Development of interatomic potentials appropriate for simulation of liquid and glass properties of NiZr2 alloy

A new interatomic potential for the Ni–Zr system is presented. This potential was developed specifically to match experimental scattering data from Ni, Zr and NiZr₂ liquids. Both ab initio and published thermodynamic data were used to optimise the potential to study the liquid and amorphous structure of the NiZr₂ alloy. This potential has the C ₁₆ phase, being more stable than C _11b phase in the NiZr₂ alloy, consistent with experiments. The potential leads to the correct glass structure in the molecular dynamics simulation and, therefore, can be used to study the liquid–glass transformation in the NiZr₂ alloy.     

Structure of liquid Al and Al67Mg33 alloy: comparison between experiment and simulation

We report data on the structure of liquid Al and an Al₆₇Mg₃₃ alloy obtained from state-of-the-art X-ray diffraction experiments and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations. To facilitate a direct comparison between these data, we develop a method to elongate the AIMD pair correlation function in order to obtain reliable AIMD structure factors. The comparison reveals an appreciable level of discrepancy between experimental and AIMD liquid structures, with the latter being consistently more ordered than the former at the same temperature. The discrepancy noted in this study is estimated to have significant implications for simulation-based calculations of liquid transport properties and solid–liquid interface kinetic properties.     

Construction of embedded-atom-method interatomic potentials for alkaline metals （Li,Na,and K） by lattice inversion

The lattice-inversion embedded-atom-method interatomic potential developed previously by us is extended to alkaline metals including Li,Na,and K.It is found that considering interatomic interactions between neighboring atoms of an appropriate distance is a matter of great significance in constructing accurate embedded-atom-method interatomic potentials,especially for the prediction of surface energy.The lattice-inversion embedded-atom-method interatomic potentials for Li,Na,and K are successfully constructed by taking the fourth-neighbor atoms into consideration.These angular-independent potentials markedly promote the accuracy of predicted surface energies,which agree well with experimental results.In addition,the predicted structural stability,elastic constants,formation and migration energies of vacancy,and activation energy of vacancy diffusion are in good agreement with available experimental data and first-principles calculations,and the equilibrium condition is satisfied.     

冷却速率对液态金属Cu凝固过程中微观结构演变影响的模拟研究

采用Quantum Sutton-Chen(Q-SC)多体势对液态金属Cu在四个不同冷却速率下的凝固过程进行了分子动力学模拟研究. 通过双体分布函数、键型指数、配位数、均方位移及可视化分析, 结果表明：冷却速率对液态金属Cu的微观结构演变有决定性影响. 当冷却速率为1.0×10¹⁴K/s时得到非晶态结构；当冷速分别为1.0×10¹³K/s，1.0×10¹²K/s和1.3×10¹¹K/s时，系统形成以1421键型为主体的面心立方(fcc)与六角密集(hcp)共存的混合晶体结构；且其结晶温度分别为373K，773K和873K，即冷速越慢，其结晶温度越高，结晶程度也越高；且冷速越慢，1421键型越多，混合晶体中面心立方(fcc)结构所占的比例越高. 同时发现，原子的平均配位数的变化与1551，1441，1661键型的变化密切相关, 反映出体系对称性结构的变化规律与配位数的变化有关. 在可视化分析中，进一步采用中心原子法展现出非晶态与晶体结构的2D截面，及在3D下混合晶体中两个基本原子团分别为面心立方(fcc)与六角密集(hcp)基本原子团的具体结构. 关键词： Q-SC多体势 液态金属Cu 凝固过程 分子动力学模拟     

Molecular dynamics simulation of self-diffusion coefficients for liquid metals

The temperature-dependent coefficients of self-diffusion for liquid metals are simulated by molecular dynamics meth ods based on the embedded-atom-method （EAM） potential function. The simulated results show that a good inverse linear relation exists between the natural logarithm of self-diffusion coefficients and temperature, though the results in the litera ture vary somewhat, due to the employment of different potential functions. The estimated activation energy of liquid metals obtained by fitting the Arrhenius formula is close to the experimental data. The temperature-dependent shear-viscosities obtained from the Stokes-Einstein relation in conjunction with the results of molecular dynamics simulation are generally consistent with other values in the literature.     

Surface diffusion of Si,Ge and C adatoms on Si （001） substrate studied the molecular dynamics simulation

Depositions of Si, Ge and C atoms onto a preliminary Si (001) substrate at different temperatures are investigated by using the molecular dynamics method. The mechanism of atomic self-assembling occurring locally on the flat terraces between steps is suggested. Diffusion and arrangement patterns of adatoms at different temperatures are observed. At 900 K, the deposited atoms are more likely to form dimers in the perpendicular [110] direction due to the more favourable movement along the perpendicular [110] direction. C adatoms are more likely to break or reconstruct the dimers on the substrate surface and have larger diffusion distances than Ge and Si adatoms. Exchange between C adatoms and substrate atoms are obvious and the epitaxial thickness is small. Total potential energies of adatoms and substrate atoms involved in the simulation cell are computed. When a newly arrived adatom reaches the stable position, the potential energy of the system will decrease and the curves turns into a ladder-like shape. It is found that C adatoms can lead to more reduction of the system energy and the potential energy of the system will increase as temperature increases.     

Computer simulation of the structure of MZr2 liquid and amorphous alloys

In the present study, we compare the structure of NiZr₂ and CuZr₂ disordered (liquid and amorphous) alloys. While Cu and Ni have similar atomic radii, the formation heats of these alloys differ by more than a factor of two. Moreover, the most stable crystal phase in the CuZr₂ alloy has the C11b lattice while the most stable phase in the NiZr2 alloy has the C16 lattice. Comparing these two alloys allows us to directly explore how the chemistry and atomic size affect the disordered phase structure. We find that all differences in the structures of the disordered alloys are readily explained by the smaller Ni–Zr separation driven by the higher heat of mixing and the structure of the disordered alloys does not necessarily resemble the local packing structure of their crystalline counterparts. Comparison of the disordered alloys and their most stable crystal phase structures explains the better glass formability of the CuZr₂ alloy.     

High-temperature dynamic behavior in bulk liquid water: A molecular dynamics simulation study using the OPC and TIP4P-Ew potentials

Classical molecular dynamics simulations were performed to study the high-temperature (above 300 K) dynamic behavior of bulk water, specifically the behavior of the diffusion coefficient, hydrogen bond, and nearest-neighbor lifetimes. Two water potentials were compared: the recently proposed “globally optimal” point charge (OPC) model and the well-known TIP4P-Ew model. By considering the Arrhenius plots of the computed inverse diffusion coefficient and rotational relaxation constants, a crossover from Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann behavior to a linear trend with increasing temperature was detected at T* ≈ 309 and T* ≈ 285 K for the OPC and TIP4P-Ew models, respectively. Experimentally, the crossover point was previously observed at T* ± 315–5 K. We also verified that for the coefficient of thermal expansion α _P (T, P), the isobaric α _P (T) curves cross at about the same T* as in the experiment. The lifetimes of water hydrogen bonds and of the nearest neighbors were evaluated and were found to cross near T*, where the lifetimes are about 1 ps. For T < T*, hydrogen bonds persist longer than nearest neighbors, suggesting that the hydrogen bonding network dominates the water structure at T < T*, whereas for T > T*, water behaves more like a simple liquid. The fact that T* falls within the biologically relevant temperature range is a strong motivation for further analysis of the phenomenon and its possible consequences for biomolecular systems.     

First-principles equations of state for Al,Cu, Mo,and Pb to ultrahigh pressures

Abstract

Using accurate electronic-structure, interatomic-potential, and statistical methods, first-principles theoretical equations of state (EOSs) have been developed for the prototype metals Al, Cu, Mo, and Pb over wide ranges of volume and temperature. Emphasis is given to both the cold compressed solid, relevant to diamond-anvil-cell (DAC) experiments, and to the hot compressed liquid, relevant to multimegabar shock-wave experiments. The A1 EOS has recently been used to analyze nuclear-impedance-match (NIM) shock data on AI-Cu, AI-Mo, and A1-Pb sample pairs in the 5–30 Mbar regime [J. Appl. Phys. 69, 2981 (1991)]. Below 10 Mbar, calculated theoretical Hugoniots are in very good agreement with both absolute and NIM shock data for all four metals. Above 10 Mbar, some quantitative uncertainties remain, especially for Mo. Useful analytic representations of the calculated 300-K isotherms below 10 Mbar have also been developed for fcc Al, Cu, and Pb and for bcc Mo. The theoretical isotherms are in excellent agreement with a variety of ultrasonic, DAC, and reduced-shock data obtained in the assumed phases below 3 Mbar. At higher pressures complicating solid-solid phase transitions are expected and/or observed in Al, Mo, and Pb, but not in Cu, which is consequently a good candidate as a static ultrahigh-pressure EOS standard.     

Investigation on dislocation-based mechanisms of void growth and coalescence in single crystal and nanotwinned nickels by molecular dynamics simulation

Abstract

Molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to elucidate dislocation mechanisms of the void growth and coalescence in single crystal and nanotwinned nickels subjected to uniaxial tension. The simulation results reveal that twin boundary is capable of decreasing the critical stress, suppressing the emission of dislocations and reducing the overall stiffness of the crystal. A size-scale dependence of critical stress is definitely illustrated through stress–strain response, where the larger void size leads to the lower critical stress and strain. It is the successive emissions of leading partials and the subsequent trailing partials that cause the atoms on the void surfaces to escape from the void surfaces continually, and consequently the voids grow to be larger and larger with increasing strain. The voids in the nanotwinned nickel coalesce earlier than those in the single crystal nickel even though the initiation of dislocations in the former is later than that in the latter. Void fraction remains a constant during elastic deformation, while it presents a linear increase with increasing strain during plastic deformation. Evolution of void fraction during void growth and coalescence is independent on void size.     

冷速对液态金属Ga凝固过程中微观结构演变影响的模拟研究

采用分子动力学方法对液态金属Ga凝固过程中不同冷却速率对微观结构演变的影响进行了模拟跟踪研究. 运用HA键型指数法和原子成团类型指数法(CTIM)分析了金属原子Ga的成键类型和形成的基本原子团结构. 结果发现，冷却速率对凝固过程中的微观结构起着非常重要的作用. 在以1.0×10¹⁴，1.0×10¹³，1.0×10¹²K/s的速率冷却时，系统形成以与1311，1301键型相关的菱面体结构为主，夹杂着立方体、六角密集等其他团簇结构所构成的非晶态结构；在以1.0×10¹¹K/s的速率冷却时，系统明显发生结晶，其结晶转变温度T_c约为198K，且冷却速率越慢，结晶转变温度T_c越高，形成以与1421键型相关的斜方晶体(经可视化分析确认)为主要构型的晶态结构. 这将为研究液态金属的结晶转变过程提供一种新方法. 关键词： 液态金属Ga 凝固过程 微结构转变 分子动力学模拟     

Study of structural and magnetic properties of Fe_(80)P-_9B_(11) amorphous alloy by ab initio molecular dynamic simulation

The structural and magnetic properties of Fe_(80)P_9B_(11) amorphous alloy are investigated through ab initio molecular dynamic simulation. The structure evolution of Fe_(80)P_9B_(11) amorphous alloy can be described in the framework of topological fluctuation theory, and the fluctuation of atomic hydrostatic stress gradually decreases upon cooling. The left sub peak of the second peak of Fe–B partial pair distribution functions(PDFs) becomes pronounced below the glass transition temperature, which may be the major reason why B promotes the glass formation ability significantly. The magnetization mainly originates from Fe 3d states, while small contribution results from metalloid elements P and B. This work may be helpful for developing Fe-based metallic glasses with both high saturation flux density and glass formation ability.     

Phase transition and chemical decomposition of liquid carbon dioxide and nitrogen mixture under extreme conditions

Thermodynamic and chemical properties of liquid carbon dioxide and nitrogen(CO_(2~–)N_2) mixture under the conditions of extremely high densities and temperatures are studied by using quantum molecular dynamic(QMD) simulations based on density functional theory including dispersion corrections(DFT-D). We present equilibrium properties of liquid mixture for 112 separate density and temperature points, by selecting densities ranging from ρ = 1.80 g/cm~3 to 3.40 g/cm~3 and temperatures from T = 500 K to 8000 K. In the range of our study, the liquid CO_(2~–)N_2 mixture undergoes a continuous transition from molecular to atomic fluid state and liquid polymerization inferred from pair correlation functions(PCFs)and the distribution of various molecular components. The insulator–metal transition is demonstrated by means of the electronic density of states(DOS).     

Gaussian basis set of double zeta quality for atoms Rb through Xe: application in non-relativistic and relativistic calculations of atomic and molecular properties

The all-electron contracted Gaussian basis set of double zeta valence quality plus polarization functions (DZP) for the atoms from Rb to Xe is presented. The Douglas–Kroll–Hess (DKH) basis set for fourth-row elements is also reported. The original DZP basis set has been recontracted, i.e. the values of the contraction coefficients were re-optimized using the relativistic DKH Hamiltonian. This extends earlier works on segmented contracted DZ basis set for atoms H-Kr. These sets along with ab initio methods were used to calculate ionization energies of some atoms and spectroscopic constants of a sample of molecules and, then, comparison with results obtained with other basis sets was made. It was shown that experimental and benchmark bond lengths and harmonic vibrational frequencies can be reproduced satisfactorily with DZP-DKZ.