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.     

The investigation of structural,electronic, elastic and thermodynamic properties of Gd1−xYxAuPb alloys: A first principle study

First principle calculations have been employed to investigate the effects of Y concentration, pressure and temperature on various properties of ${\mathrm{Gd}}_{1?x}{\mathrm{Y}}_x\mathrm{AuPb}$ ($x=0,0.25,0.5,0.75,1$) alloys using density functional theory (DFT). The full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method within a framework of the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) is used to perform the calculated results of this paper. Phase stability of ${\mathrm{Gd}}_{1?x}{\mathrm{Y}}_x\mathrm{AuPb}$ alloys is studied using the total energy versus unit cell volume calculations. The equilibrium lattice parameters of these alloys are in good agreement with the available experimental results. The mechanical stability of ${\mathrm{Gd}}_{1?x}{\mathrm{Y}}_x\mathrm{AuPb}$ alloys is proved using elastic constants calculations. Also, the influence of Y concentration on elastic properties of ${\mathrm{Gd}}_{1?x}{\mathrm{Y}}_x\mathrm{AuPb}$ alloys such as Young's modulus, shear modulus, Poisson's ratio and anisotropy factor are investigated and analyzed. By considering both Pugh's ratio and Poisson's ratio, the ductility and brittleness of these alloys are studied. In addition, the total density of states and orbital's hybridizations of different atoms are investigated and discussed. Moreover, the effect of pressure and temperature on some important thermodynamic properties is investigated.     

Study of structural,elastic, electronic and thermodynamic properties of NaAlO3-perovskite

The structural, elastic, electronic, and thermodynamic properties of the cubic NaAlO₃-perovskite are calculated using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave with local orbital (FP-LAPW)+lo. The exchange-correlation energy, is treated in generalized gradient approximation (GGA) using the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE) parameterization. The calculated equilibrium parameter is in good agreement with other works. The bulk modulus, elastic constants and their related parameters, such as Young modulus, shear modulus, and Poisson ratio were predicted. The electronic band structure of this compound has been calculated using the Angel-Vosko (EV) generalized gradient approximation (GGA) for the exchange correlation potential. We deduced that NaAlO₃-perovskite exhibit a wide-gap which it is an indirect from R to Γ point. The analysis of the density of states (DOS) curves shows ionic and covalent character bond for Al–O and Na–O respectively.     

The structural stability, elastic constants and electronic structure of Al-Sr intermetallics by first-principles calculations

The lattice constants, enthalpies of formation, elastic constants and electronic structures of Al-Sr intermetallics have been calculated by first-principles method within generalized gradient approximation. The calculated lattice constants and enthalpies of formation are in good agreement with experimental and other theoretical results. The polycrystalline bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio are also estimated from the calculated single crystalline elastic constants. The total and partial electronic densities of state for the intermetallics were obtained, and the results indicated that Al₂Sr-oI is more stable than Al₂Sr-cF. Finally, longitudinal, transverse and average sound velocities and Debye temperature are estimated.     

A first-principle study of the structural, elastic, lattice dynamical and thermodynamic properties of PrX (X=P, As)

The structural, phase transition, elastic, lattice dynamic and thermodynamic properties of rare-earth compounds PrP and PrAs with NaCl (B1), CsCl (B2), ZB (B3), WC (B_h) and CuAu (L1₀) structures are investigated using the first principles calculations within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). For the total-energy calculation, we have used the projected augmented plane-wave (PAW) implementation of the Vienna Ab-initio Simulation Package (VASP). Specifically, some basic physical parameters, e.g. lattice constants, bulk modulus, elastic constants, shear modulus, Young's modulus and Poison's ratio, are predicted. The obtained equilibrium structure parameters are in excellent agreement with the experimental and theoretical data. The temperature and pressure variations of the volume, bulk modulus, thermal expansion coefficient, heat capacity and Debye temperature are calculated in wide pressure and temperature ranges. The phonon dispersion curves and corresponding one-phonon density of states (DOS) for both compounds are also computed in the NaCl (B1) structure.     

A first-principles study on the structural, elastic, vibrational, and thermodynamical properties of BaX (X=S, Se, and Te)

Ab-initio calculations based on norm-conserving pseudopotentials and density functional theory (DFT) have been performed to investigate the structural, elastic, thermodynamic, and lattice dynamical (phonon dispersion curves) properties of BaX in rock-salt (B1) and CsCl (B2) structures. The results support the experimental and theoretical data in the existing literature. Findings are also presented for the temperature-dependent behaviors of some thermodynamic properties such as entropy, heat capacity, internal energy, and free energy for the same compounds in the B1 phase.     

The structural, elastic, and electronic properties of the pyrite-type phase for SnO2

We have studied some structural, thermodynamic, elastic, and electronic properties of pyrite-type SnO₂ polymorph by performing ab initio calculations within the LDA approximation. The basic physical properties, in particular lattice constant, bulk modulus, second-order elastic constants (C_ij), and the electronic structure, are calculated, and compared with the available experimental data. In order to gain some further information on the mechanical properties, we have also calculated the Young's modulus, Poison's ratio (ν), anisotropy factor (A), sound velocities, and Debye temperature for the same compound.     

Electronic,optical, and mechanical properties of BN,AlN, and InN with zinc-blende structure under pressure

In this work, the electronic, optical, and mechanical properties of BN, AlN, and InN under the action of pressure are calculated. For each of these compounds, the energy band structure, band gaps(E~L_g, E~Γ_g, E~X_g), refractive index(n),dielectric constants(ε_∞, ε_0), elastic constants(C_11, C_12, C_44), and relevant parameters such as bulk(B_u), shear(S_h), and Young's(Y_0) moduli are studied, and other important parameters such as bond-stretching(α), bond-bending(β) force constant, internal-strain parameter(ζ), effective charges(e~*_T, Z~*), anisotropy factor(I_s), Poisson's ratio(P_o), Cauchy ratio(C_a), the ductility index(μ_D), and linear compressibility(C0_) are also calculated. The effects of pressure on all studied properties are investigated. Our results are in good agreement with the available experimental and theoretical data for BN,AlN, and InN.     

Electronic band structure,stability, structural,and elastic properties of IrTi alloys

The structural properties and mechanical stabilities of B2-IrTi have been investigated using first-principle calculations. The elastic constants calculations indicate that the B2-IrTi is unstable to external strain and the softening of C₁₁−C₁₂ triggers the B2-IrTi (cubic) to L1₀-IrTi (tetragonal) phase transformation. Detailed electronic structure analysis revealed a Jahn–Teller-type band split that could be responsible for elastic softening and structure phase transition. The cubic–tetragonal transition is accompanied by a reduction in the density of states (DOS) at the Fermi level and the d-DOS of Ti at Fermi level plays a decisive role in destabilizing the B2-IrTi phase.     

Electronic and thermodynamic properties of B2-FeSi from first principles

The electronic and thermodynamic properties of B2-FeSi have been investigated using the first-principles method based on the plane-wave basis set. The calculated equilibrium lattice constant is in good agreement with available experimental and theoretical data. Our results have shown that B2-FeSi was a narrow gap semiconductor of above 0.055 eV and exhibited metallic characteristics. The density of states (DOS) can also describe orbital mixing. Using the quasi-harmonic Debye model, the thermodynamic properties of B2-FeSi have been analyzed. Variations of the Debye temperature Θ_D, thermal expansion α, heat capacity C_v, entropy S and the Grüneisen parameter γ on temperature T and pressure P were obtained successfully in the ranges of 0-2400 K and 0-140 GPa.     

Ab initio calculation of elastic properties of rock-salt and zinc-blend MgS under pressure

The elastic properties of zinc-blend (ZB) and rock-salt (RS) MgS are calculated by ab initio method. The calculation shows that the enthalpy for RS structure and for ZB structure essentially is the same at ambient pressure. The ZB structure becomes unstable above 5 GPa. For these two structures, the pressure dependences of typical elastic properties, i.e. the bulk modulus, the shear modulus, the Young's modulus, the Poisson's ratio, and the anisotropy factor, are presented. The Debye temperature and sound velocity under high pressure have also been calculated. Debye approximation is used to estimate the zero-point vibrational energy.     

First-principles calculations of structural stability,elastic, dynamical and thermodynamic properties of SiGe,SiSn, GeSn

A first-principles calculations, based on the norm-conserving pseudopotentials and the density functional theory (DFT) and the density functional perturbation theory (DFPT) as implemented in the ABINIT code, have been performed to investigate the structural stability, elastic, lattice dynamic and thermodynamic properties of the ordered SiGe, SiSn and GeSn cubic alloy in zinc-blende (B3) structure. The calculated lattice parameters and bulk modulus agree with the previous results. The second-order elastic constants have been calculated and other related quantities such as the Young’s modulus, shear modulus, anisotropy factor are also estimated. We also obtain the data of lattice dynamics and the temperature dependent properties currently lacking for SiGe, SiSn and GeSn. Findings are also presented for the temperature-dependent behaviors of some thermodynamic properties such as the internal energy, Helmholtz free energy, entropy and heat capacity.     

Elastic properties and phonon dispersions of rhenium in hexagonal-close-packed structure under pressure from first principles

The elastic properties of the hexagonal-close-packed (hcp) structure rhenium (Re) and their behavior under pressure are investigated using the local density approximation (LDA) and the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The obtained high pressure elastic constants are well consistent with previous theoretical date, while large discrepancies are found between theory and the high pressure experiments. The calculated isothermal bulk modulus B₀ (376 GPa for GGA and 389 GPa for LDA) and its initial pressure derivative (4.52 for LDA and 4.58 for GGA) compare favorably with the experimental values. Moreover, it is found that the value of c/a, B/G, Poisson's ratio, and B_c/B_a are virtually independent of pressure. We also performed calculation for phonon dispersions at high pressure. GGA in our calculation exhibits a same trend as the high pressure experimental curve.     

Structural phase transition and elastic properties of ZnSe at high pressure

We have evolved an effective interionic interaction potential to investigate the pressure-induced phase transitions from zinc blende (B3) to rock salt (B1) structure in II-VI [ZnSe] semiconductors. The elastic constants, including the long-range Coulomb and van der Waals (vdW) interactions and the short-range repulsive interaction of up to second-neighbor ions within the Hafemeister and Flygare approach, are deduced. Keeping in mind that both of the ions are polarisable, we employed the Slater-Kirkwood variational method to estimate the vdW coefficients. The estimated value of the phase transition pressure (P _t ) is higher than in the reported data, and the magnitude of the discontinuity in volume at the transition pressure is consistent with that data. The major volume discontinuity in the pressure-volume phase diagram identifies the structural phase transition from zinc blende to rock salt structure.

The variation of second-order elastic constants with pressure resembles that observed in some binary semiconductors. It is inferred that the vdW interaction is effective in obtaining the thermodynamic parameters such as the Debye temperature, the Gruneisen parameter, the thermal expansion coefficient and the compressibility. However, the inconsistency between the thermodynamic parameters as obtained from present model calculations and their experimental values is attributed to the fact that we have derived our expressions by assuming the overlap repulsion to be significant only up to the nearest second-neighbor ions, as well as neglecting thermal effects. It is thus argued that full analysis of the many physical interactions that are essential to binary semiconductors will lead to a consistent explanation of the structural and elastic properties of II–VI semiconductors.     

A theoretical study of structural, elastic and thermal properties of heavy lanthanide monoantimonides

The structural, elastic and thermal properties of three heavy monoantimonides of holmium, erbium and thulium (LnSb, Ln=Ho, Er and Tm) have been investigated theoretically by using an interionic potential theory consisting of long-range Coulomb, short-range repulsive and van der Waal’s (vdW) interactions. These compounds exhibit first-order crystallographic phase transition from their initial NaCl-type structure to CsCl-type structure at pressures 27, 33.2 and 29.8 GPa for HoSb, ErSb and TmSb, respectively. The values of elastic constants and Debye temperatures as a function of pressure are also reported. The elastic properties such as Young modulus (E), Shear modulus (G), Poisson ratio (υ) and anisotropic ratio (A) in an NaCl-type structure are also predicted.     

Ab initio studies of the structural,elastic, electronic and thermal properties of NiTi2 intermetallic

First principles calculations were performed in the framework of the density functional theory (DFT) using the Full Potential–Linear Augment Plane Wave method (FP–LAPW) within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) to predict the structural, electronic, elastic and thermal properties of NiTi₂ intermetallic compound. By using the Wien2k all-electron code, calculations of the ground state and electronic properties such as lattice constants, bulk modulus, presure derivative of bulk modulus, total energies and density of states were also included. The elastic constants and mechanical properties such as Poisson’s ratio, Young’s modulus and shear modulus are estimated from the calculated elastic constants of the single crystal. Through the quasi-harmonic Debye model, the preasure and temperature dependences of the linear expansion coefficient, bulk modulus and heat capacity have been investigated. Finally, the Debye temperature has been estimated from the average sound velocity according to the predicted polycrystal bulk properties and from the single crystal elastic constants.     

Electronic structure and elastic properties of scandium carbide and yttrium carbide: A first principles study

We have studied the electronic, structural, and elastic properties of scandium carbide and yttrium carbide by means of accurate first principles total energy calculations using the full-potential linearized plane wave method (FP-LAPW). We have used the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) for the exchange and correlation potential. Volume optimization, energy band structure, and density of states (DOS) of the systems are presented. The second order elastic constants have been calculated and other related quantities such as the Zener anisotropy factor, Poisson's ratio, Young's modulus, Kleinman parameter, Debye temperature, and sound velocities have been determined. The band gap calculation shows that YC is relatively more ionic than ScC.     

立方KCaF3电子、弹性和光学性质的第一性原理研究

基于密度泛函理论和赝势平面波近似法计算研究了立方钙钛矿KCaF3的弹性、电子和光学性质。基态时,KCaF3平衡晶格常数、体积弹性模量和其他计实验和算值一致。根据Hooke定律和Christoffel方程,研究了KCaF3弹性常数Cij、体积弹性模量B、各向同性波速和弹性各向性异性因子随压力的变化关系。从电子能带理论出发,计算得到了KCaF3电子能带、态密度和Milliken电荷布居数,并对其电子性质进行了详细分析。结果显示：立方钙钛矿KCaF3为直接带隙绝缘体材料,其禁带宽度为6.22eV;电荷主要从Ca和K原子向F原子转移;立方钙钛矿KCaF3属于纯粹的共价型化合物。同时,本文还计算研究了KCaF3的光学介电函数、吸收系数、复折射率、能量损失谱和反射系数等光学性质。