynamics of B12O2, B12P2, B12As2, and related alpha-boron type crystals

This paper shows that several alpha-boron type compounds may be useful as high-temperature semiconductors with decent carrier motilities, high electrical resistivity, good optical transparency, good stability under high radiation bombardment, and possess high neutron capture cross-sections. The most promising are B₁₂O₂, B₁₂P₂, and B₁₂As₂. Their relationship to alpha-boron, B₁₃C₂, and other derivative crystals is explained. A study of their chemical and thermodynamic properties indicates how single crystals useful for electronic devices can be grown.     

Electronic structure and the infrared absorption and Raman spectra of the semiconductor clusters C24, B12N12, Si12C12, Zn12O12, and Ga12N12

The optimized configurations, electronic structures, charge transfers, band gaps, total energies, cohesive energies, electron density maps, infrared absorption spectra, Raman spectra, and relevant modes of natural acoustic vibrations for the semiconductor clusters C₂₄, B₁₂N₁₂, Si₁₂C₁₂, Zn₁₂O₁₂, and Ga₁₂N₁₂ are calculated using the ab initio Hartree-Fock method in the 6–31G basis set. Original Russian Text ? V.V. Pokropivny, L.I. Ovsyannikova, 2007, published in Fizika Tverdogo Tela, 2007, Vol. 49, No. 3, pp. 535–542.     

Mechanical properties and electronic structure of TiC,Ti0.75W0.25C,Ti0.75W0.25C0.75N0.25, TiC0.75N0.25 and TiN

The first-principles calculations are performed to investigate the mechanical properties and electronic structure of TiC, Ti_0.75W_0.25C, Ti_0.75W_0.25C_0.75N_0.25, TiC_0.75N_0.25 and TiN. Density functional theory and ultrasoft pseudopotentials are used in this study. From the formation energy, it is found that nitrogen can increase the stability of TiC. The calculated elastic constants and elastic moduli of TiC compare favorably with other theoretical and experimental values. Tungsten and nitrogen are observed to significantly increase the bulk, shear and Young's modulus of TiC. Through the analysis of B/G and Cauchy pressure, tungsten can significantly improve the ductility of TiC. The electronic structure of TiC, TiN, Ti_0.75W_0.25C, Ti_0.75W_0.25C_0.75N_0.25, and TiC_0.75N_0.25 are used to describe nonmetal–metal and metal–metal bonds. Based on the Mulliken overlap population analysis, the hardness values of TiC, Ti_0.75W_0.25C, Ti_0.75W_0.25C_0.75N_0.25, TiC_0.75N_0.25 and TiN are estimated.     

B12N12纳米笼：潜在的二氧化氮检测传感器

利用密度泛函理论通过计算吸附能量、HOMO/LUMO能隙变化、电荷转移、结构扭曲等研究二氧化氮分子在B12N12纳米笼的吸附．此外,通过计算B₁₂N₁₂的电子结合能、Gibbs自由能、态密度和分子表面的静电势研究其稳定性和其它特性．B₁₂N₁₂纳米笼吸附二氧化氮显示三种构型．B₁₂N₁₂团簇的HOMO/LUMO能隙变化对二氧化氮分子的存在非常敏感,从自由团簇的6.84 eV降为NO₂/团簇稳定团簇的3.23 eV．团簇的导电性被极大地提高,表明B₁₂N₁₂纳米簇可能是潜在的二氧化氮气体分子检测传感器.     

The role of Sb in the structure of Sb2O3–B2O3 binary glasses—an NMR and Mössbauer spectroscopy study

Glasses of general formula xSb₂O₃ (1−x)B₂O₃ (0x0.8) have been prepared by conventional melt- quenching. Mössbauer spectroscopy shows that a fraction of the Sb³⁺ is converted to Sb⁵⁺ and this fraction increases with x. High-field ¹¹B MAS NMR gives well-resolved resonances from boron atoms which are 3- and 4-coordinated to oxygen. The fraction of 4-coordinated boron, N₄, goes through a maximum value of 0.12±0.01 at x=0.5. The position of the maximum in N₄ is consistent with the cation potential for Sb³⁺, as observed for other systems. However, the low value of N₄ at this maximum is not so readily explained. The values are similar to those predicted if [BO₄]⁻ were stabilised by [SbO₄]⁺ but the trends with composition are different.     

High pressure X-ray diffraction study on icosahedral boron arsenide (B12As2)

The high pressure properties of icosahedral boron arsenide (B₁₂As₂) were studied by in situ X-ray diffraction measurements at pressures up to 25.5 GPa at room temperature. B₁₂As₂ retains its rhombohedral structure; no phase transition was observed in the pressure range. The bulk modulus was determined to be 216 GPa with the pressure derivative 2.2. Anisotropy was observed in the compressibility of B₁₂As₂—c-axis was 16.2% more compressible than a-axis. The boron icosahedron plays a dominant role in the compressibility of boron-rich compounds.     

xNa2O·yB2O3玻璃的融熔态结构

本文应用变温核磁共振技术研究了xNa₂O·yB₂O₃二元玻璃体系的融熔态结构。结果表明,R≤0.5的熔体中存在两种较为稳定的结构:在730—780℃温度区域形成了B原子间以双桥氧连接的网状结构;在880—920℃温度区域形成了B原子间含三桥氧的链状结构。当R>0.5时熔体中只存在第一种结构。 关键词：     

First principles calculations of the vibrational properties of icosahedral solid boron oxygen B12O2

In this paper, the geometrical structure and vibrational properties of icosahedral solid boron oxygen B₁₂O₂ have been calculated using first principles calculations. The symmetry of crystal vibration modes at the center of Brillouin zone is analyzed based on our numeric results and structure symmetry. The calculated results are compared with available experimental investigations.     

Study of elastic properties of CeO2 by statistical moment method

The purpose of the present paper is to investigate the temperature and pressure dependences of the elastic properties of cerium dioxide using the statistical moment method (SMM). The equation of states of bulk CeO₂ is derived from the Helmholtz free energy, and the pressure dependences of the elastic moduli like the bulk modulus, B_T, shear modulus, G, Young’s modulus, E, and elastic constants (C11, C12, and C44) are presented taking into account the anharmonicity effects of the thermal lattice vibrations. In the present study, the influence of temperature and pressure on the elastic moduli and elastic constants of CeO₂ has also been studied, using three different interatomic potentials. We compare the results of the present calculations with those of the previous theoretical calculations as well as with the available experiments.     

过渡金属Tc及其氮化物TcN，TcN$lt;sub$gt;2$lt;/sub$gt;，TcN$lt;sub$gt;3$lt;/sub$gt;与TcN$lt;sub$gt;4$lt;/sub$gt;低压缩性的第一性原理计算研究

采用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理计算方法研究了Tc及其氮化物的弹性性质、电子结构、原子布局数等,并分析和计算了它的氮化物的理论硬度. 结果表明随着Tc中氮的掺入量的渐增,出现层状结构,它们的弹性模量并非单调增加,其中TcN的体弹模量最大而剪切模量最小;层状结构的TcN₃的剪切模量最大而体弹模量最小,TcN₄的理论计算硬度最大. 说明在Tc的氮化物中,其体弹模量与材料的晶体结构、平均每个原子上的电荷密度和材料的质量密度有关;化学键的共价性结构和氮元素的含量对理论计算硬度有正作用;而剪切模量的极大值则与其层状结构及体系中一定量的方向基本一致的N—N键相关. 关键词： 第一性原理 弹性性质 电子结构     

Monoclinic superstructure V14O6 of the tetragonal solid solution of oxygen in vanadium

The monoclinic (space group C2/m) superstructure of V₁₄O₆, which is formed in the atom-vacancy ordering of the tetragonal solid solution of oxygen in vanadium, is studied by the methods of x-ray diffraction and symmetry analysis. It has been found that the channel of the order-disorder phase transition attributed to the formation of the monoclinic suboxide V₁₄O₆ includes six superstructure vectors belonging to three non-Lifshitz stars {k ₁₋₁}, {k ₁₋₂}, and {k _1–3} of one type {k ₁}. The distribution function of the O atoms in the V₁₄O₆ monoclinic superstructure has been calculated. It has been shown that the displacements of V atoms distort the body-centered tetragonal metal sublattice, thus preparing the formation of the fcc sublattice and the transition from the suboxide V₁₄O₆ to the cubic vanadium monoxide with the B1 structure. Original Russian Text ? A.I. Gusev, D.A. Davydov, 2007, published in Pis’ma v Zhurnal éksperimental’noĭ i Teoreticheskoĭ Fiziki, 2007, Vol. 86, No. 10, pp. 746–751.     

Elastic, electronic, and optical properties of hypothetical SnNNi3 and CuNNi3 in comparison with superconducting ZnNNi3

The elastic, electronic, and optical properties of MNNi₃ (M=Zn, Sn, and Cu) have been calculated using the plane-wave ultrasoft pseudopotential technique, which is based on the first-principle density functional theory (DFT) with generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The optimized lattice parameters, independent elastic constants (C₁₁, C₁₂, and C₄₄), bulk modulus B, compressibility K, shear modulus G, and Poisson's ratio υ, as well as the band structures, total and atom projected densities of states and finally the optical properties of MNNi₃ have been evaluated and discussed. The electronic band structures of the two hypothetical compounds show metallic behavior just like the superconducting ZnNNi₃. Using band structures, the origin of features that appear in different optical properties of all the three compounds has been discussed. The large reflectivity of the predicted compounds in the low energy region might be useful in good candidate materials for coating to avoid solar heating.     

Comparative study of thermal stability and crystallization kinetics of 70B2O3-30Bi2O3 and 70B2O3-30PbO glasses

Glasses with compositions 70B₂O₃-30Bi₂O₃ and 70B₂O₃-30PbO have been prepared and studied by differential thermal analysis (DTA). The crystallization kinetics of the glasses were investigated under non-isothermal conditions. From the dependence of glass-transition temperature (T_g) on heating rate, the activation energy for the glass transition was derived. Similarly the activation energy of the crystallization process was determined. Thermal stability of these glasses were achieved in terms of the characteristic temperatures, such as glass-transition temperature, T_g, onset temperature of crystallization, T_in, temperature corresponding to the maximum crystallization rate, T_p, beside the kinetic parameters, K(T_g) and K(T_p). The results revealed that 70B₂O₃-30PbO is more stable than 70B₂O₃-30Bi₂O₃. The crystallization mechanism is characterized for both 70B₂O₃-30Bi₂O₃ and 70B₂O₃-30PbO glasses (kinetic exponent n=2.06 for 70B₂O₃-30Bi₂O₃, and n=3.03 for 70B₂O₃-30PbO). The phases at which the glass crystallizes after the thermal process were identified by X-ray diffraction.     

Mechanical properties and hardness of new carbon-rich superhard C11N4 from first-principles investigations

The structural, mechanical properties and hardness of the new carbon-rich material C₁₁N₄ are studied by first-principles total energy calculations based on the density-functional theory. We use the empirical equations of state (EOS) to investigate the lattice properties and bulk modulus. It is found that the calculated lattice constants and bulk modulus are in good agreement with previous calculations. And the full set elastic constants are calculated using the stress-strain method. The Voigt-Reuss-Hill approximation is used to evaluate the mechanical moduli. The elastic constants show that the two phases of C₁₁N₄ are mechanically stable. The tetragonal-C₁₁N₄ (α-C₁₁N₄) exhibits larger mechanical moduli than the orthorhombic-C₁₁N₄ (β-C₁₁N₄). The mechanical anisotropy is calculated of several different anisotropic indexes and factors, such as universal anisotropic index (A^U), the percent anisotropy (A_G and A_B) and shear anisotropic factors (A₁, A₂ and A₃). Furthermore, the hardness of α-C₁₁N₄ and β-C₁₁N₄ are evaluated according to the intrinsic hardness calculation theory. α-C₁₁N₄ is predicted to be a superhard material with the Vickers hardness of 67.17 GPa, which is slightly higher than that of the cubic boron nitride. And the β-C₁₁N₄ is also a superhard material with the calculated Vickers hardness of 45.63 GPa. C₁₁N₄ can be considered as candidate superhard compounds.     

Elastic property and intrinsic hardness of novel superhard ternary nitrides (CSi2N4 and SiC2N4)

In this work, the new ternary nitrides (CSi₂N₄ and SiC₂N₄) are designed by the substitution method. The structures, elastic properties, intrinsic hardness and Debye temperature of the new ternary nitrides (CSi₂N₄ and SiC₂N₄) are studied by first-principles calculations based on the density-functional theory. The elastic constants C_ij$C_{ij}$ of these new ternary nitrides are obtained using the stress–strain method. Derived elastic constants, such as bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young's modulus, Poisson coefficient and brittle/ductile behavior are estimated using Voigt–Reuss–Hill theories. The results indicate that γ-CSi₂N₄, p-CSi₂N₄ and p-SiC₂N₄ are mechanically stable. Calculated B/G$B/G$ values and Poisson's ratio for γ-CSi₂N₄, p-CSi₂N₄ and p-SiC₂N4 indicate that these materials are brittle. The calculated anisotropy parameters indicate that γ-CSi₂N₄ shows weak anisotropy and p-SiC₂N₄ and p-CSi₂N₄ have larger anisotropy. Based on the microscopic hardness model, p-CSi₂N₄, p-SiC₂N₄ and γ-CSi₂N₄ should be viewed as superhard materials with some peculiar mechanical properties.     

Microwave linewidths of C2H4O perturbed by H2, N2, O2 and CO2

Microwave linewidths of C₂H₄O (κ = -0.41) broadened by H₂, N₂, O₂, and CO₂ and considering dipole-quadrupole interactions have been calculated using the Mehrotra-Boggs theory (1977). This theory accounts satisfactorily for observed linewidths     

First-principles studies on Ti3Si0.5Ge0.5C2 under pressure

The structural, electronic and elastic properties of Ti₃Si_0.5Ge_0.5C₂ have been investigated by using the pseudopotential plane-wave method within the density-functional theory. Our calculated equation of state (EOS) is consistent with the experimental results. The density of states (DOS) indicates that Ti₃Si_xGe_1−xC₂ (x=0, 0.5, 1.0) are metallic, and these compounds have nearly the same electrical conductivity. The elastic constants for Ti₃Si_0.5Ge_0.5C₂ are obtained at zero pressure, which is compared to Ti₃SiC₂ and Ti₃GeC₂. We can conclude that Ti₃Si_0.5Ge_0.5C₂ is brittle in nature by analyzing the ratio between bulk and shear moduli. There appears to be little effect on the electronic and elastic properties with the Ge substitution to Si atoms in Ti₃SiC₂.     

Carbon-13 Isotopic Species of H2C3, H2C4, and H2C5: High-Resolution Rotational Spectra

The microwave rotational spectra of the carbon-13 isotopic species of H₂C₃, H₂C₄, and H₂C₅ have been observed in a pulsed supersonic molecular beam by Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. At high resolution all of the rotational lines exhibit hyperfine structure produced by the magnetic interaction between the nuclear spin of ¹³C and the overall rotation of the molecule. The component of the nuclear spin-rotation tensor along the a-inertial axis is large for most isotopic species, especially at the carbene carbon; at this position C_aa is two to three times larger than at other substituted positions along the chain. In contrast to both H₂C₃ and H₂C₃, in H₂C₄C_aa exhibits a pronounced alternation along the carbon chain backbone. Following detection of the five carbon-13 isotopic species and D₂C₅, an experimental structure (r₀) has been determined to high accuracy for H₂C₅.     

Equation of state of aluminum carbide Al4C3

Quasi-hydrostatic compression of aluminum carbide, Al₄C₃ has been studied to 6 GPa at room temperature using energy-dispersive X-ray powder diffraction with synchrotron radiation. A fit of the experimental p-V data to the Birch equation of state yields the values of the bulk modulus, B₀, of 130(5) GPa and the first pressure derivative of the bulk modulus, B′₀, of 4.6(9). The compression is found to be anisotropic, with the a-axis being more compressible than the c-axis.     

Full relativistic calculations of the quadrupole and electric field gradients for C2, N2, and O2

In the present work we calculate the energies,quadrupole moments,and electric field gradients(EFGs) of molecules C2,N2,and O2 based on the DIRRCI method with basis aug-cc-pVTZ-DK.We prove that the quadratic force constant k2 is the product of charge and EFG at its equilibrium nuclear distance.The dipole charge distributions for these symmetrical molecules are all in equilibrium,however,the quadrupole charge distributions are far from equilibrium;among these,there is the most remarkable deviation from equilibrium for N2,for its many charges concentrate on two sides of the molecule,which is in agreement with the well-known characteristic of the nitrogen molecule.The relativistic effect is remarkable even for the same period.