Structural Phase Transition and a Mutation of Electron Mobility in Zn_xCd_(1-x)O Alloys

We investigate the electronic structures and phase stability of ZnO, CdO and the related alloys in rocksalt（B1）and wurzite（B4） crystal, using the first-principle density functional theory within the hybrid functional approximation. By varying the concentration of Zn components from 0% to 100%, we find that the Zn_xCd（1-x）O alloy undergoes a phase transition from octahedron to tetrahedron at x = 0.32, in agreement with the recent experimental findings. The phase transition leads to a mutation of the electron mobility originated from the changes of the effective mass. Our results qualify Zn O/Cd O alloy as an attractive candidate for photo-electrochemical and solar cell power applications.

Unveiling the pressure-driven metal–semiconductor–metal transition in the doped TiS_(2)

Conventional theories expect that materials under pressure exhibit expanded valence and conduction bands,leading to increased electrical conductivity.Here,we report the electrical properties of the doped 1T-TiS_(2) under high pressure by electrical resistance investigations,synchrotron x-ray diffraction,Raman scattering and theoretical calculations.Up to 70 GPa,an unusual metal-semiconductor-metal transition occurs.Our first-principles calculations suggest that the observed anti-Wilson transition from metal to semiconductor at 17 GPa is due to the electron localization induced by the intercalated Ti atoms.This electron localization is attributed to the strengthened coupling between the doped Ti atoms and S atoms,and the Anderson localization arising from the disordered intercalation.At pressures exceeding 30.5 GPa,the doped TiS_(2) undergoes a re-metallization transition initiated by a crystal structure phase transition.We assign the most probable space group as P2_(1)2_(1)2_(1).Our findings suggest that materials probably will eventually undergo the Wilson transition when subjected to sufficient pressure.

First principles study of structural, electronic, elastic and magnetic properties of cerium and praseodymium hydrogen system REH_x(RE:Ce, Pr and x=2, 3)

The structural, electronic, elastic and magnetic properties of cerium, praseodymium and their hydrides REH x（RE=Ce, Pr and x=2, 3） were investigated by the first principles calculations based on density functional theory using the Vienna ab-initio simulation package. At zero pressure all the hydrides were stable in the ferromagnetic state. The calculated lattice parameters were in good agreement with the experimental results. The bulk modulus decreased with the increase in the hydrogen content for these hydrides. The electronic structure revealed that di-hydrides were metallic whereas trihydrides were half metallic at zero pressure. A pressure-induced structural phase transition from cubic to hexagonal phase was predicted in these hydrides. The computed elastic constants indicated that these hydrides were mechanically stable at zero pressure. The calculated Debye temperature values were in good agreement with experimental and other theoretical results. A half metallic to metallic transition was also observed in REH3 under high pressure. Ferromagnetism was quenched in these hydrides at high pressures.

Investigation of Structural, Electronic and Mechanical Properties of Rubidium Metal Hydrides RbMH_4(M=B, Al, Ga)

Ab initio calculations are performed to investigate the structural stability, electronic structure and mechanical properties of rubidium metal hydrides RbMH4（M = B, Al, Ga） for five different crystal structures, namely hexagonal（P63mc）, tetragonal（P42/nmc）, tetragonal（P421c）, orthorhombic（Pnma） and monoclinic（P21/c）. Among the considered structures, tetragonal（P421c） phase is found to be the most stable one for these metal hydrides at normal pressure. A pressure-induced structural phase transition from tetragonal（P421c） to monoclinic（P21/c） phase is observed in all the three metal hydrides. The electronic structure reveals that these hydrides are wide band gap semiconductors. The calculated elastic constants indicate that these alkali metal tetrahydrides are mechanically stable at normal pressure.

Controlling Thermodynamic Properties of Ferromagnetic Group-Ⅳ Graphene-Like Nanosheets by Dilute Charged Impurity

Using the Kane-Mele Hamiltonian, Dirac theory and self-consistent Born approximation, we investigate the effect of dilute charged impurity on the electronic heat capacity and magnetic susceptibility of two-dimensional ferromagnetic honeycomb structure of group-Ⅳ elements including silicene, germanene and stanene within the Green's function approach. We also find these quantities in the presence of applied external electric field. Our results show that the silicene(stanene) has the maximum(minimum) heat capacity and magnetic susceptibility at uniform electric fields. From the behavior of theses quantities, the band gap has been changed with impurity concentration, impurity scattering strength and electric field. The analysis on the impurity-dependent magnetic susceptibility curves shows a phase transition from ferromagnetic to paramagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases. Interestingly, electronic heat capacity increases(decreases) with impurity concentration in silicene(germanene and stanene) structure.