The First-Principle Calculation of La-doping Effect on Piezoelectricity in Tetragonal KNN Crystal

The La-dopping effect on the piezoelectricity in the K0.5Na0.5NbO3 （KNN） crystal with a tetragonal phase is investigated for the first time using the first-principle calculation based on density functional theory. The full potentiallinearized augumented plane wave plus local orbitals （APW-LO） method and the supercell method are used in the calculation for the KNN crystal with and without the La doping. The results show that the piezoelectricity originates from the strong hybridization between the Nb atom and the O atom, and the substitution of the K or Na atom by the La impurity atom introduces the anisotropic relaxation and enhances the piezoelectricity at first and then restrains the hybridization of the Nb-O atoms when the La doping content further increases.

Transformation of long-period stacking ordered structures in Mg-Gd-Y-Zn alloys upon synergistic characterization of first-principles calculation and experiment and its effects on mechanical properties

Based on experiments and first-principles calculations,the microstructures and mechanical properties of as-cast and solution treated Mg-10Gd-4Y-xZn-0.6Zr(x=0,1,2,wt.%)alloys are investigated.The transformation process of long-period stacking ordered(LPSO)structure during solidification and heat treatment and its effect on the mechanical properties of experimental alloys are discussed.Results reveal that the stacking faults and 18R LPSO phases appear in the as-cast Mg-10Gd-4Y-1Zn-0.6Zr and Mg-10Gd-4Y-2Zn-0.6Zr alloys,respectively.After solution treatment,the stacking faults and 18R LPSO phase transform into 14H LPSO phase.The Enthalpies of formation and reaction energy of 14H and 18R LPSO are calculated based on first-principles.Results show that the alloying ability of 18R is stronger than that of 14H.The reaction energies show that the 14H LPSO phase is more stable than the 18R LPSO.The elastic properties of the 14H and 18R LPSO phases are also evaluated by first-principles calculations,and the results are in good agreement with the experimental results.The precipitation of LPSO phase improves the tensile strength,yield strength and elongation of the alloy.After solution treatment,the Mg-10Gd-4Y-2Zn-0.6Zr alloy has the best mechanical properties,and its ultimate tensile strength and yield strength are 278.7 MPa and 196.4 MPa,respectively.The elongation of Mg-10Gd-4Y-2Zn-0.6Zr reaches 15.1,which is higher than that of Mg-10Gd-4Y0.6Zr alloy.The improving mechanism of elastic modulus by the LPSO phases and the influence on the alloy mechanical properties are also analyzed.

First-Principles Calculation of the Topological Nodal-Line Semimetal FeGe_(2)

The electronic and topological properties of FeGe2 with a tetragonal crystal structure were investigated via first-principles calculations.The results demonstrate that FeGe2 in this structure exhibits anti-ferromagnetism,with two bands crossing the Fermi level nesting each other at high-symmetry points in the Brillouin zone,forming a nodal ring where the nodes intersect in momentum space.Additionally,it possesses nontrivial topological surface states.Upon inclusion of SOC(spin-orbit coupling),there are no significant changes observed in the band structure,nodal features,or surface states,indicating the persistence of its topological nodal-line characteristics.

First-principles calculations of Ni–(Co)–Mn–Cu–Ti all-d-metal Heusler alloy on martensitic transformation,mechanical and magnetic properties

The martensitic transformation,mechanical,and magnetic properties of the Ni_(2)Mn_(1.5-x)Cu_(x)Ti_(0.5) (x=0.125,0.25,0.375,0.5) and Ni_(2-y)Co_(y)Mn_(1.5-x)Cu_(x)Ti_(0.5)[(x=0.125,y=0.125,0.25,0.375,0.5) and (x=0.125,0.25,0.375,y=0.625)]alloys were systematically studied by the first-principles calculations.For the formation energy,the martensite is smaller than the austenite,the Ni–(Co)–Mn–Cu–Ti alloys studied in this work can undergo martensitic transformation.The austenite and non-modulated (NM) martensite always present antiferromagnetic state in the Ni_(2)Mn_(1.5-x)Cu_(x)Ti_(0.5) and Ni_(2-y)Co_(y)Mn_(1.5-x)Cu_(x)Ti_(0.5) (y<0.625) alloys.When y=0.625 in the Ni_(2-y)Co_(y)Mn_(1.5-x)Cu_(x)Ti_(0.5) series,the austenite presents ferromagnetic state while the NM martensite shows antiferromagnetic state.Cu doping can decrease the thermal hysteresis and anisotropy of the Ni–(Co)–Mn–Ti alloy.Increasing Mn and decreasing Ti content can improve the shear resistance and normal stress resistance,but reduce the toughness in the Ni–Mn–Cu–Ti alloy.And the ductility of the Co–Cu co-doping alloy is inferior to that of the Ni–Mn–Cu–Ti and Ni–Co–Mn–Ti alloys.The electronic density of states was studied to reveal the essence of the mechanical and magnetic properties.

Rational design of Fe/Co-based diatomic catalysts for Li–S batteries by first-principles calculations

Fe/Co-based diatomic catalysts decorated on an N-doped graphene substrate are investigated by first-principles calculations to improve the electrochemical properties of Li–S batteries.Our results demonstrate that Fe CoN8@Gra not only possesses moderate adsorption energies towards Li2Snspecies,but also exhibits superior catalytic activity for both reduction and oxidation reactions of the sulfur cathode.Moreover,the metallic property of the diatomic catalysts can be well maintained after Li2Snadsorption,which could help the sulfur cathode to maintain high conductivity during the whole charge–discharge process.Given these exceptional properties,it is expected that Fe CoN8@Gra could be a promising diatomic catalyst for Li–S batteries and afford insights for further development of advanced Li–S batteries.

Initial micro-galvanic corrosion behavior between Mg_(2)Ca and α-Mg via quasi-in situ SEM approach and first-principles calculation

The initial micro-galvanic corrosion behavior of Mg-30wt%Ca alloy only containing Mg_(2)Ca andα-Mg was studied by immersion testing in a 0.9%Na Cl solution at 37°C.The quasi-in situ SEM and TEM results show that Mg_(2)Ca corroded easier thanα-Mg,indicating that Mg_(2)Ca acted as an anode.The work function(Φ)for Mg_(2)Ca calculated by first-principles is significantly lower compared to that forα-Mg.The Volta potential measured by a scanning Kelvin probe force microscope reveals that the Mg_(2)Ca had a relatively low Volta potential(ψ)value.The lowerΦandψvalues for Mg_(2)Ca indicate a lower electrochemical nobility,which is consistent with the experimental phenomenon.

Structural,electronic,and Li-ion mobility properties of garnet-type Li_(7)La_(3)Zr_(2)O_(12) surface:An insight from first-principles calculations

Garnet-type Li_(7)La_(3)Zr_(2)O_(12)(LLZO) is a promising solid-state electrolyte for Li-ion batteries,but Li-dendrite's formation greatly limits the applications.In this paper,we systematically investigate the stability,electronic properties,and Li-ion mobility of the LLZO surface by the ifrst-principles calculations.We consider the(110) and(001) slab structures with different terminations in the t-and c-LLZO.Our results indicate that both(110) and(001) surfaces prefer to form Li-rich termination due to their low surface energies for either t-or c-LLZO.Moreover,with the decrease of Li contents the stability of Li-rich surfaces is improved initially and degrades later.Unfortunately,the localized surface states at the Fermi level can induce the formation of metallic Li on the Li-rich surfaces.In comparison,Li/La-termination has a relatively low metallic Li formation tendency due to its rather low diffusion barrier.In fact,Li-ion can spontaneously migrate along path II(Li3→Li2) on the Li/La-T(001) surface.In contrast,it is more difficult for Li-ion diffusion on the Li-T(001) surface,which has a minimum diffusion barrier of 0.50 eV.Interestingly,the minimum diffusion barrier decreases to 0.34 eV when removing four Li-ions from the Li-T(001) surface.Thus,our study suggests that by varying Li contents,the stability and Li-ion diffusion barrier of LLZO surfaces can be altered favorably.These advantages can inhibit the formation of metallic Li on the LLZO surfaces.

A first-principle calculation of structural,mechanical and electronic properties of titanium borides

The first-principle calculations are performed to investigate the structural,mechanical and electronic properties of titanium borides （Ti2B,TiB and TiB2）.Those calculated lattice parameters are in good agreement with the experimental data and previous theoretical values.All these borides are found to be mechanically stable at ambient pressure.Compared with parent metal Ti （120 GPa）,the larger bulk modulus of these borides increase successively with the increase of the boron content in three borides,which may be due to direction bonding introduced by the boron atoms in the lattice and the strong covalent Ti-B bonds.Additionally,TiB can be regarded as a candidate of incompressible and hard material besides TiB2.Furthermore,the elastic anisotropy and Debye temperatures are also discussed by investigating the elastic constants and moduli.Electronic density of states and atomic Mulliken charges analysis show that chemical bonding in these titanium borides is a complex mixture of covalent,ionic,and metallic characters.

First-principle calculations of interaction of O_2 with pyrite, marcasite and pyrrhotite surfaces

The interaction of O2 with pyrite, marcasite and pyrrhotite surfaces was studied using first-principle calculations to obtain the oxidization mechanisms of these minerals. The results show that the adsorption energy of O2 on pyrrhotite surface is the largest, followed by that on marcasite surface and then pyrite surface. O2 molecules adsorbed on pyrite, marcasite and pyrrhotite surfaces are all dissociated. The oxygen atoms and surface atoms of pyrite, marcasite and pyrrhotite surfaces have different bonding structures. Due to more atoms on pyrrhotite and marcasite surfaces interaction with oxygen atoms, the adsorption energies of O2 on pyrrhotite and marcasite surfaces are larger than that on pyrite surface. Larger values of Mulliken populations for O？Fe bond of pyrrhotite surface result in relative larger adsorption energy compared with that on marcasite surface.

First-principle calculations of ductile CeAg intermetallic compound

The first-principle calculations were performed to investigate the structural,mechanical,electronic and thermal properties of the binary ductile intermetallic compound CeAg with B2（CsCl） structure.The calculated value of lattice constant a0 for CeAg with generalized gradient approximation is 3.713-,which is in better agreement with experimental data than local spin density approximation.The negative energy of formation implies that CeAg with B2 structure is thermodynamically stable phase.The greater separation between the d bands of Ce and Ag results in weaker bond hybridization of Ce d—Ag d,which prevents formation of directional covalent bonding.The three independent elastic constants（C11,C12 and C44） are derived and the bulk modulus,shear modulus,elastic modulus,anisotropy factor,and Poisson ratio are determined to be 57.6 GPa,15.8 GPa,43.4 GPa,3.15 and 0.374,respectively.The elastic constants meet all the mechanical stability criteria.The value of Pugh＇s criterion is 3.65.The ductility of CeAg is predicted if Pugh＇s criterion is greater than 1.75.Furthermore,the variations of volume,bulk modulus,heat capacity,and thermal expansion coefficient with temperature and/or pressure were calculated and discussed.

First-principles study on the diffusion behavior of Cs and I in Cr coating

Cs and I can migrate through fuel-cladding interfaces and accelerate the cladding corrosion process induced by the fuel-cladding chemical interaction.Cr coating has emerged as an important candidate for mitigating this chemical interaction.In this study,first-principles calculations were employed to investigate the diffusion behavior of Cs and I in the Cr bulk and grain boundaries to reveal the microscopic interaction mitigation mechanisms at the fuel-cladding interface.The interaction between these two fission products and the Cr coating were studied systematically,and the Cs and I temperature-dependent diffusion coefficients in Cr were obtained using Bocquet’s oversized solute-atom model and Le Claire’s nine-frequency model,respectively.The results showed that the Cs and I migration barriers were significantly lower than that of Cr,and the Cs and I diffusion coefficients were more than three orders of magnitude larger than the Cr self-diffusion coefficient within the temperature range of Generation-IV fast reactors(below 1000 K),demonstrating the strong penetration ability of Cs and I.Furthermore,Cs and I are more likely to diffuse along the grain boundary because of the generally low migration barriers,indicating that the grain boundary serves as a fast diffusion channel for Cs and I.

First-Principles Investigation of Charge Transfer Mechanism of B-Doped 3C-SiC Semiconductor Material

This study delves into the charge transfer mechanism of boron (B)-doped 3C-SiC through first-principles investigations. We explore the effects of B doping on the electronic properties of 3C-SiC, focusing on a 12.5% impurity concentration. Our comprehensive analysis encompasses structural properties, electronic band structures, and charge density distributions. The optimized lattice constant and band gap energy of 3C-SiC were found to be 4.373 Å and 1.36 eV respectively, which is in agreement with previous research (Bui, 2012;Muchiri et al., 2018). Our results show that B doping narrows the band gap, enhances electrical conductivity, and influences charge transfer interactions. The charge density analysis reveals substantial interactions between B dopants and surrounding carbon atoms. This work not only enhances our understanding of the material’s electronic properties, but also highlights the importance of charge density analysis for characterizing charge transfer mechanisms and their implications in the 3C-SiC semiconductors.

First-principles study on stability and superconductivity of ternary hydride LaYH_(x)(x=2,3,6 and 8)

Recent studies have shown that the La-and Y-hydrides can exhibit significant superconducting properties under high pressures.In this paper,we investigate the stability,electronic and superconducting properties of LaYH_(x)(x=2,3,6 and 8)under 0-200 GPa.It is found that LaYH_(2) stabilizes in the C2/m phase at ambient pressure,and transforms to the Pmmn phase at 67 GPa.LaYH_(3) stabilizes in the C2/m phase at ambient pressure,and undergoes phase transitions of C2/m→P2_(1)/m→R3m at 12 GPa and 87 GPa,respectively.LaYH_(6) stabilizes in the P4_32_12 phase at ambient pressure,and undergoes phase transitions of P4_(3)2_(1)2→P4/mmm→Cmcm at 28 GPa and 79 GPa,respectively.LaYH_(8) stabilizes in the Imma phase at 60 GPa and transforms to the P4/mmm phase at 117 GPa.Calculations of the electronic band structures show that the P4/mmm-LaYH_(8) and all phases of LaYH_(2) and LaYH_(3) exhibit metallic character.For the metallic phases,we then study their superconducting properties.The calculated superconducting transition temperatures(T_c)are 0.47 K for C2/m-LaYH_(2) at 0 GPa,0 K for C2/m-LaYH_(3) at 0 GPa,and 55.51 K for P4/mmm-LaYH_(8) at 50 GPa.

Random Green's Function Method for Large-Scale Electronic Structure Calculation

We report a linear-scaling random Green's function(rGF) method for large-scale electronic structure calculation. In this method, the rGF is defined on a set of random states and is efficiently calculated by projecting onto Krylov subspace. With the rGF method, the Fermi–Dirac operator can be obtained directly, avoiding the polynomial expansion to Fermi–Dirac function. To demonstrate the applicability, we implement the rGF method with the density-functional tight-binding method. It is shown that the Krylov subspace can maintain at small size for materials with different gaps at zero temperature, including H_(2)O and Si clusters. We find with a simple deflation technique that the rGF self-consistent calculation of H_(2)O clusters at T = 0 K can reach an error of~ 1 me V per H_(2)O molecule in total energy, compared to deterministic calculations. The rGF method provides an effective stochastic method for large-scale electronic structure simulation.

The growth ofβphase in Mg-Gd-Y-Ni alloy by experimental and first-principles study

The paper reports on the atomic investigation aboutβphase in Mg_(96)Gd_(2)Y_(1)Ni_(1) alloy by using the first-principles study and the high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscope(HAADF-STEM)corrected by atomic Cs.By using HAADF-STEM,the rectangularβphases were observed in the underage and peak aging stages in Mg_(96)Gd_(2)Y_(1)Ni_(1) alloy.Theβphase could be precipitated from the previously precipitatedβphase,and theβphase grew in steps when it was precipitated.A special transition structure of three atomic layer thicknesses was first observed at the edge of theβphase and the structure of this interface is probably as theβ/Mg_(1) interface for the analysis of thermodynamic characterization and electronic characterization.Theβ'phase and theβ_(H) structure were precipitated only at the edge of the length directions of theβphase.Theβ'phase continues to grow into aβphase directly without the formation ofβ_(1) phase,resulting in an increase in the length of theβphase,which is discovered for the first time.

Emerging perovskite materials for supercapacitors:Structure,synthesis,modification,advanced characterization,theoretical calculation and electrochemical performance

As a new generation electrode materials for energy storage,perovskites have attracted wide attention because of their unique crystal structure,reversible active sites,rich oxygen vacancies,and good stability.In this review,the design and engineering progress of perovskite materials for supercapacitors(SCs)in recent years is summarized.Specifically,the review will focus on four types of perovskites,perovskite oxides,halide perovskites,fluoride perovskites,and multi-perovskites,within the context of their intrinsic structure and corresponding electrochemical performance.A series of experimental variables,such as synthesis,crystal structure,and electrochemical reaction mechanism,will be carefully analyzed by combining various advanced characterization techniques and theoretical calculations.The applications of these materials as electrodes are then featured for various SCs.Finally,we look forward to the prospects and challenges of perovskite-type SCs electrodes,as well as the future research direction.

Mechanical Properties and Electronic Structures of M(M=Ti,V,Cr,Mn and Fe)Dopedβ-Si_(3)N_(4) from First-Principle

The structures,mechanical properties and electronic structures of M metals(M=Ti,V,Cr,Mn and Fe)dopedβ-Si_(3)N_(4) were investigated by First-principles calculations within CASTEP.The calculated lattice parameters ofβ-Si_(3)N_(4) were consistent with previous date.The cohesive energy and formation enthalpy show that initialβ-Si_(3)N_(4) has the highest structural stability.The calculated elastic constant and the Voigt-Reuss-Hill approximation indicate that elastic moduli ofβ-Si_(3)N_(4) are slightly reduced by M doping.Based on Poisson’s and Pugh’s ratio,β-Si_(3)N_(4) is a ductile material and the toughness ofβ-Si_(3)N_(4) increases with M doping,and Fe doping exhibited the best toughness.The results of density of states,charge distributions and overlapping populations indicate thatβ-Si_(3)N_(4) has the strong covalent and ionic bond strength between N and Si.

Organic Compounds Possessing the Plastic Crystalline Phase: Calculation of Their Fusion Enthalpies

For the first time, for different organic and inorganic compounds possessing the plastic crystalline phase, a new semiempirical equation describing dependence of their fusion enthalpies on such physico-chemical quantities as normal melting temperature, surface tension, molar volume and critical molar volume is received on the base of the principle of corresponding states and the energy equipartition theorem. Moreover, the proposed equation allows one to take into account the particularities of one-particle molecular rotation in the plastic crystalline phase.

Utility and Application of a Versatile Analytical Method for MMF Calculation in AC Machines

A versatile analytical method(VAM) for calculating the harmonic components of the magnetomotive force(MMF) generated by diverse armature windings in AC machines has been proposed, and the versatility of this method has been established in early literature. However, its practical applications and significance in advancing the analysis of AC machines need further elaboration. This paper aims to complement VAM by augmenting its theory, offering additional insights into its conclusions, as well as demonstrating its utility in assessing armature windings and its application of calculating torque for permanent magnet synchronous machines(PMSM). This work contributes to advancing the analysis of AC machines and underscores the potential for improved design and performance optimization.

High-throughput calculation-based rational design of Fe-doped MoS_(2) nanosheets for electrocatalytic p H-universal overall water splitting

Electrocatalytic water splitting is crucial for H2generation via hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)but subject to the sluggish dynamics of oxygen evolution reaction(OER).In this work,single Fe atomdoped MoS_(2)nanosheets(SFe-DMNs)were prepared based on the high-throughput density functional theory(DFT)calculation screening.Due to the synergistic effect between Fe atom and MoS_(2)and optimized intermediate binding energy,the SFe-DMNs could deliver outstanding activity for both HER and OER.When assembled into a two-electrode electrolytic cell,the SFe-DMNs could achieve the current density of 50 mA cm^(-2)at a low cell voltage of 1.55 V under neutral condition.These results not only confirmed the effectiveness of high-throughput screening,but also revealed the excellent activity and thus the potential applications in fuel cells of SFe-DMNs.