Atomic and electronic structures of Mg-doped perfect SrTiO3 and crystals containing oxygen vacancies from first principles

The electronic properties of Mg-doped perfect SrTiO₃ and crystals containing oxygen vacancies systems are investigated by first principles calculation. Dopant formation energy results show that the Mg atoms preferentially enter the Sr site in SrTiO₃. Substitution of Ti by Mg brings some acceptor levels, which introduces the p-type conductivity of SrTiO₃. Creation of oxygen vacancies in SrTiO₃ introduces donor levels, which can contribute to the n-type conductivity. In SrTiO₃ containing oxygen vacancies system, a self-compensation effect will occur when Ti is substituted by Mg, and the system undergoes n-type to p-type transition.     

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.     

Electronic structure and optical properties of rutile RuO2 from first principles

The systematic trends of electrionic structure and optical properties of rutile (P42 /mnm) RuO2 have been calculated by using the plane-wave norm-conserving pseudopotential density functional theory (DFT) method within the generalised gradient approximation (GGA) for the exchange-correlation potential.The obtained equilibrium structure parameters are in excellent agreement with the experimental data.The calculated bulk modulus and elastic constants are also in good agreement with the experimental data and available theoretical calculations.Analysis based on electronic structure and pseudogap reveals that the bonding nature in RuO2 is a combination of covalent,ionic and metallic bonds.Based on a Kramers-Kronig analysis of the reflectivity,we have obtained the spectral dependence of the real and imaginary parts of the complex dielectric constant (ε1 and ε2,respectively) and the refractive index (n);and comparisons have shown that the theoretical results agree well with the experimental data as well.Meanwhile,we have also calculated the absorption coefficient,reflectivity index,electron energy loss function of RuO2 for radiation up to 30 eV.As a result,the predicted reflectivity index is in good agreement with the experimental data at low energies.     

Phase transition and thermodynamic properties of BiFeO3 from first-principles calculations

The first-principles projector-augmented wave method employing the quasi-harmonic Debye model,is applied to investigate the thermodynamic properties and the phase transition between the trigonal R3c structure and the orthorhombic Pnma structure.It is found that at ambient temperature,the phase transition from the trigonal R3c phase to the orthorhombic Pnma phase is a first-order antiferromagnetic-nonmagnetic and insulator-metal transition,and occurs at 10.56 GPa,which is in good agreement with experimental data.With increasing temperature,the transition pressure decreases almost linearly.Moreover,the thermodynamic properties including Grneisen parameter,heat capacity,entropy,and the dependences of thermal expansion coefficient on temperature and pressure are also obtained.     

MgO-decorated carbon nanotubes for CO2 adsorption: first principles calculations

The global greenhouse effect makes it urgent to deal with the increasing greenhouse gases.In this paper the performance of MgO-decorated carbon nanotubes for CO 2 adsorption is investigated through first principles calculations.The results show that the MgO-decorated carbon nanotubes can adsorb CO 2 well and are relatively insensitive to O 2 and N 2 at the same time.The binding energy arrives at 1.18 eV for the single-MgO-decorated carbon nanotube adsorbing one CO 2 molecule,while the corresponding values for O 2 and N 2 are 0.55 eV and 0.06 eV,respectively.In addition,multi-molecule adsorption is also proved to be very satisfactory.These results indicate that MgO-decorated carbon nanotubes have great potential applications in industrial and environmental processes.     

Structural and electronic properties of cubic SrHfO3 surface: First-principles calculations

Structural, electronic and chemical bonding properties of the (0 0 1) surface of cubic SrHfO₃ have been investigated with both SrO and HfO₂ termination using the plane-wave ultrasoft pseudopotential technique based on the first-principles density-functional theory. The relaxed structures of two slabs have been analyzed, which shows the interplanar distance of two slabs has the same changed trend. The electronic band structures and density of states of two slabs have been discussed, showing the reduced band gaps by comparison with those of bulk system. The chemical bonding between Sr and O between the surface layer and subsurface layer as well as Hf and O has been increased. The surface energy, work function and stability have been calculated, which indicates SrO-terminated slab is more stable.     

Ab initio study of phase stability,thermodynamic and elastic properties of C3N2 derived from cubic C20

In this work, we report a quite different conclusion from Tian et al. [Phys. Rev. B 78 (2008) 235431]. It is proved that β-C₃N₂ is the only phase under high pressure, and α-C₃N₂ does not exist. β-C₃N₂ is a covalent crystal composed of strong CC and CN covalent bonds. Band gap of β-C₃N₂ increases with pressure. The width of antibonding state, shown in partial density of states (PDOS), keeps about 5 eV with rising pressures, which brings stable CN or CC covalent bonds. At sufficiently low temperatures, heat capacity (C_v) is proportional to T³; and at intermediate temperatures, C_v is governed by the details of vibrations of the atoms; finally, C_v reaches to β-C₃N₂'s Dulong–Pettit limit (about 120 J/mol K). Though thermal expansion coefficient (α) increases with temperature, α is less than 1×10⁻⁵ K⁻¹. Elastic constants rise with pressure, but shear moduli is quite steady which increases just a little with pressures.     

Structural, electronic and thermodynamic properties of cubic Zn3N2 under high pressure from first-principles calculations

The structural, electronic and thermodynamic properties of cubic Zn₃N₂ under hydrostatic pressure up to 80 GPa are investigated using the local density approximation method with pseudopotentials of the ab initio norm-conserving full separable Troullier-Martin scheme in the frame of density functional theory. The structural parameters obtained at ambient pressure are in agreement with experimental data and other theoretical results. The change of bond lengths of two different types of Zn-N bond with pressure suggests that the tetrahedral Zn-N bond is slightly less compressible than the octahedral bond. By fitting the calculated band gap, the first and second order pressure coefficients for the direct band gap ofthe Zn₃N₂ were determined to be 1.18×10⁻² eV/GPa and −2.4×10⁻⁴ eV/(GPa)², respectively. Based on the Mulliken population analysis, Zn₃N₂ was found to have a higher covalent character with increasing pressure. As temperature increases, heat capacity, enthalpy, product of temperature and entropy increase, whereas the Debye temperature and free energy decrease. The present study leads to a better understanding of how Zn₃N₂ materials respond to compression.     

0.5NdAlO3-0.5CaTiO3电子结构及光学性质的第一性原理计算

采用基于第一性原理密度泛函理论的平面波赝势方法,对0.5NdAlO₃-0.5CaTiO₃晶体进行结构优化,并对其能带结构,态密度和光学性质进行了理论计算.结构优化后晶格参数与实验数据相符合,误差小于1%;能带计算结果表明0.5NdAlO₃-0.5CaTiO₃为间接带隙,带隙值为0.52eV;费米面附近的能带由Nd-4f,O-2p,Nd-4p,Al-3p,Ti-4d层的电子态密度确定.同时也计算了该结构的介电函数,反射率和复折射率等光学性质.     

Structural, electronic, magnetic and elastic properties of tetragonal layered diselenide KCo2Se2 from first principles calculations

The structural, elastic, magnetic and electronic properties of the layered tetragonal phase KCo₂Se₂ have been examined in details by means of the first-principles calculations and analyzed in comparison with the isostructural KFe₂Se₂ as the parent phase for the newest group of ternary superconducting iron-chalcogenide materials. Our data show that KCo₂Se₂ should be characterized as a quasi-two-dimensional ferromagnetic metal with highly anisotropic inter-atomic bonding owing to mixed ionic, covalent, and metallic contributions inside [Co₂Se₂] blocks, and with ionic bonding between the adjacent [Co₂Se₂] blocks and K sheets. This material should behave in a brittle manner, adopt enhanced elastic anisotropy rather in compressibility than in shear, and should show very low hardness.     

Nanoscale ab-initio calculations of optical and electronic properties of LaCrO3 in cubic and rhombohedral phases

We report nanoscale ab-initio calculations of the linear optical and electronic properties of LaCrO₃ in nonmagnetic cubic and rhombohedral phases using the full potential linear augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method. In this work the generalized gradient approximation is used for exchange-correlation potential. The dielectric tensor is derived within random-phase approximation. We present results for the band structure, density of states, imaginary and real parts of dielectric tensor, electron energy loss spectroscopy, sum rules, reflectivity, refractive index and extinction coefficient. The regions of transparent, absorption and reflection are discussed. We are not aware of any published experimental or theoretical data for these phases, so our calculations can be used to cover this lack of data for these phases.     

A comparative study of electronic structure and magnetic properties of SrCrO3 and SrMoO3

A comparative study of electronic structure and magnetic properties of SrCrO₃ and SrMoO₃ has been carried out using FPLAPW method with density-functional theory. The calculated results suggest that both compounds are nonmagnetic (NM) metal in cubic structures at room temperature, and they exhibit very similar band structure and electronic properties except more extend Mo 4d orbitals than Cr 3d electronic states. However, the electronic structure and magnetic properties exhibit remarkable differences between them in the low temperature phases. SrCrO₃ is with a C-AFM ground state with magnetic moment of 1.18μ_B/Cr in the tetragonal structure, while SrMoO₃ is with a NM ground state in the orthorhombic structure. It is assumed that the extend 4d orbitals may be the reason which results in NM solution at low temperature phase of SrMoO₃.     

Mn掺杂LiFePO4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, 计算了不同Mn掺杂浓度LiFe_1-xMn_xPO₄ (x=0,0.25,0.50,0.75) 的电子结构. 同时采用流变相辅助高温固相碳热还原法制备了LiFe_1-xMn_xPO₄ (x= 0,0.25,0.50,0.75) 材料. 理论计算表明: LiFePO₄具有E_g = 0.725 eV的带隙宽度, 为半导体材料. 通过Fe位掺杂25%的Mn离子可最大程度地 减小材料带隙宽度、降低Fe---O键及Li---O键键能, 进而提高材料的电子电导率及锂离子扩散速率. 实验结果亦表明, 当Mn掺杂量x=0.25时, 材料具有最优的电化学性能, 其具有约为158 mAh· g^-1的放电比容量以及551 Wh· kg^-1的能量密度. 理论计算与实验结果非常符合.     

First-principle calculations on optical properties of C-N-doped and C-N-codoped anatase TiO2

The electronic structures, dipole moment and optical properties of C-N-doped and C-N-codoped anatase titanium dioxide (TiO₂) are studied using the plane-wave ultrasoft pseudopotential method of density functional theory (DFT). The results revealed that the absorption coefficients of pure TiO₂ and N-doped TiO₂ are consistent with experimental values in the visible-light region. The bands originating from C/N-2p states lie in the band gap of doped TiO₂. A visible-light absorption edge red-shift can be observed. The atomic charges have changed, resulting in devation of the center of gravity of the negative electric charge from the positive electric charge in the super-cell, and their dipole moment would not be zero. The dipole moment has large influence on the optical responses in the visible region of TiO₂. Because of the small distance (0.531 nm) between C and N atoms, the covalent bond component was easily enhanced between C atom and adjacent O atom, the covalent bonds making it more difficult for the carrier transfer. Moreover, its optical absorption coefficient is going to reduce in the visible-light region. Under the condition of the larger distance (0.691 nm) between C and N atoms, their interaction can be reduced, which is beneficial to electrons transition; as a result, a significant improvement of the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ has been found under the visible-light irradiation.     

Atomic, electronic and thermodynamic properties of cubic and orthorhombic LaMnO3 surfaces

We studied in detail the atomic and electronic structure of the LaMnO₃ surfaces, in both cubic and orthorhombic phases, combining GGA-plane wave approach, as implemented into the VASP-4.6.19 computer code, with a slab model. These studies are complemented by a thermodynamic analysis of the surface stability at different gas pressures and temperatures. The obtained results are compared with similar studies for other ABO₃-perovskites.     

Elastic and thermodynamic properties of CaB6 under pressure from first principles

The elastic and thermodynamic properties of CsCl-type structure CaB₆ under high pressure are investigated by first-principles calculations based on plane-wave pseudopotential density functional theory method within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The calculated lattice parameters of CaB₆ under zero pressure and zero temperature are in good agreement with the existing experimental data and other theoretical data. The pressure dependences of the elastic constants, bulk modulus B (GPa), and its pressure derivative B′, shear modulus G, Young's modulus E, elastic Debye temperature Θ_B, Zener's anisotropy parameter A, Poisson ratios σ, and Kleinmann parameter ζ are also presented. An analysis for the calculated elastic constants has been made to reveal the mechanical stability of CaB₆ up to 100 GPa. The thermodynamic properties of the CsCl-type structure CaB₆ are predicted using the quasi-harmonic Debye model. The pressure-volume-temperature (P-V-T) relationship, the variations of the heat capacity C_V, Debye temperature Θ_D, and the thermal expansion α with pressure P and temperature T, as well as the Grüneisen parameters γ are obtained systematically in the ranges of 0-100 GPa and 0-2000 K.     

Magnetic properties of Nd0.9Dy0.1Fe3(BO3)4

The magnetic properties of trigonal Nd_0.9Dy_0.1Fe₃(BO₃)₄ substituted compound with the competitive Nd-Fe and Dy-Fe exchange interactions have been investigated. It has been shown that in Nd_0.9Dy_0.1Fe₃(BO₃)₄ a spontaneous spin-reorientation transition from an ease-axis state to an easy-plane occurs near 8 K. Anomalies of the magnetization curves are observed in a spin-flop transition induced by the magnetic field B‖c. The calculations were performed using a molecular-field approximation and a crystal-field model for the rare-earth subsystem. Extensive experimental data on the magnetic properties of Nd_0.9Dy_0.1Fe₃(BO₃)₄ have been interpreted and good agreement between theory and experiment has been achieved using the obtained theoretical dependences.     

H2 分子在Li3N(110)表面吸附的第一性原理研究

采用第一性原理方法研究了H₂分子在Li₃N(110)晶面的表面吸附. 通过研究H₂/Li₃N(110)体系的吸附位置、吸附能和电子结构发现: H₂分子吸附在N桥位要比吸附在其他位置稳定,此时在Li₃N(110)面形成两个-NH基,其吸附能为1.909 eV,属于强化学吸附;H₂与Li₃N(110)面的相互作用主要是H 1s轨道与N 关键词： 第一性原理 3N(110)')" href="#">Li₃N(110) 2')" href="#">H₂ 吸附和解离     

Preparation and luminescent properties of cubic Eu:Y2O3 nanocrystals and comparison to bulk Eu:Y2O3

Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ nanocrystals were prepared by combustion synthesis. The particle size estimated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) was about 10 nm. A blue-shift of the charge-transfer (CT) band in excitation spectra was observed in Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ nanocrystals compared with bulk Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺. The electronic structure of Y₂O₃ is calculated by density functional method and exchange and correlation have been treated by the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) within the scheme due to Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE). The calculated results show that the energy centroid of 5d orbital in nanocrystal has increasing trend compared with that in the bulk material. The bond length and bond covalency are calculated by chemical bond theory. The bond lengths of Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ nanocrystal are shorter than those of the bulk counterpart and the bond covalency of Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ nanocrystal also has an increasing trend. By combining centroid shift and crystal-field splitting, the blue-shift of the CT band is interpreted.