Feng J, Ashcroft NW, Hoffmann R. Theoretical indications of singular structural and electronic features of Laves-phase CaLi2 under pressure.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2007;
98:247002. [PMID:
17677984 DOI:
10.1103/physrevlett.98.247002]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2007] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
In spite of the presence of ostensibly simple constituents, CaLi2 should be a very peculiar material under pressure. Its two 1-atmosphere polymorphs each undergo a structural bifurcation on densification to structures compressed or elongated in one lattice direction. A Hume-Rothery-type mechanism is proposed to account for the indicated lattice distortion. The narrowing of valence bands under pressure in this material, a large density of states at the Fermi level, and the expected high dynamical scales also hint at superconductivity.
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