Mechanical properties,thermophysical properties and electronic structure of Yb^(3+)or Ce^(4+)-doped La_(2)Zr_(2)O_(7)-based TBCs

First-principles calculations based on density functional theory were perfo rmed to investigate the cohesive energies,elastic modulus,Debye temperatures,thermal conductivities and density of states of La_(2-x)Yb_(x)Zr_(2)O_(7),La_(2)Zr_(2-x)Ce_(x)O_(7)and La_(2-x)Yb_(x)Zr_(2-x)Ce_(x)O_(7)(x=0.00,0.25,0.50,0.75,1.00)ceramics.The results show that doping Yb~(3+)or Ce~(4+)into La_(2)Zr_(2)O_(7)reduces its elastic modulus,thermal conductivity and Debye temperature.Compared with La_(2-x)Yb_(x)Zr_(2)O_(7)(x≠0.00),La_(2)Zr_(2-x)Ce_(x)O_(7)compounds have better ductility and lower Debye te mperature.The Debye temperature values of La_(2)Zr_(2-x)Ce_(x)O_(7)(x≠0.00)co mpounds are in the range of 485.0-511.5 K.Among all components,the fluorite-type La_(2-x)Yb_(x)Zr_(2-x)Ce_(x)O_(7)(x=0.75,1.00)compounds exhibit better mechanical and thermophysical properties,and their thermal conductivity values are only 1.213-1.246 W/(m·K)(1073 K),which are 14.5%-16.7%lower than that of the pure La_(2)Zr_(2)O_(7).Thus,our findings open an entirely new avenue for TBCs.