First-principles calculations of structural, elastic, electronic and optical properties of the antiperovskite AsNMg3

The density functional theory (DFT) calculations of structural, elastic, electronic and optical properties of the cubic antiperovskite AsNMg₃ has been reported using the pseudo-potential plane wave method (PP-PW) within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The equilibrium lattice, bulk modulus and its pressure derivative have been determined. The elastic constants and their pressure dependence are calculated using the static finite strain technique. We derived the bulk and shear moduli, Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio for ideal polycrystalline AsNMg₃ aggregate. We estimated the Debye temperature of AsNMg₃ from the average sound velocity. This is the first quantitative theoretical prediction of the elastic properties of AsNMg₃ compound, and it still awaits experimental confirmation. Band structure, density of states and pressure coefficients of energy gaps are also given. The fundamental band gap (Γ-Γ) initially increases up to 4 GPa and then decreases as a function of pressure. Furthermore, the dielectric function, optical reflectivity, refractive index, extinction coefficient, and electron energy loss are calculated for radiation up to 30 eV. The all results are compared with the available theoretical and experimental data.     

First-principles study of structural,elastic, electronic and optical properties of RDX under pressure

ABSTRACT

The influences of pressure on structural, elastic, electronic and optical properties of α-RDX under pressure from 0 to 40?GPa have been investigated by performing first-principles calculations. The obtained structural parameters based on the GGA-PBE+G calculations are consistent with previous experimental values. The results of B/G, C₁₂-C₄₄ and Poisson's ratio show that α-RDX has changed to ductility under pressure between 0 and 5?GPa. The obvious rotation of NO₂ group in the equatorial position appears, especially in the range of pressure from 10 to 15?GPa, which influences the elastic and mechanical properties of α-RDX. Moreover, we find that the electrons of α-RDX become more active under higher pressure by comparing the curves of DOS under different pressure. Furthermore, the anisotropy of optical properties under different pressures has been shown.     

First-principles study of the structural, elastic, electronic and optical properties of the monoclinic BiScO3

The structural, elastic, electronic and optical properties of the monoclinic BiScO₃ are investigated in the framework of the density functional theory. The calculated structural parameters are in agreement with the experimental values. Moreover, the structural stability of BiScO₃ system has been confirmed by the calculated elastic constants. The band structure, density of states, charge transfers and bond populations are also given. The results indicate that BiScO₃ has a direct band gap of 3.36 eV between the occupied O 2p states and unoccupied Bi 6p states, and its bonding behavior is a combination of covalent and ionic nature. Finally, the absorption spectrum, refractive index, extinction coefficient, reflectivity, energy-loss function and dielectric function of the monoclinic BiScO₃ are calculated. In addition, the variation of the static dielectric constants ε₁(0) as a function of pressure for BiScO₃ is also discussed.     

First-principles study of structural, elastic, electronic, and optical properties of hexagonal BiAlO3

The structural parameters, elastic, electronic, and optical properties of hexagonal BiAlO₃ were investigated by the density functional theory. The calculated structural parameters are in good agreement with previous calculation and experimental data. The structural stability of BiAlO₃ has been confirmed by calculation of the elastic constants. The energy band structure, density of states, and Mulliken charge populations were obtained. BiAlO₃ presents an indirect band gap of 3.28 eV. Furthermore, the optical properties were calculated and analyzed. It is shown that BiAlO₃ is a promising dielectric material.     

First-principles study of structural,electronic, and optical properties of ZnSnO3

The structural, electronic, and optical properties of ZnSnO₃ were investigated using density functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation. The structure parameters obtained agree well with the experimental results. The electronic structures indicate that ZnSnO₃ is a semiconductor with a direct band gap of 1.0 eV. The calculated optical spectra can be assigned to contributions of the interband transitions from valence band O 2p levels to conduction band Sn 5s levels or higher conduction band Zn 3d levels in the low-energy region, and from O 2p to Sn 5p or Zn 4p conduction band in the high-energy region.     

First principles study of structural, elastic, electronic and optical properties of the cubic perovskite BaHfO3

First principles study of structural, elastic, electronic and optical properties of the cubic perovskite-type BaHfO₃ has been reported using the pseudo-potential plane wave method within the local density approximation. The calculated equilibrium lattice is in a reasonable agreement with the available experimental data. The elastic constants and their pressure dependence are calculated using the static finite strain technique. A linear pressure dependence of the elastic stiffnesses is found. Band structures show that BaHfO₃ is a direct band gap between the occupied O 2p and unoccupied Hf d states. The variation of the gap versus pressure is well fitted to a quadratic function. Furthermore, in order to understand the optical properties of BaHfO₃, the dielectric function, absorption coefficient, optical reflectivity, refractive index, extinction coefficient, and electron energy loss are calculated for radiation up to 30 eV. We have found that O 2p states and Hf 5d states play a major role in the optical transitions as initial and final states, respectively. This is the first quantitative theoretical prediction of the elastic, electronic and optical properties of BaHfO₃ compound, and it still awaits experimental confirmation.     

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。     

立方KCaF_3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KCaF_3的弹性、电子和光学性质.基态时,KCaF_3平衡晶格常数、体积弹性模量和实验及其他计算值一致.根据Hooke定律和Christoffel方程,研究了KCaF_3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KCaF_3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KCaF_3为直接带隙绝缘体材料,其禁带宽度为6.22 e V;电荷主要从Ca和K原子向F原子转移;立方钙钛矿KCaF_3属于纯粹的共价型化合物.同时,本文还计算研究了KCaF_3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.     

First-principles study of structural,electronic and optical properties of orthorhombic SrZrO3

We have investigated the structural parameters, electronic structure and optical properties of orthorhombic SrZrO₃ using the plane-wave ultrasoft pseudopotential technique based on the first-principles density-functional theory (DFT). Our calculated structural parameters are in good agreement with the previous theoretical and experimental data. Band structure, density of states and chemical bonding have been systematically studied. Furthermore, the complex dielectric function, refractive index, extinction coefficient, optical reflectivity, absorption coefficient, loss function and optical conductivity are calculated, which show an optical anisotropy in the components of polarization directions (100), (010) and (001).     

BaHfO3纳米薄膜电子结构、光学和弹性性质的第一性原理研究

采用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理方法,在局域密度近似（LDA）下研究了厚度为0.626～2.711nm (100)面BaHfO3薄膜的电子结构、光学和弹性性质．电子结构和光学性质计算结果表明：以BaO为表面层原子的BaHfO3纳米薄膜均为直接带隙半导体材料,带隙随薄膜厚度减小而逐渐减小,表现出明显的量子尺寸效应,此时薄膜的光学吸收边发生红移,吸收带出现窄化现象．以HfO2作为表面层原子的BaHfO3薄膜则属于间接带隙半导体材料,且带隙随薄膜厚度减小而微弱增加．弹性性质计算结果表明：体弹模量、剪切模量和杨氏模量等表征材料硬度的力学参数均随BaHfO3纳米薄膜厚度减小而显著减小,呈现尺寸效应．电荷密度分布分析揭示了薄膜厚度改变了BaHfO3纳米薄膜的价健特性,这是材料硬度改变的内在原因．该研究结果为BaHfO3纳米薄膜材料的设计与应用提供了理论依据．     

A first-principles study on the structural,elastic and electronic properties of AlCSc3 and AlNSc3

We present an ab initio study of the structural, elastic and electronic properties of the antiperovskite compounds AlCSc₃ and AlNSc₃. The calculated lattice parameters and equilibrium volumes are in good agreement with the available experimental data. Single-crystal elastic constants were calculated and the polycrystalline elastic moduli were estimated according to Voigt, Reuss and Hill’s approximations. The band structure shows a metallic character of both compounds; strong hybridization between Sc d–C p (or N p) and Sc d–Al p states was observed from the partial density of states. A significant charge transfer from Al to C (or N) atoms was observed. Moreover, these compounds are bonded by a mixture of ionic–covalent bonding.     

Structural,elastic and electronic properties of ACTi3 (A=Al,In and Tl) antiperovskite

First principle calculations were performed to investigate the structural, elastic and electronic properties of unexplored antiperovskite ACTi₃, with A=Al, In and Tl. The calculated structural parameters were found to be in good agreement with the available experimental data, with deviations being less than 2.7%. The bulk modulus was found to be equal to 155 GPa for AlCTi₃ and to a value 5% lower, 147 GPa, for TlCTi₃. For values of applied pressures up to 40 GPa, elastic moduli were calculated and the mechanical stability criteria were verified. The band structure of these compounds has been found to display a metallic character, with strong ionic–covalent bonds between Ti and C atoms, and ionic bonds along A and Ti atoms. The overlap population analysis showed that the stiffness decreases with an increase in the antibonding state between Ti and A atoms.     

First-principles study of the structural, elastic, electronic, optical, and vibrational properties of intermetallic Pd2Ga

The structural,elastic,electronic,optical,and vibrational properties of the orthorhombic Pd2Ga compound are investigated using the norm-conserving pseudopotentials within the local density approximation in the frame of density functional theory.The calculated lattice parameters have been compared with the experimental values and found to be in good agreement with these results.The second-order elastic constants and the other relevant quantities,such as the Young’s modulus,shear modulus,Poisson’s ratio,anisotropy factor,sound velocity,and Debye temperature,have been calculated.It is shown that this compound is mechanically stable after analysing the calculated elastic constants.Furthermore,the real and imaginary parts of the dielectric function and the optical constants,such as the optical dielectric constant and the effective number of electrons per unit cell,are calculated and presented.The phonon dispersion curves are derived using the direct method.The present results demonstrate that this compound is dynamically stable.     

立方钙钛矿RbZnF3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方法研究了立方钙钛矿RbZnF3的电子结构和光学性质;利用静水有限应变技术计算研究了RbZnF3弹性常数Cij、体积弹性模量B和剪切模量G随压力的变化关系。基态下,RbZnF3晶格常数a和体积弹性模量B0计算值与实验值以及其他理论值一致。根据能带结构、总态密度以及分波态密度分析可知：基态下立方钙钛矿结构RbZnF3为间接带隙半导体材料,带隙为3.57eV,与其他计算结果比较,本文计算结果偏低,这是由于局域密度近似(LAD)或广义梯度近似(GGA)交换关联函数的局限性所致。基态下RbZnF3的Mulliken电荷分布和集居数说明：RbZnF3属于共价键和离子键所形成的混合键化合物;RbZnF3的电荷总数主要来源于Rb 4s和4p轨道,Zn 3d轨道,以及F 2s和2p轨道。电荷主要从Rb, Zn原子向F原子转移。同时,本文还计算研究了RbZnF3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。     

First principles study of structural,elastic and electronic structural properties of strontium chalcogenides

Structural, elastic and electronic properties of strontium chalcogenides SrX (X = O, S and Se) in the B1 (NaCl) and B2 (CsCl) phases were investigated in the present work. The calculations were performed using density functional theory (DFT) within generalized gradient approximation (GGA) using scalar relativistic Vanderbilt-type ultrasoft pseudopotentials. Results for structural properties of both phases, the pressure at which transition from B1 to B2 phase occurs and the volume compression ratio for each compound were reported. Elastic properties of the B1 phase of these compounds, such as elastic constants C₁₁, C₁₂, and C₄₄, shear modulus (G), Young's modulus (E), Poisson's ratio (σ), Kleinman parameter (ξ), and anisotropy factor (A) were also calculated at ambient conditions. The band gaps and density of states were studied too for the B1 structure of these compounds. The present results were compared with the available experimental and other theoretical results, and found to be in satisfactory agreement with them.     

An ab initio study of the structural,elastic, electronic and optical properties of the newly synthesized nitridoaluminate LiCaAlN2

The structural parameters, elastic constants, electronic structure and optical properties of the recently reported monoclinic quaternary nitridoaluminate LiCaAlN₂ are investigated in detail using the ab initio plane-wave pseudopotential method within the generalized gradient approximation. The calculated equilibrium structural parameters are in excellent agreement with the experimental data, which validate the reliability of the applied theoretical method. The chemical and structural stabilities of LiCaAlN₂ are confirmed by calculating the cohesion energy and enthalpy of formation. Chemical band stiffness is calculated to explain the pressure dependence of the lattice parameters. Through the band structure calculation, LiCaAlN₂ is predicted to be an indirect band gap of 2.725 eV. The charge-carrier effective masses are estimated from the band structure dispersions. The frequency-dependent dielectric function, absorption coefficient, refractive index, extinction coefficient, reflectivity coefficient and electron energy loss function spectra are calculated for polarized incident light in a wide energy range. Optical spectra exhibit a noticeable anisotropy. Single-crystal and polycrystalline elastic constants and related properties, including isotropic sound velocities and Debye temperatures, are numerically estimated. The calculated elastic constants and elastic compliances are used to analyse and visualize the elastic anisotropy of LiCaAlN₂. The calculated elastic constants demonstrate the mechanical stability and brittle behaviour of the considered material.     

First-principles calculations on structural, elastic, electronic, optical and thermal properties of CsPbCl3 perovskite

The structural, elastic, electronic, optical and thermal properties of the semiconductor perovskite CsPbCl₃ were investigated using the pseudo-potential plane wave (PP-PW) scheme in the frame of generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and local density approximation (LDA). The computed lattice constant agrees reasonably with experimental and theoretical ones. The CsPbCl₃ crystal behaves as ductile material. The valence bands are separated from the conduction bands by a direct band gap R-R. We distinguished hybridization between Pb-p states and Cl-p states in the valence bonding region. Under compression at P=30 GPa, this material will have a metallic character. The thermal effect on the lattice constant, bulk modulus, Debye temperature and heat capacity C_V was predicted using the quasi-harmonic Debye model. To the author's knowledge, most of the studied properties are reported for the first time.