Solid-solution strengthening: Substitution of V in Ni3Al and structural stability of Ni3(Al,V)

An ab-initio study on structural, elastic, electronic, bonding, thermal, and optical properties of topological Weyl semimetal TaX (X = P, As)

In recent days, study of topological Weyl semimetals have become an active branch of physics and materials science because they led to realization of the Weyl fermions and exhibited protected Fermi arc surface states. Therefore, topological Weyl semimetals TaX (X = P, As) are important electronic systems to investigate both from the point of view of fundamental physics and potential applications. In this work, we have studied the structural, elastic, mechanical, electronic, bonding, acoustic, thermal and optical properties of TaX (X = P, As) in detail via first-principles method using the density functional theory. A comprehensive study of elastic constants and moduli shows that both TaP and TaAs possesses low to medium level of elastic anisotropy (depending on the measure), reasonably good machinability, mixed bonding characteristics with ionic and covalent contributions, brittle nature and relatively high Vickers hardness with a low Debye temperature and melting temperature. The minimum thermal conductivities and anisotropies of TaX (X = P, As) are calculated. Bond population analysis supports the bonding nature as predicted by the elastic parameters. The bulk electronic band structure calculations reveal clear semi-metallic features with quasi-linear energy dispersions in certain sections of the Brillouin zone near the Fermi level. A pseudogap in the electronic energy density of states at the Fermi level separating the bonding and the antibonding states indicates significant electronic stability of tetragonal TaX (X = P, As).The reflectivity spectra show almost non-selective behavior over a wide range of photon energy encompassing visible to mid-ultraviolet regions. High reflectivity over wide spectral range makes TaX suitable as reflecting coating. TaX (X = P, As) are very efficient absorber of ultraviolet radiation. Both the compounds are moderately optically anisotropic owing to the anisotropic nature of the electronic band structure. The refractive indices are very high in the infrared to visible range. All the energy dependent optical parameters show metallic features and are in complete accord with the underlying bulk electronic density of states calculations.

Phase stability, mechanical, electronic, magnetic and optical properties of tetragonal and cubic M3V (M: Pd, Pt) structures

The full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method was used to investigate the ground states as well as the mechanical, electronic, magnetic and optical properties of M₃V (M: Pd, Pt) compounds. The generalized gradient approximation (GGA) of Perdew-Burke and Ernzerhof (PBE-GGA) is employed to treat the exchange-correlation potential for all the calculations except for structural properties where both Wu and Cohen generalized gradient approximation (WC-GGA) and Perdew and Wang local spin density approximation (LSDA) have been added. The cohesive energies, the formation enthalpies and the densities of states at the Fermi level N(E_F) show that the D0₂₂ structure is more stable than D0₂₃ and L1₂. The lattice parameter and bulk modulus results agree well with the available experimental measurements and theoretical predictions. The elastic and mechanical properties are predicted and show that both compounds exhibit ductile behavior. Furthermore, our calculations of Debye and melting temperatures are in good agreements with experimental results reported in the literature. The densities of states (DOS) show that strong d-d hybridization is behind the formation of the pseudogap at the Fermi level. The contours of the valence charge densities show combinations of metallic and covalent bonds. The number of bonding electrons per atom n_b, the electronic specific heat coefficient γ, and the electron-phonon coupling constant λ, are determined. The obtained values of the magnetic moments and polarization coincide with the reported values for both D0₂₂ and L1₂ structures. Moreover, the optical properties, including the dielectric functions, extinction coefficient K(ω), reflectivity coefficient R(ω) and energy loss function L(ω) are studied in the range of 0-14 eV.

Prediction of Site Preference of Implanted Transition Metal Dopants in Rock-salt Oxides

Transition metals (TMs) implanted in oxides with rock-salt crystal structures (for example MgO and BaO) are assumed to substitute cations (Mg in case of MgO) from the lattice sites. We show that not all implanted TMs substitute cations but can be stable in interstitial sites as well. Stability of TM (Sc-Zn) dopants in various charge states in MgO and BaO has been investigated in the framework of density functional theory. We propose an effective way to calculate stability of implanted metals that let us predict site preference (interstitial or substitution) of the dopant in the host. We find that two factors govern the preference for an interstitial site: (i) relative ionic radius and (ii) relative oxygen affinity of cation and the TM dopants. If the radius of the cation is much larger than TM dopant, as in BaO, TM atoms always sit at interstitial sites. On the other hand, if the radius of the cation is comparable to that of the dopant TM, as in case of MgO, the transition of the preferred defect site, from substituting lattice Mg atom (Sc to Mn) to occupying interstitial site (Fe to Zn) is observed. This transition can be attributed to the change in the oxygen affinity of the TM atoms from Sc to Zn. Our results also explain experiments on Ni and Fe atoms implanted in MgO. TM dopants at interstitial sites could show substantially different and new properties from substitutionally doped stable compounds.

Effect of alloying elements on the ideal strength and charge redistribution of γ′-Ni3Al: a first-principles study of tensile deformation

The effect of the alloying elements on the σ_IT of γ′-Ni₃Al along three characteristic directions was investigated using DFT calculations.

Theoretical prediction of structural stability, electronic and elastic properties of ZrSi2 under pressure

The elastic constants, DOS, charge density distribution and the fundamental thermodynamic data such as the specific heat, thermal expansion coefficient and Debye temperature under different temperatures and pressures are theoretically determined.

Effect of Alloying Elements on the Elastic Properties of γ-Ni and γ'-Ni3Al from First-principles Calculations

The effect of alloying elements Ta, Mo, W, Cr, Re, Ru, Co, and Ir on the elastic properties of both γ-Ni and γ′-Ni3Al is studied by first-principles method. Results for lattice properties, elastic moduli and the ductile/brittle behaviors are all presented. Our calculated values agree well with the existing experimental observations. Results show all the additions decrease the lattice misfit between and γ′ phases. Different alloying elements are found to have different effect on the elastic moduli of γ-Ni. Whereas all the alloying elements slightly increase the moduli of γ′-Ni3Al expect Co. Both of the two phases are becoming more brittle with alloying elements, but Co is excepted. The electronic structures of γ′ phase alloyed with different elements are provided as example to elucidate the different strengthening mechanisms.