High-pressure phase transitions of TiN: an ab initio constant pressure study

An ab initio constant pressure molecular dynamics technique is carried out to explore the behaviour of rock salt-structured titanium nitride (TiN) under pressure. Two successive phase transformations are successfully observed in the dynamical simulations. The first one is an isostructural phase transition accompanied by an anomalous volume compression without any symmetry breaking. The second one is a reconstructive phase transformation into a CsCl-type structure. For the first time, the previously proposed two-phase transformations for TiN are confirmed through the simulations.     

Electronic,mechanical, phase transition,and thermo-physical properties of TMC (TM = V,Nb, and Ta): high pressure ab initio study

The structural, electronic, mechanical, phase transition, and thermo-physical properties of refractory carbides, viz. VC, NbC, and TaC have been computed in stable B1 and high pressure B2 phases by means of two different ab initio calculations using pseudo- and full-potential schemes. These materials have mixed covalent-, metallic-, and ionic-type bonding. The calculations of elastic constants show the mechanical stability of these materials in B1 phase only. The brittle nature and anisotropy is observed in these materials in B1 phase. Non-central forces are present in both the phases. Elastic wave velocities and Debye temperature have also been calculated. The present results on structural, phase transition, elastic, and other properties are in reasonably good agreement with the available experimental and theoretical data. The calculations in high pressure phase need experimental verification.     

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.     

Electronic and structural properties of N-vacancy in AlN nanowires: A first-principles study

The stability and electronic structures of AlN nanowires with and without N-vacancy are investigated using firstprinciples calculations.We find that there is an inverse correlation between formation energy and diameter in ideal AlN nanowires.After calculating the formation energies of N-vacancy at different sites in AlN nanowires with different diameters,we find that the N-vacancy prefers to stay at the surface of the nanowires and it is easier to fabricate them under Al-rich conditions.Through studying the electronic properties of AlN nanowires with N-vacancies,we further find that there are two isolated bands in the deep part of the band gap,one of them is fully occupied and the other is half occupied.The charge density indicates that the half-fully occupied band arises from the Al at the surface,and this atom becomes an active centre.     

First-principles study of phase transition and elastic properties of ScSb and YSb compounds

The phase transition of ScSb and YSb from the NaCl-type (B1) structure to the CsCl-type (B2) structure is investigated by the ab initio plane-wave pseudopotential density functional theory method. It is found that the pressures for transition from the B1 structure to the B2 structure obtained from the equal enthalpies are 38.3 and 32.1 GPa for ScSb and YSb, respectively. From the variations of elastic constants with pressure, we find that the B1 phase of ScSb and YSb compounds are unstable when applied pressures are larger than 46.3 and 64.2 GPa, respectively. Moreover, the detailed volume changes during phase transition are analyzed.     

第一性原理研究硫化镉高压相变及其电子结构与弹性性质

采用第一性原理研究了CdS的六方纤锌矿(WZ), 立方闪锌矿(ZB) 和岩盐矿(RS)相在高压条件下的相稳定性、 相变点、电子结构以及弹性性能.WZ相与RS 相可以在相应的压强范围内稳定存在, 而ZB相不能稳定存在.压强大于2.18 GPa时, WZ相向RS相发生金属化相变.WZ相中S原子电负性大于Cd, 且电负性差值小于1.7, CdS的WZ相为共价晶体.高压作用下, S原子半径被强烈压缩, 有效核电荷增加, 对层外电子吸引能力提高, 电负性急剧增大, 导致S与Cd的电负性差值大于1.7, CdS的RS相以离子晶体存在. WZ相的C₄₄随压强增加呈下降趋势, 导致WZ相力学不稳定, 并向RS相转变.当压强大于2.18 GPa时, RS相C₁₁, C₁₂随压强增加而增大, 并且C₄₄保持稳定, 说明RS相具有良好的高压稳定性与力学性能. 关键词： 第一性原理 相变 电子结构 弹性性质     

ZnS结构相变、电子结构和光学性质的研究

运用第一性原理平面波赝势和广义梯度近似方法, 对闪锌矿结构(ZB)和氯化钠结构(RS) ZnS的状态方程及其在高压下的相变进行计算研究, 分析相变点附近的电子态密度、能带结构和光学性质的变化机理. 结果表明: 通过状态方程得到ZB相到RS相的相变压强值为18.1 GPa, 而利用焓相等原理得到的相变压强值为18.0 GPa; 在结构相变过程中, sp³轨道杂化现象并未消失, RS相ZnS的金属性明显增强; 与ZB相ZnS相比, RS相ZnS的介电常数主峰明显增强, 并向低能方向出现了明显偏移, 使得介电峰向低能方向拓展, 在低能区电子跃迁大大增强. 关键词： 硫化锌 相变 电子结构 光学性质     

镍掺杂硅纳米线电子结构和光学性质的第一性原理研究

利用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理计算,对镍掺杂硅纳米线的结构稳定性、电子与光学性质进行了研究.结果表明:Ni容易占据硅纳米线表面的替代位置.镍掺杂后的硅纳米线引入了杂质能级,杂质能级主要来源于Ni的3d电子的贡献.由于Ni的3d态和Si的3p态的耦合作用,使禁带宽度变窄.掺杂后的硅纳米线在低能区出现了一个较强的吸收峰,且吸收带出现宽化现象. 关键词： 硅纳米线 掺杂 电子结构 光学性质     

First-principles study of the electronic and optical properties of ZnO nanowires

The geometric, energetic, electronic structures and optical properties of ZnO nanowires (NWs) with hexagonal cross sections are investigated by using the first-principles calculation of plane wave ultra-soft pseudo-potential technology based on the density functional theory (DFT). The calculated results reveal that the initial Zn-O double layers merge into single layers after structural relaxations, the band gap and binding energies decrease with the increase of the ZnO nanowire size. Those properties show great dimension and size dependence. It is also found that the dielectric functions of ZnO NWs have different peaks with respect to light polarization, and the peaks of ZnO NWs exhibit a significant blueshift in comparison with those of bulk ZnO. Our results gives some reference to the thorough understanding of optical properties of ZnO, and also enables more precise monitoring and controlling during the growth of ZnO materials to be possible.     

C与Na掺杂AlN电子结构与光学性质的第一性原理研究

基于密度泛函理论(DFT)的平面波超软赝势法,计算了本征AlN,C-AlN,Na-AlN以及C-Na-AlN四种体系的电子结构和光学性质.得出结论：掺杂后各体系与本征AlN相比发生了晶格畸变,C-Na-AlN体系的结合能最小,体系最稳定.掺杂体系相比于本征AlN,禁带宽度都有不同程度的减小,导致电子在体系内跃迁时的概率增大,其中C-Na-AlN体系尤为明显,电子跃迁所需要的能量更小.掺杂后吸收带边发生了红移,拓宽了AlN体系对光的响应范围,增强了光吸收,并且C-Na-AlN体系在可见光区域内光吸收能力最强,在介电函数图的分析中可以得到,C-Na-AlN体系的介电常数最大,表明其电荷束缚能力最强,体系稳定性强,极化能力最好.     

Pressure-induced phase transition and structural properties of CrO2

The structural properties and pressure-induced phase transitions of CrO₂ have been investigated using the pseudopotential plane-wave method based on the density functional theory (DFT). The rutile-type (P4₂/mnm), CaCl₂-type (Pnnm), pyrite-type (Pā3), and CaF₂-type (Fm-3m) phases of CrO₂ have been considered. The structural properties such as lattice parameters, bulk moduli and its pressure derivative are consistent with the available experimental data. The second-order phase-transition pressure of CrO₂ from the rutile phase to CaCl₂ phase is 10.9?GPa, which is in good agreement with the experimental result. The sequence of these phases is rutile-type?→?CaCl₂-type?→?pyrite-type?→?CaF₂-type with the phase-transition pressures 10.9, 23.9, and 144.5?GPa, respectively. The equation of state of different phases has also been presented. It is more difficult to compress with the increase of pressure for different phases of CrO₂.     

Pressure-induced phase transition in wurtzite ZnS: An ab initio constant pressure study

We study the pressure-induced phase transition of wurtzite ZnS using a constant pressure ab initio technique. A first-order phase transition into a rocksalt state at 30–35 GPa is observed in the constant pressure simulation. We also investigate the stability of wurtzite (WZ) and zinc-blende (ZB) phases from energy–volume calculations and Gibbs free energies at zero temperature and find that both structures show nearly similar equations of state and transform into a rocksalt structure around 14 GPa, in agreement with experiments. Additionally, we examine the influence of pressure on the electronic structure of the wurtzite and zinc-blende ZnS crystals and find that their band gap energies exhibit similar tendency and increase with increasing pressure. The calculated pressure coefficients and deformation potential are found to be comparable with experiments.     

The high-pressure structural transition in MnS: an ab initio study

The structural phase transition between B1 (α-MnS) and B3 (β-MnS) is investigated using a density functional theory method. The structural phase transition pressure Pt from α-MnS to β-MnS, which is determined on the basis of the third-order Birch–Murnaghan equation of states, is 30.75?GPa. Also, the lattice parameters a, the bulk modulus B and pressure derivative of bulk modulus B′, which are generally in good agreement with experiments and other theoretical values, are obtained under zero pressure. For further investigation of the structural phase transition pressure of MnS, the relative volumes V/V ₀, the bulk modulus B, first and second pressure derivatives (B′ and B″) of bulk modulus for the two structures of MnS have been calculated under various pressures.     

相变及空位缺陷对AlN在高压下光学性质的影响

采用基于密度泛函理论(DFT)的第一性原理方法, 计算了AlN理想晶体和含铝、氮空位点缺陷晶体在100 GPa压力范围内的光学性质. 波长在532 nm处的折射率计算结果表明：AlN从纤锌矿结构相转变为岩盐矿结构相将导致其折射率增加; 铝空位缺陷将引起AlN岩盐矿结构相的折射率增大, 而氮空位缺陷却导致其折射率降低. 能量损失谱计算数据指明：结构相变使得AlN能量损失谱蓝移、主峰峰值强度增强;铝和氮空位缺陷将导致AlN岩盐矿结构相的能量损失谱主峰进一步蓝移、峰值强度再次增强. 计算预测的结果将为进一步的实验探究提供理论参考.     

Raman spectroscopic study of oxidation and phase transition in W18O49 nanowires

W₁₈O₄₉ nanowires were synthesized by a high‐temperature physical evaporation technique. The structure, morphology, and composition of the nanowires were characterized by SEM, EMPA, XRD, XPS, and HRTEM techniques. The intrinsic Raman spectrum of W₁₈O₄₉ nanowires was obtained, and the effect of laser power on the change of their structure was also studied. W₁₈O₄₉ nanowires were first oxidized to tungsten trioxide nanowires under irradiation of a certain laser power, and then the tungsten trioxide nanowires underwent a phase transition from monoclinic to orthorhombic with increasing laser power; this phase transition was reversible on turning down the laser power. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Phase stability,mechanical and thermodynamic properties of orthorhombic and trigonal MgSiN2: an ab initio study

Structural stability and mechanical and thermodynamic properties of the orthorhombic and trigonal MgSiN₂ polymorphs (or-MgSiN₂ and tr-MgSiN₂) were investigated through density functional theory and quasi-harmonic Debye model (QHDM). Our calculations show that or-MgSiN₂ is energetically the stable polymorph at low pressure, in agreement with previous experimental and theoretical study. Under pressure, a crystallographic transition from the orthorhombic structure to the trigonal one occurs around 25, 17.45 and 19.05 GPa as obtained from the generalized gradient approximation of Perdew-Wang (GGA-PW91), the generalized gradient approximation parameterized recently by Perdew et al (GGA-PBEsol) and the local density approximation developed by Ceperley and Alder and parameterized by Perdew and Zunger (LDA-CAPZ), respectively. Single-crystalline and polycrystalline elastic constants and related properties, namely Vickers hardness, acoustic Grüneisen parameter, minimum thermal conductivity, isotropic sound velocities and Debye temperature, were numerically estimated for both or-MgSiN₂ and tr-MgSiN₂. We have showed that the hardness of tr-MgSiN₂ is comparable to that of the harder materials like c-BN and B₆O. Temperature and pressure dependencies of volume, bulk modulus, thermal expansion, Grüneisen parameter, heat capacities and Debye temperature were investigated using QHDM.     

ZnTe结构相变、电子结构和光学性质的研究

运用密度泛函理论体系下的投影缀加波方法, 对闪锌矿和朱砂相结构的ZnTe在高压下的状态方程和结构相变进行了研究, 并分析了相变前后的原胞体积、电子结构和光学性质. 结果表明: 闪锌矿结构转变为朱砂相结构的相变压力为8.6 GPa, 并没有出现类似材料高压导致的金属化现象, 而是表现出间接带隙半导体特性. 相变后, 朱砂相结构Zn和Te原子态密度分布均向低能级方向移动, 带隙变小; 轨道杂化增强, 更有利于Te 5p与Zn 3d间的电子跃迁, 介电常数虚部主峰明显增强, 但宏观介电常数不受压力的影响.     

Phase transition,elastic and electronic properties of topological insulator Sb_2Te_3 under pressure: First principle study

The phase transition, elastic and electronic properties of three phases(phase Ⅰ,Ⅱ, and Ⅲ) of Sb_2Te_3 are investigated by using the generalized gradient approximation(GGA) with the PBESOL exchange–correlation functional in the framework of density-functional theory. Some basic physical parameters, such as lattice constants, bulk modulus, shear modulus,Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, acoustic velocity, and Debye temperature Θ are calculated. The obtained lattice parameters under various pressures are consistent with experimental data. Phase transition pressures are 9.4 GPa(Ⅰ→Ⅱ) and 14.1 GPa(Ⅱ→Ⅲ), which are in agreement with the experimental results. According to calculated elastic constants, we also discuss the ductile or brittle characters and elastic anisotropies of three phases. Phases Ⅰ and Ⅲ are brittle, while phaseⅡ is ductile. Of the three phases, phaseⅡ has the most serious degree of elastic anisotropy and phase Ⅲ has the slightest one.Finally, we investigate the partial densities of states(PDOSs) of three phases and find that the three phases possess some covalent features.