A Theoretical Analysis of Physical Properties and Half-Metallic Stability under Pressure Effect of the ScNiCrZ (Z=Ga, Al, In) Heusler Alloys

The aim purpose of this study is to investigate the structural, elastic, magnetic, electronic properties and half-metallic stability under pressure of ScNiCrZ ([Formula: see text], Ga and In) quaternary Heusler alloys using full-potential linear muffin-tin orbital (FP-LMTO) method within the gradient generalized approximation (GGA) for exchange, and correlation potential. In order to evaluate the stability of our compounds, the formation energy, and elastic constants have been evaluated. The results showed that our compounds have ferromagnetic ground states and are energetically more stable in type-[Formula: see text] configuration. True half-metallic ferromagnetic behavior with 100% spin polarization at Fermi level [Formula: see text] with high Curie temperature [Formula: see text], and very interesting bandgap in the minority spin are obtained for the three alloys. The calculated total magnetic moment [Formula: see text] for all three alloys is consistent with Slater[Formula: see text]Pauling rule. The half-metallicity is maintained over a wide range of lattice constants making these alloys promising for spintronic, and magneto-electronics applications.

A first-principles investigation of band inversion in topologically nontrivial Na2AgX (X= As, Sb and Bi) full Heusler compounds

Topological nontrivial nature are the latest phases to be discovered in condensed matter physics with insulating bulk band gaps and topologically protected metallic surface states; they are one of the current hot topics because of their unique properties and potential applications. In this paper, we have highlighted a first-principles study of the structural stability and electronic behavior of the Na2AgX (X = As, Sb and Bi) full Heusler compounds, using the Full-Potential Linear Muffin-Tin Orbital (FP-LMTO) method. We have originated that the Hg2CuTi structure is appropriate in all studied materials. The negative values of the calculated formation energies mean that these compounds are energetically stable. The band structure is studied for the two cases relating the existence and the absence of spin-orbital couplings, where all materials are shown to be topologically non-trivial compounds. Spin orbital couplings were noticed to have no significant effect on the electronic properties such as the topological order.

First-principles calculations to investigate structural, electronic and optical properties of (ZnSe)n/(ZnTe)n superlattices

An investigation into the structural, electronic and optical properties of superlattices(SLs) (ZnSe)n/(ZnTe)n was conducted using first principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT). The total energies were calculated within the full-potential linear muffin-tin orbital (FP-LMTO) method augmented by a plane-wave basis (PLW), implemented in LmtART 7.0 code. The effects of the approximations to the exchange-correlation energy were treated by the local density approximation (LDA). The ground state properties of (ZnSe)n/(ZnTe)n binary compounds are determined and compared with the available data. It is found that the superlattice (n-n: 1-1, 2-2 and 3-3) band gaps vary depending on the layers used. The optical constants, including the dielectric function ε(w), the refractive index n(w) and the reflectivity R(w), are calculated for radiation energies up to 35eV.

First-principles investigation of the structural, elastic, electronic, and optical properties of semiconducting AgBr1–xIx (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) ternary alloys in rock-salt and zinc blende structures

In this work, first principle calculations of the structural, electronic, elastic, and optical properties of novel AgBr1–xIx ternary alloys in rock-salt (B1) and zinc-blende (B3) structures are presented. The calculations were performed using the full-potential linear muffin-tin orbital (FP-LMTO) method within the framework of the density functional theory (DFT). The exchange and correlation potentials were treated according to the local density approximation (LDA). The lattice constants for the B1 and B3 phases versus iodide concentration (x) were found to deviate slightly from the linear relationship of Vegard’s law. The calculated electronic properties showed that AgBr1–xIx alloys in the B3 structure have a direct band gap (Γ – Γ) for all concentrations of x, which means that they can be used in long-wavelength optoelectronic applications, while in the B1 structure they have an indirect (Γ – R) band gap. The elastic constants Cij, shear modulus G, Young’s modulus E, Poisson’s ratio ν, index of ductility B/G, sound velocities vt, vl, and vm, and Debye temperature θD were also reported and analyzed. By incorporating the basic optical properties, we discussed the dielectric function, refractive index, optical reflectivity, absorption coefficient, and optical conductivity in terms of incident photon energy up to 13.5 eV. The present results were found to be in good agreement with the available experimental and other theoretical results.

A new ternary silicide GdFe1−xSi2 (x=0.32): preparation, crystal and electronic structure

The title compound was prepared from the elements by arc-melting. The crystal structure was investigated by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction. It crystallizes in the TbFeSi2 structure type, orthorhombic space group Cmmm, a = 4.0496(8), b = 16.416(2), c = 3.9527(6) Å, Z = 4, R1 = 0.041, wR2 = 0.11 for 207 unique reflections with Io > 2 σ(Io) and 19 refined parameters. The Fe position is not fully occupied and the refinement results in a composition GdFe0.68Si2 in agreement with a chemical analysis. The structure consists of zig-zag chains of Si(1) atoms which are terminally bound to additional Si(2) atoms. For an ordered variant GdFe0.5Si2 the Zintl concept can be applied which results in formal oxidation states Gd3+(Fe2+)0.5Si(1)1−Si(2)3−. The electronic structure of this variant GdFe0.5Si2 was analyzed using the tight-binding LMTO method and the results confirm the simple bonding picture.

ATiO3 (A = Ca, Sr, Ba & BP) Pervoskites in Cubic and Tetragonal Phase using TB-LMTO-ASA Method

Ground state properties of ATiO3 (A = Ca, Sr, Ba & Pb) pervoskite structures in cubic and tetragonal phase were studied by tight binding linear muffin-tin orbital (TB-LMTO) method in the framework of density functional theory (DFT) with the atomic-sphere approximation (ASA). The total energy of all the compounds come under the above said structures have shown that the cubic phase is the stable structure in the ambient condition. Among these pervoskites maximum bulk modulus was obtained for BaTiO3 . Direct (cubic) and indirect (tetragonal) band gap was observed from the band structure calculations and the values fall within the range of 1.5 – 1.7 eV. Electron distribution of each element in the valence and conduction bands was clearly obtained from the density of states (DOS) and partial density of states (PDOS) for all the compounds. The magnetization values were found in the range of 0.4 – 0.56 x 10-5µB. The‘d’ orbital position of Ti was observed for all the ABO3 compounds and shifted away from the Fermi level except for Ti in BaTiO3 . The refractive indices of the pervoskites were calculated from the energy band gap and the value is above 3 for all the compounds.

Theoretical Studies of the Structural, Electronic and Magnetic Properties of the CoFeCeZ (Z = P, As and Sb) Quaternary Heusler Alloys

In this paper, we investigate the structural, electronic and magnetic properties of CoFeCrZ ([Formula: see text], As,Sb) quaternary Heusler alloy, using the first-principles full potential linear muffin-tin orbital (FP-LMTO) method within the spin gradient generalized approximation (GGA) for the exchange and correlation potential. Our results demonstrate that in ferromagnetic phase, the all alloys CoFeCrZ are stable in type-1 configuration and are half-metallic ferromagnets (HMF) with gaps of 0.99[Formula: see text]eV, 0.57[Formula: see text]eV and 0.70[Formula: see text]Ev, respectively. The obtained negative formation energy shows that CoFeCrZ alloys have strong structural stability. The calculated total magnetic moment, [Formula: see text] for all alloys exhibit Slater-Pauling rule, [Formula: see text]. At zero pressure, the three alloys shown 100% spin-polarization at Fermi–level [Formula: see text] with high Curie temperatures [Formula: see text]. Our calculation indicate also that the half-metallicity and high magnetic moment of CoFeCrP, CoFeCrAs and CoFeCrSb are robust against the lattice compression (up to 7.80%, 5.40% and 11%, respectively). On the basis of these results, it is suggested that the CoFeCrZ Heusler could be suitable for spintronics devices applications.

Structural and Electronic Properties of Thulium Compounds

The tight binding linear muffin-tin-orbital (TB-LMTO) method within the local density approximation (LDA) is used to study the electronic structure and high pressure behaviour of thulium compounds TmX (X= P, As, S, and Se). We also predict a structural phase transition from NaCl to CsCl-type structure. The transition pressures were found to be 40.0, 31.0, 58.0 and 49.0 GPa, for TmP, TmAs, TmS and TmSe respectively. Apart from this, the lattice parameter (a0), bulk modulus (B0), band structure and density of states are calculated. From energy band diagram, it is observed that these compounds exhibit weak metallic character. The calculated values of lattice parameters and bulk modulus are of reasonable agreement with available data.