Pressure-induced novel structure with graphene-like boron-layer in titanium monoboride

The recent discovery of the novel boron-framework in boron-rich metal borides with complex structures and intriguing features under high pressure has stimulated the search into the unique boron-network in the metal monoborides or boron-deficient metal borides at high pressure. Herein, based on the particle swarm optimization algorithm combined with first-principles calculations, we thoroughly explored the structural evolution and properties of TiB up to 200 GPa. This material undergoes a pressure-induced phase transition of $Pnma$ $\to $ $Cmcm$ $\to $ $Pmmm$. Besides of two known phases $Pnma$ and $Cmcm$, an unexpected orthorhombic $Pmmm$ structure was predicted to be energetically favored in the pressure range of 110.88-200 GPa. Intriguingly, the B covalent network eventually evolved from a one-dimensional zigzag chain in $Pnma$-TiB and $Cmcm$-TiB to a graphene-like B-sheet in $Pmmm$-TiB. On the basis of the microscopic hardness model, the calculated hardness ($H_{\rm v}$) values of $Pnma$ at 1 atm, $Cmcm$ at 100 GPa, and $Pmmm$ at 140 GPa are 36.81 GPa, 25.17 GPa, and 15.36 GPa, respectively. Remarkably, analyses of the density of states, electron localization function and the crystal orbital Hamilton population (COHP) exhibit that the bonding nature in the three TiB structures can be considered as a combination of the B-B and Ti-B covalent interactions. Moreover, the high hardness and excellent mechanical properties of the three TiB polymorphs can be ascribed to the strong B-B and Ti-B covalent bonds.     

高压下ErNi2B2C弹性性质、电子结构和热力学性质的第一性原理研究

采用密度泛函理论中的赝势平面波方法研究了高压下超导材料 ErNi₂B₂C 的弹性性质、电子结构和热力学性质.分析表明, 弹性常数、体弹模量、剪切模量、杨氏模量和弹性各向异性因子的外压力效应明显. 电子态密度(DOS)的计算结果显示, 在费米能级(E_F)处的 DOS 峰随外界压强的增大显著降低, 由于 ErNi₂B₂C 相对较高的超导温度(T_c)起因于E_F处的 DOS 峰, 因此推测压强增大可能会降低 ErNi₂B₂C 的 T_c.类似的现象在超导材料 MgB₂和 SrAlSi 中已被发现.此外, 基于准谐德拜模型, 对 ErNi₂B₂C 在高温高压下的热力学性质的研究表明, 在一定范围内, 温度和压强将对其热膨胀系数和热容产生明显的影响. 关键词： 高压 弹性性质 电子结构 热力学性质