First principles calculation of thermo-mechanical properties of thoria using Quantum ESPRESSO

Author(s):  
Linu Malakkal ◽  
Barbara Szpunar ◽  
Juan Carlos Zuniga ◽  
Ravi Kiran Siripurapu ◽  
Jerzy A. Szpunar

In this work, we have used Quantum ESPRESSO (QE), an open source first principles code, based on density-functional theory, plane waves, and pseudopotentials, along with quasi-harmonic approximation (QHA) to calculate the thermo-mechanical properties of thorium dioxide (ThO[Formula: see text]. Using Python programming language, our group developed qe-nipy-advanced, an interface to QE, which can evaluate the structural and thermo-mechanical properties of materials. We predicted the phonon contribution to thermal conductivity ([Formula: see text] using the Slack model. We performed the calculations within local density approximation (LDA) and generalized gradient approximation (GGA) with the recently proposed version for solids (PBEsol). We employed a Monkhorst-Pack [Formula: see text] k-points mesh in reciprocal space with a plane wave cut-off energy of 150 Ry to obtain the convergence of the structure. We calculated the dynamical matrices of the lattice on a [Formula: see text] mesh. We have predicted the heat capacity, thermal expansion and the phonon contribution to thermal conductivity, as a function of temperature up to 1400[Formula: see text]K, and compared them with the previous work and known experimental results.

2009 ◽  
Vol 64 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 399-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zi-Jiang Liu ◽  
Xiao-Ming Tan ◽  
Yuan Guo ◽  
Xiao-Ping Zheng ◽  
Wen-Zhao Wu

The thermodynamic properties of tetragonal CaSiO3 perovskite are predicted at high pressures and temperatures using the Debye model for the first time. This model combines the ab initio calculations within local density approximation using pseudopotentials and a plane wave basis in the framework of density functional theory, and it takes into account the phononic effects within the quasi-harmonic approximation. It is found that the calculated equation of state is in excellent agreement with the observed values at ambient condition. Based on the first-principles study and the Debye model, the thermal properties including the Debye temperature, the heat capacity, the thermal expansion and the entropy are obtained in the whole pressure range from 0 to 150 GPa and temperature range from 0 to 2000 K.


2014 ◽  
Vol 887-888 ◽  
pp. 378-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Chen ◽  
Zheng Jun Yao ◽  
Ping Ze Zhang ◽  
Dong Bo Wei ◽  
Xi Xi Luo ◽  
...  

The structure stability, mechanical properties and electronic structures of B2 phase FeAl intermetallic compounds and FeAl ternary alloys containing V, Cr or Ni were investigated using first-principles density functional theory calculations. Several models are established. The total energies, cohesive energies, lattice constants, elastic constants, density of states, and the charge densities of Fe8Al8 and Fe8XAl7 ( X=V, Cr, Ni ) are calculated. The stable crystal structures of alloy systems are determined due to the cohesive energy results. The calculated lattice contants of Fe-Al-X ( X= V, Cr, Ni) were found to be related to the atomic radii of the alloy elements. The calculation and analysis of the elastic constants showed that ductility of FeAl alloys was improved by the addition of V, Cr or Ni, the improvement was the highest when Cr was used. The order of the ductility was as follows: Fe8CrAl7 > Fe8NiAl7 > Fe8VAl7 > Fe8Al8. The results of electronic structure analysis showed that FeAl were brittle, mainly due to the orbital hybridization of the s, p and d state electron of Fe and the s and p state electrons of Al, showing typical characteristics of a valence bond. Micro-mechanism for improving ductility of FeAl is that d orbital electron of alloying element is maily involved in hybridization of FeAl, alloying element V, Cr and Ni decrease the directional property in bonding of FeAl.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Zamir Mohyedin ◽  
Afiq Radzwan ◽  
Mohammad Fariz Mohamad Taib ◽  
Rosnah Zakaria ◽  
Nor Kartini Jaafar ◽  
...  

Bi2Se3 is one of the promising materials in thermoelectric devices and very useful out of environmental concern due to its efficiency to perform at room temperature. Based on the first-principles calculation of density functional theory (DFT) by using CASTEP computer code, structural and electronic properties of Bi2Se3 were investigated. The calculation is conducted within the exchange-correlation of local density approximation (LDA) and generalized gradient approximation within the revision of Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (GGA-PBE) functional. It was found that the results are consistent with previous works of theoretical study with small percentage difference. LDA exchange-correlation functional method is more accurate and have a better agreement than GGA-PBE to describe the structural properties of Bi2Se3 which consist of lattice parameters. LDA functional also shown more accurate electronic structure of Bi2Se3 that consist of band structure and density of states (DOS) which consistent with most previous theoretical works with small percentage difference. This study proves the reliability of CASTEP computer code and show LDA exchange-correlation functional is more accurate in describing the nature of Bi2Se3 compared to the other functionals.


2010 ◽  
Vol 654-656 ◽  
pp. 1670-1673
Author(s):  
Zhan Jun Gao ◽  
You Song Gu ◽  
Yue Zhang

First-principles density functional calculations were performed to investigate mechanical properties of ZnO nanowires and the size effects. Structural optimizations were performed first, and a series of strains were applied to the nanowires in the axial direction. The ground state energies were calculated and the elastic moduli of ZnO nanowires were obtained from the energy versus strain curves. It is found that the elastic moduli of the ZnO nanowires with three different diameters (1.2, 1.5 and 1.8nm) are 136.3, 138.7 and 138.0 GPa, respectively, and that of bulk ZnO along [0001] direction is 140.1 GPa. The elastic modulus of ZnO nanowire is slightly lower than that of the bulk and it decreases as the diameter decreases. Comparisons to experimental results and theoretical predications are made.


2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (03) ◽  
pp. 315-324
Author(s):  
ZI-JIANG LIU ◽  
XIAO-WEI SUN ◽  
CAI-RONG ZHANG ◽  
LI-NA TIAN ◽  
YUAN GUO

The thermodynamic properties of MgSiO 3 post-perovskite are predicted at high pressures and temperatures using the Debye model for the first time. This model combines with ab initio calculations within local density approximation using pseudopotentials and a plane wave basis in the framework of density functional theory, and it takes into account the phononic effects within the quasi-harmonic approximation. It is found that the calculated equation of state of MgSiO 3 post-perovskite is in excellent agreement with the latest observed values. Based on the first-principles study and the Debye model, the thermal properties including the Debye temperature, the heat capacity, the thermal expansion, and the entropy are obtained in the whole pressure range from 0 to 150 GPa and temperature range from 0 to 2000 K.


Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 4221
Author(s):  
Yongxin Jian ◽  
Zhifu Huang ◽  
Yu Wang ◽  
Jiandong Xing

First-principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) have been performed to explore the effects of Si, Cr, W, and Nb elements on the stability, mechanical properties, and electronic structures of MoAlB ternary boride. The five crystals, with the formulas of Mo4Al4B4, Mo4Al3SiB4, Mo3CrAl4B4, Mo3WAl4B4, and Mo3NbAl4B4, have been respectively established. All the calculated crystals are thermodynamically stable, according to the negative cohesive energy and formation enthalpy. By the calculation of elastic constants, the mechanical moduli and ductility evolutions of MoAlB with elemental doping can be further estimated, with the aid of B/G and Poisson’s ratios. Si and W doping cannot only enhance the Young’s modulus of MoAlB, but also improve the ductility to some degree. Simultaneously, the elastic moduli of MoAlB are supposed to become more isotropic after Si and W addition. However, Cr and Nb doping plays a negative role in ameliorating the mechanical properties. Through the analysis of electronic structures and chemical bonding, the evolutions of chemical bondings can be disclosed with the addition of dopant. The enhancement of B-B, Al/Si-B, and Al/Si-Mo bondings takes place after Si substitution, and W addition apparently intensifies the bonding with B and Al. In this case, the strengthening of chemical bonding after Si and W doping exactly accounts for the improvement of mechanical properties of MoAlB. Additionally, Si doping can also improve the Debye temperature and melting point of the MoAlB crystal. Overall, Si element is predicted to be the optimized dopant to ameliorate the mechanical properties of MoAlB.


1997 ◽  
Vol 482 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Shimada ◽  
T. Sota ◽  
K. Suzuki

AbstractWe have performed first-principles total energy calculations to obtain various physical parameters for both zinc-blende and wurtzite BN, AIN, and GaN. The calculation has been done within the local density approximation to the density functional theory together with plane wave expansion and norm-conserving pseudopotentials. Constant-pressure first-principles molecular dynamics method has been used to relax the unit cell shape and the atomic geometry. In calculating the elastic constants and the deformation potentials, the internal displacement of atoms in the strained crystal is simulated by moving atoms with first-principles molecular dynamics method. The optical phonon frequencies at the Brillouin zone center except for LO phonons are calculated within harmonic approximation by calculating the forces acting on atoms which are displaced from equilibrium positions according to the symmetry of each mode.


2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingjie Zhang ◽  
Carlos A. Polanco ◽  
Avik W. Ghosh

We theoretically explore the influence of end-group chemistry (bond stiffness and mass) on the interfacial thermal conductance at a gold–alkane interface. We accomplish this using the nonequilibrium Green's function (NEGF) coupled with first principle parameters in density functional theory (DFT) within the harmonic approximation. Our results indicate that the interfacial thermal conductance is not a monotonic function of either chemical parameters but instead maximizes at an optimal set of mass and bonding strength. This maximum is a result of the interplay between the overlap in local density of states (LDOS) of the device and that in the contacts, as well as the phonon group velocity. We also demonstrate the intrinsic relationship between the diffusive mismatch model (DMM) and the properties from NEGF, and provide an approach to get DMM from first principles NEGF. By comparing the NEGF-based DMM conductance and range of conductance while altering the mass and bonding strength, we show that DMM provides an upper bound for elastic transport in this dimension-mismatched system. We thus have a prescription to enhance the thermal conductance of systems at low temperatures or at low dimensions where inelastic scattering is considerably suppressed.


Crystals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong Chen ◽  
Jiwei Geng ◽  
Yi Wu ◽  
Mingliang Wang ◽  
Cunjuan Xia

The effects of refractory metals on physical and thermodynamic properties of X3Ir (X = Ti, V, Cr, Nb and Mo) compounds were investigated using local density approximation (LDA) and generalized gradient approximation (GGA) methods within the first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. The optimized lattice parameters were both in good compliance with the experimental parameters. The GGA method could achieve an improved structural optimization compared to the LDA method, and thus was utilized to predict the elastic, thermodynamic and electronic properties of X3Ir (X = Ti, V, Cr, Nb and Mo) compounds. The calculated mechanical properties (i.e., elastic constants, elastic moduli and elastic anisotropic behaviors) were rationalized and discussed in these intermetallics. For instance, the derived bulk moduli exhibited the sequence of Ti3Ir < Nb3Ir < V3Ir < Cr3Ir < Mo3Ir. This behavior was discussed in terms of the volume of unit cell and electron density. Furthermore, Debye temperatures were derived and were found to show good consistency with the experimental values, indicating the precision of our calculations. Finally, the electronic structures were analyzed to explain the ductile essences in the iridium compounds.


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