Structural, elastic constants, hardness, and optical properties of pyrite-type dinitrides (CN2, SiN2, GeN2)

The crystal structures, band structures, elastic constants, hardness, and optical properties of pyrite-type dinitrides (CN₂, SiN₂, and GeN₂) are obtained from the density functional theory using the plane-wave pseudopotential (PWP) method within the local density and generalized gradient approximations. The formation enthalpies for AN₂ (A=C, Si, and Ge) compounds suggest the three structures that are stable. The calculated band structures show the indirect gaps (Γ−R) in CN₂, SiN₂, and GeN₂. The intrinsic hardnesses of AN₂ (A=C, Si, and Ge ) compounds are calculated. Our results show that the cubic CN₂ and SiN₂ are superhard materials. Furthermore, we studied the optical properties such as the complex dielectric function and the electron energy loss spectra.