An ab initio study of filled skutterudites ROs4P12 (R = Sm,Eu and Gd)

The elastic, electronic, magnetic and optical properties of filled skutterudite ROs₄P₁₂ (R = Sm, Eu and Gd) have been studied by first principles calculation. The full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method based on density functional theory was employed. For the exchange-correlation potential, local spin density approximation + Coulomb repulsion (LSDA + U) is used to treat the f-electrons more effectively. The numerical values of the elastic parameters are estimated in the framework of the Voigt–Reuss–Hill approximation. OsP-based filled skutterudite with localized 4f and 5d-electrons shows dense energy bands near Fermi energy originating from rare earth and Os atoms. The dense density of states near E_F reveals that these compounds are suitable for thermoelectric application. Optical constants including dielectric function, optical reflectivity and refractive index are calculated for photon energy radiation up to 12 eV. The exchange-splitting of R-4f states were analyzed to explain the ferromagnetic behavior of ROs₄P₁₂.     

Prediction study of the structural and elastic properties for the cubic skutterudites LaFe4A12 (A = P,As and Sb) under pressure effect

We have performed accurate ab initio total energy calculations using the full-potential linear augmented plane wave plus local orbitals method with the local density approximation for the exchange–correlation potential to investigate the systematic trends for structural and elastic properties of the cubic LaFe₄A₁₂ skutterudites’ family depending on the type of A pnicogen atom (A stands for P, As and Sb). The calculated equilibrium lattice constants and internal free parameters are in good agreement with the experimental results. For the first time, the numerical estimates of the independent elastic constants and their pressure dependence are performed using the total energy variation as function of strain technique. Isotropic elastic parameters and related properties, namely bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio, Lamé’s coefficients, average sound velocity and Debye temperature, are estimated in the framework of the Voigt–Reuss–Hill approximation for ideal polycrystalline LaFe₄A₁₂ aggregates.     

Theoretical study of ground state and high-pressure phase of platinum carbide

We report local density-functional calculations using the full-potential linearized muffin-tin orbital method (FP-LMTO) for platinum carbide (PtC) in the, rock-salt (B1), zinc-blende (B3), wurtzite (B4), nickel-arsenide (B8) and PbO (B10) structures. The ground state properties such as the equilibrium lattice constant, elastic constants, the bulk modulus and its pressure derivative of PtC in these phases are determined and compared with available experimental and theoretical data.Our calculations show that the ground state phase of PtC to be zinc-blende (B3) structure at zero pressure and the nickel-arsenide (B8) structure is a high-pressure phase. The transition pressures at which this compound undergoes the structural phase transition from (B3) to (B8) and from (B3) to (B1) are found to be 34.25 and 51.28 GPa, respectively. The highest bulk modulus values in the nickel-arsenide (B8), zinc-blende (B3), rock-salt (B1) and PbO (B10) structures indicate that PtC is a hard material.     

Structural and elastic properties of antiperovskites XNBa3 (X=As, Sb) under pressure effect

First-principle calculations of structural, elastic and high pressure properties of antiperovskites XNBa₃ (X=As, Sb) are performed, using the full-potential linear muffin-tin orbital (FP-LMTO) method. The local density approximation (LDA) is used for the exchange-correlation (XC) potential. Results are given for lattice constant, bulk modulus and its pressure derivatives. We have determined the elastic constants C₁₁, C₁₂ and C₄₄ and their pressure dependence. We derived shear moduli, Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio and Lamé's constants for ideal polycrystalline XNBa₃ aggregates. By analyzing the ratio of the bulk to shear moduli, we conclude that XNBa₃ compounds are brittle in nature. We estimated the Debye temperature of XNBa₃ from the average sound velocity. This is the first quantitative theoretical prediction of the elastic properties of AsNBa₃ and SbNBa₃ compounds, and it still awaits experimental confirmation.     

Optical properties of germanium dioxide in the rutile structure

We present first-principles calculations for the optical properties of germanium dioxide in the rutile structure. The electronic band structure has been calculated self-consistently within the local density approximation using the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method. The electronic band structure shows that the fundamental energy gap is direct at the center of the Brillouin zone. The determinant role of a band structure computation with respect to the analysis of the optical properties is discussed.     

Structural,electronic, optical and elastic properties of the complex K2PtCl6-structure hydrides ARuH6 (A = Mg,Ca, Sr and Ba): first-principles study

We report a systematic study of the structural, electronic, optical and elastic properties of the ternary ruthenium-based hydrides A₂RuH₆ (A = Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba) within two complementary first-principles approaches. We describe the properties of the A₂RuH₆ systems looking for trends on different properties as a function of the A sublattice. Our results are in agreement with experimental ones when the latter are available. In particular, our theoretical lattice parameters obtained using the GGA-PBEsol to include the exchange-correlation functional are in good agreement with experiment. Analysis of the calculated electronic band structure diagrams suggests that these hydrides are wide nearly direct band semiconductors, with a very slight deviation from the ideal direct-band gap behaviour and they are expected to have a poor hole-type electrical conductivity. The TB-mBJ potential has been used to correct the deficiency of the standard GGA for predicting the optoelectronic properties. The calculated TB-mBJ fundamental band gaps are about 3.53, 3.11, 2.99 and 2.68 eV for Mg₂RuH₆, Ca₂RuH₆, Sr₂RuH₆ and Ba₂RuH₆, respectively. Calculated density of states spectra demonstrates that the topmost valence bands consist of d orbitals of the Ru atoms, classifying these materials as d-type hydrides. Analysis of charge density maps tells that these systems can be classified as mixed ionic-covalent bonding materials. Optical spectra in a wide energy range from 0 to 30 eV have been provided and the origin of the observed peaks and structures has been assigned. Optical spectra in the visible range of solar spectrum suggest these hydrides for use as antireflection coatings. The single-crystal and polycrystalline elastic moduli and their related properties have been numerically estimated and analysed for the first time.     

Band-gap engineering of La_(1-x)Nd_xAlO_3(x = 0,0.25,0.50,0.75,1)perovskite using density functional theory:A modified Becke Johnson potential study

The structural,electronic,and magnetic properties of the Nd-doped Rare earth aluminate,La_(1-x)Nd_xAlO_3(x = 0%to 100%) alloys are studied using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave(FP-LAPW) method within the density functional theory.The effects of the Nd substitution in La AlO_3 are studied using the supercell calculations.The computed electronic structure with the modified Becke–Johnson(m BJ) potential based approximation indicates that the La_(1-x)Nd_xAlO_3 alloys may possess half-metallic(HM) behaviors when doped with Nd of a finite density of states at the Fermi level(E_F).The direct and indirect band gaps are studied each as a function of x which is the concentration of Nddoped La AlO_3.The calculated magnetic moments in the La_(1-x)Nd_xAlO_3 alloys are found to arise mainly from the Nd-4f state.A probable half-metallic nature is suggested for each of these systems with supportive integral magnetic moments and highly spin-polarized electronic structures in these doped systems at E_F.The observed decrease of the band gap with the increase in the concentration of Nd doping in La AlO_3 is a suitable technique for harnessing useful spintronic and magnetic devices.     

Pressure effect on structural,electronic optical and thermodynamic properties of cubic AlxIn1-xP: a first-principles study

ABSTRACT

First-principles total energy calculations have been performed using the full potential linearised augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method as implemented in the WIEN2k code based on the density functional theory (DFT) to investigate the Al-doping effects on the structural, electronic and optical properties of Al_xIn_1-xP ternary alloys in the zinc-blende (ZB) phase. Different approximations of exchange-correlations energy were used such as the local density approximation (LDA), the generalised gradient approximation within parameterisation of Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE-GGA), and the Wu-Cohen (WC-GGA). In addition, we have calculated the band structures with high accuracy using the Tran-Blaha modified Becke–Johnson (TB-mBJ) approach. The pressure dependence of the electronic and optical properties of binary AlP, InP compounds and their related ternary alloys Al_xIn_1-xP were also investigated under hydrostatic pressure for (P?=?0.0, 5.0,10.0, 15.0, 20.0, 25.0?GPa), where it is found that InP compound change from direct to indirect band gap for P?≥?9.16?GPa. Furthermore, we have calculated the thermodynamic properties of InP and AlP binary compounds as well as the Al_xIn_1-xP solid solutions, where the quasi-harmonic Debye model has been employed to predict the pressure and temperature dependent Gibbs free energy, heat capacity, Debye temperature and entropy.     

Structural,elastic, electronic,optical and thermal properties of c-SiGe<Subscript>2</Subscript>N<Subscript>4</Subscript>

We have investigated the structural, elastic, electronic, optical and thermal properties of c-SiGe₂N₄ by using the ultrasoft pseudopotential density functional method within the generalized gradient approximation. The calculated structural parameters, including the lattice constant, the internal free parameter, the bulk modulus and its pressure derivative are in agreement with the available data. The independent elastic constants and their pressure dependence, calculated using the static finite strain technique, satisfy the requirement of mechanical stability, indicating that c-SiGe₂N₄ compound could be stable. We derive the shear modulus, Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio and Lamé’s coefficients for ideal polycrystalline c-SiGe₂N₄ aggregate in the framework of the Voigt-Reuss-Hill approximation. We estimate the Debye temperature of this compound from the average sound velocity. Band structure, density of states, Mulliken charge populations and pressure coefficients of energy band gaps are investigated. Furthermore, in order to understand the optical properties of c-SiGe₂N₄, the dielectric function, refractive index, extinction coefficient, optical reflectivity and electron energy loss are calculated for radiation up to 40 eV. Thermal effects on some macroscopic properties of c-SiGe₂N₄ are predicted using the quasi-harmonic Debye model in which the lattice vibrations are taken into account. We have obtained successfully the variations of the primitive cell volume, volume expansion coefficient, heat capacities and Debye temperature with pressure and temperature in the ranges of 0–40 GPa and 0–2000 K. For the first time, the numerical estimates of the elastic constants and related parameters, and the thermal properties are performed for c-SiGe₂N₄.     

First-principles study of structural,electronic, linear and nonlinear optical properties of Ga<Subscript>2</Subscript>PSb ternary chalcopyrite

Epitaxial magnetic oxide films can be reversibly strained on piezoelectric monocrystalline substrates of Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)_0.72Ti_0.28O₃(PMN-PT). The magnetic film/piezoelectric substrate sample that undergoes well-defined biaxial, nearly linear strains exceeding 0.1% provides a model system for the inspection of strain-dependent magnetic properties which are exploited in many two-phase magnetoelectric multiferroics. We review the properties of the applied pseudocubic PMN-PT(001) substrates, and summarize results for the strain-dependent magnetization of ferromagnetic manganites (La, A)MnO₃ (A = Sr or Ca).