Curie Temperatures of III–V Diluted Magnetic Semiconductors Calculated from First-Principles in Mean Field Approximation

Electronic structure and ferromagnetism in III–V compound-based diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMS) are investigated based on first-principles calculations by using the Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker method combined with the coherent-potential-approximation. The stability of the ferromagnetic phase in GaN-, GaAs-, GaP-, GaSb-based DMS is investigated systematically. The calculations show that 3d-impurities from the first-half of the transition metal series favor the ferromagnetic state, while impurities from the latter-half of the series exhibit spin-glass behavior. This chemical trend in the magnetism is explained by the double exchange mechanism taking the local symmetry at the impurity gap states into account. Curie temperatures of GaAs- and GaN-based DMS are estimated by using the Heisenberg model in a mean field approximation with the parameters calculated from first-principles. It is suggested that room-temperature ferromagnetism can be realized in these systems.     

First-principles calculation of phase equilibria and phase separation of the Fe-Ni alloy system

Theoretical investigation of the phase equilibria of the Fe-Ni alloy has been performed by combining the FLAPW total energy calculations and the Cluster Variation Method through the Cluster Expansion Method. The calculations have proved the stabilization of the LIE phase at 1：3 stoichiometry, which is in agreement with the experimental result, and predicted the existence of L1 0 as a stable phase below 550 K; this L1 0 phase has been missing in the conventional phase diagram. The calculations are extended to the Fe-rich region that is characterized by a wide range phase separation and has drawn considerable attention because of the intriguing Invar property associated with a Fe concentration of 65%. To reveal the origin of the phase separation, a P-V curve in an entire concentration range is derived by the second derivative of free energy functional of the disordered phase with respect to the volume. The calculation confirmed that the phase separation is caused by the breakdown of the mechanical-stability criterion. The newly calculated phase separation line combined with the L1 0 and L12Eorder-disordered phase boundaries provides phase equilibria in the wider concentration range of the system. Furthermore, a coefficient of thermal expansion （CTE） is attempted by incorporating the thermal vibration effect through harmonic approximation of the Debye-Gruneisen model. The Invar behavior has been reproduced, and the origin of this anomalous volume change has been discussed.     

Local orders,lattice distortions,and electronic structure dominated mechanical properties of (ZrHfTaM1M2)C (M = Nb,Ti, V)

High-entropy carbides (HECs) are regarded as potential candidate structural materials with attractive mechanical properties due to their ultra-high hardness. It is essential to reveal the atomic and electronic basis for strengthening mechanism in order to develop the advanced HECs. In the present work, C (M = Nb, Ti, V) are selected as case studies. The effects of transition metals (M) on the lattice parameters, bulk modulus, enthalpy of formation, electron work function (EWF), and bonding morphology/strength of HECs are comprehensively studied by first-principles calculations. It is found that the lattice parameters, equilibrium volumes, and bulk modulus of HECs are improved with the increase of M atomic volumes. The atomic-size differences among various groups of elements not only result in the lattice mismatch/distortion but also contribute to the formation of weak spots. In the view of bonding charge density, the electron redistributions caused by the coupling effect of the lattice distortion and valance electron differences can be revealed obviously, which identify the different bonding strength. Moreover, in terms of EWF, the proposed power-law-scaled hardness of HECs is validated and matches well with those reported theoretical and experimental results, providing a strategy to design advanced HECs with excellent mechanical properties.     

ATaO_3（A=K,Na）电子结构和光学性质的第一性原理研究

采用第一性原理广义梯度近似（GGA）下的全电势线性缀加平面波（FP-LAPW）方法计算出立方相ATaO3（A=K,Na）的电子能带结构、态密度,发现了其光学性质.通过对两种材料的对比分析发现,KTaO3和NaTaO3价带顶均出现在0.15089eV处,KTaO3的导带底在2.02849eV处,NaTaO3的导带底在2.27339eV处,NaTaO3比KTaO3的导带底高,因而禁带宽度较大;NaTaO3中Ta5d电子和O2p电子之间的轨道杂化比KTaO3中的轨道杂化弱,Na的粒子性较K更强,因此,NaTaO3的光催化活性明显大于KTaO3.     

钙钛矿型ScRh3X（X=B，C，N）的第一性原理研究

利用第一性原理研究了钙钛矿型的ScRh3X（X=B,C,N）及其固溶体的结构、弹性、电子性质等。研究结果表明,对于平衡状态下的ScRh3BxC1-x（0〈x〈1）固溶体,其结构参数和已知的实验数据相一致,和ScRh3C结构相比,在0〈x〈1的范围内,固溶体ScRh3BxC1-x的体积弹性模量和弹性常数C44随着价电子浓度的增加增大,而剪切模量却表现出单调下降的趋势。本文根据计算得到的电子结构信息对这些现象进行了分析,发现剪切模量比体积弹性模量或C44能更好的预测该体系的硬度。     

Optical property of amorphous semiconductor mercury cadmium telluride from first-principles study

The structural and optical properties of amorphous semiconductor mercury cadmium telluride (a-MCT) are obtained by the first principles calculations. The total pair distribution functions and the density of states show that the a-MCT has the semiconductor characteristic. The calculated results of dielectric function show that E ₂ peak of the imaginary of dielectric function for the crystal mercury cadmium telluride abruptly disappears in the amorphous case due to the long-range disorders. And the imaginary of dielectric function of a-MCT shows a large broad peak, which is in agreement with the available results of other amorphous semiconductors. From the linear extrapolation of the curve ħωɛ ₂(ω)^1/2 versus ħω, it can be obtained that the optical energy gap of amorphous semiconductor Hg_0.5Cd_0.5Te is 0.51±0.05 eV. Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (“973” Project) (Grant No. 2007CB613205), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos.10725418, 10734090, 60576068), the Key Fund of Shanghai Science and Technology Foundation (Grant No. 08JC1421100) and the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences     

密度泛函理论的基本计算方法研究进展

密度泛函理论(DFT)作为处理多粒子体系的近似方法已经在凝聚态物理、材料科学和量子化学等领域取得了巨大成功并获得广泛应用。综述了密度泛函理论及其数值方法的发展历程和最新进展,重点对基本理论和各类交换关联泛函进行分析,并对DFT的发展趋势做出了展望。     

实现照明 LED 用 p-ZnO 中 Ag-2N高共掺粒子数分数机理

基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理方法,对六方纤锌矿结构的Zn O晶体,N、Ag分别掺杂Zn O,以及Ag-2N共掺杂Zn O晶体的几何结构分别进行了比较研究,在此基础上计算得到了未掺杂Zn O晶体和不同掺杂情况下Zn O晶体的能带结构、总体态密度、分波态密度和电荷布居数.结果显示:Ag-2N共掺杂Zn O具有较稳定的结构,能有效提高载流子粒子数分数,更容易得到稳定的p型Zn O.     

First-principles Investigation of the Structural,Electronic and Elastic Properties of Al2Ca and Al4Sr Phases in Mg-Al-Ca（Sr） Alloy

First-principles calculations have been carried out to investigate the structural stabilities, electronic structures and elastic properties of Mg17Al12, Al2Ca and Al4Sr phases. The optimized structural parameters are in good agreement with the experimental and other theoretical values. The calculated formation enthalpies and cohesive energies show that Al2Ca has the strongest alloying ability, and Al4Sr has the highest structural stability. The densities of states （DOS）, Mulliken electronic populations, and electronic charge density difference are obtained to reveal the underlying mechanism of structural stability. The bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young＇s modulus, and Poisson＇s ratio are estimated from the calculated elastic constants. The mechanical properties of these phases are further analyzed and discussed. The Gibbs free energy and Debye temperature are also calculated and discussed.     

Defect formation and its effect on the thermodynamic properties of Pu2Zr2O7 pyrochlore: a first-principles study

In the past decades, pyrochlores, such as Gd₂Zr₂O₇, have demonstrated great potential to immobilize nuclear wastes such as Pu, which results in the production of Pu₂Zr₂O₇. Due to the high radioactivity of Pu, it is difficult to investigate the radiation response behavior of Pu₂Zr₂O₇ and its physical properties of the damaged state experimentally. Consequently, few related data have been reported in the literature thus far. In this study, first-principles calculations have been carried out to investigate the defect formation and its effect on the thermodynamic properties of Pu₂Zr₂O₇. It reveals that Pu_Zr antisite and O_8a interstitial defects are very easy to form in Pu₂Zr₂O₇. In particular, the O_8a interstitial defect can be formed spontaneously, while it is mechanically unstable. When vacancy, interstitial or antisite defects are formed in Pu₂Zr₂O₇, and the elastic moduli and Debye temperature are decreased. Besides, better ductility is resulted. As compared with other zirconate pyrochlores, such as Gd₂Zr₂O₇, the Pu₂Zr₂O₇ is suggested to be less resistant to radiation-induced amorphization. This study demonstrates that the created defects due to self-radiation from actinide decay have remarkable influences on the thermophysical properties of Pu₂Zr₂O₇.