Structural and magnetic properties of Ti12M clusters (M=Sc to Zn)

The geometries, electronic, and magnetic properties of the 3d atom doped icosahedron (ICO) Ti₁₂M (M=Sc to Zn), where a dopant atom replaces either the centra l(Ti₁₂M^c) or surface (Ti₁₂M^s) Ti atom in ICO Ti₁₃ cluster, have been systematically investigated by using the density functional theory. The structures of all the optimized Ti₁₂M^c and Ti₁₂M^s clusters are distorted ICO. Sc, Ni, Cu, and Zn atoms prefer to displace surface Ti atom, V, Cr, Mn, and Fe atoms prefer to displace central Ti atom. The position of impurity atom depends on the strength of the interaction between the central atom and the surface atoms. As compared to the pure Ti₁₃ cluster, Ti₁₂M^c and Ti₁₂M^s (M=V, Fe, Co, and Ni) clusters are more stable, Ti₁₂M^c and Ti₁₂M^s (M=Sc, Cr, Mn, Cu, and Zn) are less stable. Both Ti₁₂Ni^s and Ti₁₂Ni^c are magic clusters, which originate from their electronic as well as geometric closed shells. Because the exchange interaction prevails over the crystal field in Ti₁₂M clusters, the valence electrons fill molecular orbitals in terms of Hund’s rule of maximum spin.     

Effect of oxygen content and charge on the structure,stability and optoelectronic properties of yttrium oxide clusters

The electronic and geometrical structures of neutral and charged YOn (n=2–12) clusters have been investigated using density functional theory (DFT) with generalized gradient approximation. The oxygen atom in YOn has been found to be in oxo, peroxo and in superoxo forms. The geometrical structures and topologies of small size anionic clusters resemble that of neutral clusters. Yttrium showed higher coordination number than scandium. Computed results reveal the existence of YO₁₀ cluster to have a penta-peroxo oxygen with a homoleptic Y(η² –O₂)₅ geometrical configuration. The HOMO–LUMO gaps decrease with increasing n due to the increase in 2p orbital population of oxygen atoms. It has been shown that in these clusters bonding are predominantly ionic in nature and anions are thermodynamically more stable, due to the charge delocalization between the metal atom and oxygen ligands. YO₁₀⁺ and YO₁₂⁺ were found to be highly exothermic to release one and two oxygen molecules, while YO₁₁⁺ dissociates though the ozonide dissociation channel. Computed absorption spectra of small clusters are mainly contributed by yttrium metal d and s valence orbitals. The absorbance spectra, shifts towards lower energy with cluster size increase, while charge has no substantial effect on the absorption spectrum.     

Optical properties of the filled tetrahedral semiconductors LiZnX (X=N, P, and As)

We present first principles calculations of the electronic and the optical properties of the filled tetrahedral compounds LiZnN, LiZnP, and LiZnAs performed with the full potential linearized augmented plane wave method within the local density approximation. The origin of the small gap of LiZnN is attributed to the strong p-d coupling in this compound. The assignments of the structures in the optical spectra and band structure transitions are discussed in detail. The predicted values of the dielectric constants for LiZnP and LiZnAs are close to those of the binary compounds GaP and GaAs, respectively.     

Structural and elastic properties of the filled tetrahedral semiconductors LiZnX (X=N, P, and As)

We report on first-principles study of the structural and elastic properties of the Nowotny-Juza filled tetrahedral compounds LiZnX (X=N, P, As) using the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method within the local density approximations. Our results indicate that the energetically favourable α-LiZnX materials are slightly softer than their binary analogous GaX and the sound speeds are quantitatively similar for LiZnAs and GaAs.     

First principle study of structural,elastic and electronic properties of APt3 (A=Mg,Sc, Y and Zr)

We report results obtained from first principle calculations on APt₃ compounds with A=Mg, Sc, Y and Zr. Our results of the lattice parameter a are in good agreement with experimental data, with deviations less than 0.8%. Single crystal elastic constants are calculated, then polycrystalline elastic moduli (bulk, shear and Young moduli, Poisson ration, anisotropy factor) are presented. Based on Debye model, Debye temperature ?_D is calculated from the sound velocities V_l, V_t and V_m. Band structure results show that the studied compounds are electrical conductors, the conduction mechanism is assured by Pt-d electrons. Different hybridisation states are observed between Pt-d and A-d orbitals. The study of the charge density distribution and the population analysis shows the coexistence of ionic, covalent and metallic bonds.     

Structural parameters, electronic structures, elastic stiffness and thermal properties of M2PC (M=V, Nb, Ta)

Using pseudo-potential plane-wave method based on the density functional theory in conjunction with the generalized gradient approximation, structural parameters, electronic structures, elastic stiffness and thermal properties of M₂PC, with M=V, Nb, Ta, were studied. The optimized zero pressure geometrical parameters are in good agreement with the available results. Pressure effect, up to 20 GPa, on the lattice parameters was investigated. Electronic properties are studied throughout the calculation of densities of states and band structures. The elastic constants and their pressure dependence were predicted using the static finite strain technique. We performed numerical estimations of the bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio and average sound velocity for ideal polycrystalline M₂PC aggregates in framework of the Voigt-Reuss-Hill approximation. We estimated the Debye temperature and the theoretical minimum thermal conductivity of M₂PC.     

Linear and nonlinear optical properties of 3-nitroaniline (m-NA) and 4-nitroaniline (p-NA) crystals: A DFT/TDDFT study

We have studied the electronic structure and optical responses of 3-nitroaniline and 4-nitroaniline crystals within the framework of density functional theory (DFT). In addition, the excitonic effects are investigated by using the recently published bootstrap exchange-correlation kernel within the time dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) framework. Our calculations based on mBJ approximation yield the indirect band gap for both crystals, but the larger one for m-NA. Due to the excitonic effects, the TDDFT calculations gives rise to the enhanced and red-shifted spectra (compared to RPA). Due to the weak intermolecular interactions, band-structure calculations yield bands with low dispersion for both crystals. This study shows that the substituent groups play an important role in the top of valence band and the bottom of conduction band. Due to the linear structure of p-NA molecule, the highest peaks are located in the optical spectra of p-NA crystal, while m-NA has more sharp peaks, especially at lower energies. Both DFT and TDDFT calculations for the energy loss spectra show plasmon peaks around 27 and 28 eV for p-NA and m-NA, respectively. Due to the non-centrosymmetric structure of m-NA crystal, we also have reported its nonlinear spectra and the 2ω/ω intra-band and inter-band contributions to the dominant susceptibilities. Findings indicate the opposite signs for these contributions, especially at higher energies. The comparison between nonlinear spectra and the linear spectra (as a function of both ω and 2ω) reveals the significant resemblance between linear and nonlinear patterns. In addition to the reasonable agreement between our results with experimental data, this study reveals the spectral similarities between crystalline susceptibility and molecular polarizability.     

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.     

Ab-initio study of structural,electronic, elastic and mechanical properties of RuAl1−xGax (x=0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1)

We have used special quasirandom structure to study the structural, electronic, elastic and mechanical properties of RuAl_1−xGa_x alloys for different compositions (x=0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1) using a FP-LAPW method based on Density Functional Theory. The exchange and correlation potential is treated within the generalized gradient approximation. Ground state properties such as lattice constant (a₀), bulk modulus (B), its pressure derivative (B′) and elastic constants are calculated. The ductility of these alloys has been analyzed by calculating the ratio of B/G_H, Cauchy pressure (C₁₂–C₄₄) and Frantsevich rule. From this study RuAl and RuGa are found to be brittle, but their alloys show ductile behavior; RuAl_0.50Ga_0.50 is found to be most ductile. Mechanical properties such as Poisson's ratio (σ), Young's moduli (E), and the ratio of elastic anisotropy factor (A) are estimated. We have also correlated the ductility and bonding behavior of these alloys.     

Optical spectra and energy levels of the Cr ions in MWO4 (M=Mg, Zn, Cd) and MgMoO4 crystals

Single crystals of MWO₄ (M=Mg, Zn, Cd) and MgMoO₄ doped with Cr³⁺ have been grown by the flux growth method. Their optical spectra have been systematically measured and assigned on the basis of the classical Ligand Field Theory. The exchange charge model of the crystal field has then been applied to calculate the crystal field parameters (CFPs) and the energy levels of the Cr³⁺ ion in all studied crystals. These are in reasonable agreement with the experimental data. Systematic trends in the CFPs values, crystal field splittings and Racah parameters have been evidenced and their relation with sizes and symmetry properties of the host cavities occupied by Cr³⁺ has been pointed out.     

Structural,elastic, electronic and thermal properties of M2SbP (M = Ti,Zr and Hf)

The structural, elastic, electronic and thermal properties of M₂SbP (M = Ti, Zr and Hf) were studied by means of a pseudo-potential plane-wave method based on the density functional theory within both the local density approximation and the generalised gradient approximation. The optimised zero-pressure geometrical parameters, i.e. the two unit cell lengths (a, c) and the internal coordinate (z), were in good agreement with available experimental and theoretical data. The effect of high pressure, up to 20 GPa, on the lattice constants shows that the contractions along the a-axis were higher than along c-axis. The anisotropic independent elastic constants were calculated using the static finite strain technique. Numerical estimations of the bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, average sound velocity and Debye temperature for ideal polycrystalline M₂SbP aggregates were performed in the framework of the Voigt–Reuss–Hill approximation. The calculated band structures show that all studied materials are electrical conductors. Analysis of the atomic site projected densities showed that the bonding is of covalent–ionic nature with the presence of metallic character. The density of states at the Fermi level is dictated by the transition metal d–d bands; the Sb element has little effect. Thermal effects on some macroscopic properties of M₂SbP were predicted using the quasi-harmonic Debye model, in which the lattice vibrations are taken into account. The variations of the volume expansion coefficient, heat capacity and Debye temperature with pressure and temperature in the ranges 0–50 GPa and 0–2000 K were obtained successfully.     

Ab initio study of the optical properties of crystalline phenanthrene,including the excitonic effects

Using the ab initio methods for solving the Bethe–Salpeter equation on the basis of the FPLAPW method, optical properties of crystalline phenanthrene were calculated, in a comparison to its isomer, anthracene. It was found that despite the similarity of the structural, electronic, and the overall optical properties in a 40 eV energy range, phenanthrene and anthracene show significant differences in their optical spectra in the energy range below band gaps. Phenanthrene has two spin singlet excitonic features whereas anthracene shows one. The singlet and the lowest triplet binding energies of phenanthrene were found to be larger than anthracene. In this study, in addition, a comparison has been made between the optical spectra in RPA and the existing experimental data.     

The structural, electronic and optical properties of CdxZn1 − xSe ternary alloys

The structural, electronic, and optical properties of Cd_xZn_1 − xSe alloys are investigated using the first-principles plane-wave pseudopotential method within the LDA approximations. In particular, the lattice constant, bulk modulus, electronic band structures, density of state, and optical properties such as dielectric functions, refractive index, extinction coefficient and energy loss function are calculated and discussed. Our results agree well with the available data in the literature.     

Many-body effects in the optical absorption of lithium azide (LiN3)

Until recently most of the understanding achieved for solid explosives has been obtained using various semi-empirical approaches due to a major role of excitonic effects in the mechanisms of decomposition. Nevertheless, during the last two decades, thanks to the ongoing progress in iterative computational methods, the inclusion of the electron-hole interaction in ab initio calculations has become a standard approach in solid-state theory. In this paper, the electronic structure and optical properties of bulk lithium azide are investigated, taking into account the electron-hole interaction via the Bethe–Salpeter equation (BSE). Here, we employ the kernel polynomial method (KPM), which significantly reduces the computational cost compared to direct diagonalization methods. The calculations of the imaginary part of the polarization dependent dielectric function including excitonic effects are reported for the first time. Then, we show a density map of the two-particle wave function and propose an alternative interpretation of the initial stages of the externally triggered chemical decomposition, based on the analysis of two-particle states near the absorption edge.     

Single crystal growth,electronic structure and optical properties of Cs2HgBr4

We report on successful synthesis of high-quality single crystal of cesium mercury tetrabromide, Cs₂HgBr₄, by using the vertical Bridgman–Stockbarger method as well as on studies of its electronic structure. For the Cs₂HgBr₄ crystal, we have recorded X-ray photoelectron spectra for both pristine and Ar⁺ ion-bombarded surfaces. Our data indicate that the Cs₂HgBr₄ single crystal surface is rather sensitive with respect to Ar⁺ ion-bombardment. In particular, such a treatment of the Cs₂HgBr₄ single crystal surface alters its elemental stoichiometry. To explore peculiarities of the energy distribution of total and partial densities of states within the valence band and the conduction band of Cs₂HgBr₄, we have made band-structure calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) employing the augmented plane wave+local orbitals (APW+lo) method as incorporated in the WIEN2k package. The APW+lo calculations allow for concluding that the Br 4p states make the major contributions in the upper portion of the valence band, while its lower portion is dominated by contributors of the Hg 5d and Cs 5p states. Further, the main contributors to the bottom of the conduction band of Cs₂HgBr₄ are the unoccupied Br p and Hg s states. In addition, main optical characteristics of Cs₂HgBr₄ such as dispersion of the absorption coefficient, real and imaginary parts of dielectric function, electron energy-loss spectrum, refractive index, extinction coefficient and optical reflectivity have been explored from the first-principles band-structure calculations.     

Comment on "Investigation on optical properties of ZnO nanowires by electron energy-loss spectroscopy"

Recently, Zhang et al. have published a paper [Zhang, Z.H., Qi, X.Y., Jian, J.K., Duan, X.F., 2006. Micron 37, 229–233] in which – among others – the determination of the optical properties of a semiconductor by use of electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) is performed with 200 keV electrons and a collection angle of only 0.3 mrad. The authors do not take into account relativistic effects such as Čerenkov losses (CL) before performing Kramers–Kronig Analysis (KKA) on the EELS spectra obtaining erroneous results. Although the positions of features within the optical properties are consistant with the simulated ones, the relative hights or absolute values differ a lot.     

Structural stability,electronic structure and mechanical properties of 4d transition metal nitrides TMN (TM=Ru,Rh, Pd)

Ab initio calculations are performed to investigate the structural stability, electronic, structural and mechanical properties of 4d transition metal nitrides TMN (TM=Ru, Rh, Pd) for five different crystal structures, namely NaCl, CsCl, zinc blende, NiAs and wurtzite. Among the considered structures, zinc blende structure is found to be the most stable one among all three nitrides at normal pressure. A structural phase transition from ZB to NiAs phase is predicted at a pressure of 104 GPa, 50.5 GPa and 56 GPa for RuN, RhN and PdN respectively. The electronic structure reveals that these nitrides are metallic. The calculated elastic constants indicate that these nitrides are mechanically stable at ambient condition.     

Optical properties of BiSBr and BiSeBr crystals

Optical properties of BiSBr and BiSeBr crystals were investigated by the full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method with density-functional theory (DFT). The complex dielectric function and optical constants, such as optical absorption coefficient, refractive index, extinction coefficient, energy-loss spectrum and reflectivity, were calculated and compared in the energy range of 0–30 eV. Origin of anisotropic behavior of optical spectra was also discussed. The plasmon energy ?ω_p was estimated to be 18 eV for BiSeBr and 20 eV for BiSBr crystal.