Codoping of magnesium with oxygen in gallium nitride nanowires

Codoping of p-type GaN nanowires with Mg and oxygen was investigated using first-principles calculations. The Mg becomes a deep acceptor in GaN nanowires with high ionization energy due to the quantum confinement. The ionization energy of Mg doped GaN nanowires containing passivated Mg-O complex decreases with increasing the diameter, and reduces to 300 meV as the diameter of the GaN nanowire is larger than 2.01 nm, which indicates that Mg-O codoping is suitable for achieving p-type GaN nanowires with larger diameters. The codoping method to reduce the ionization energy can be effectively used in other semiconductor nanostructures. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics.

Optical properties of UO2 and PuO2

We perform first-principles calculations of electronic structure and optical properties for UO2 and PuO2 based on the density functional theory using the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) + U scheme. The main features in orbital-resolved partial density of states for occupied f and p orbitals, unoccupied d orbitals, and related gaps are well reproduced compared to experimental observations. Based on the satisfactory ground-state electronic structure calculations, the dynamical dielectric function and related optical spectra, i.e., the reflectivity, adsorption coefficient, energy-loss, and refractive index spectrum, are obtained. These results are consistent with the available experiments.

Origin of insulating behavior of the p-type LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface: Polarization-induced asymmetric distribution of oxygen vacancies

It is revealed from first-principles calculations that polarization-induced asymmetric distribution of oxygen vacancies plays an important role in the insulating behavior at p-type LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface. The formation energy of the oxygen vacancy (V-O) is much smaller than that at the surface of the LaAlO3 overlayer, causing all the carriers to be compensated by the spontaneously formed V-O's at the interface. In contrast, at an n-type interface, the formation energy of V-O is much higher than that at the surface, and the V-O's formed at the surface enhance the carrier density at the interface. This explains the puzzling behavior of why the p-type interface is always insulating but the n-type interface can be conducting.

Studies of tetragonal PbTiO3 subjected to uniaxial stress along the c-axis

Tetragonal PbTiO3 under uniaxial stress along the c-axis is investigated from first-principles. The structural parameters, polarization, and squares of the lowest optical phonon frequencies for E(1TO) and A(1)(1TO) modes at Gamma show abrupt changes near a stress sigma(c) of 1.04 GPa, which is related to the dramatic change of elastic constant c(33) resulting from the uniaxial stress applied along the c-axis. We also find that the uniaxial compressive stress could enhance the piezoelectric stress coefficients, whereas the uniaxial tensile stress could enhance the piezoelectric strain coefficients. It is also found that when the magnitude of uniaxial compressive stress sigma(33) is greater than 12 GPa, PbTiO3 is transformed to the paraelectric tetragonal phase.

Quantum Confinement and Electronic Properties of Rutile TiO2 Nanowires

The quantum confinement effect, electronic properties, and optical properties of TiO2 nanowires in rutile structure are investigated via first-principles calculations. We calculate the size- and shape-dependent band gap of the nanowires and fit the results with the function E-g = E-g(bulk) + beta/d(alpha). We find that the quantum confinement effect becomes significant for d < 25 angstrom, and a notable anisotropy exists that arises from the anisotropy of the effective masses. We also evaluate the imaginary part of the frequency-dependent dielectric function [epsilon(2)(omega)] within the electric-dipole approximation, for both the polarization parallel [epsilon(parallel to)(2)(omega)] and the perpendicular [epsilon 1/2(omega)] to the axial (c) direction. The band structure of the nanowires is calculated, with which the fine structure of epsilon(parallel to)(2)(omega) has been analyzed.

Structure and Electronic Properties of Saturated and Unsaturated Gallium Nitride Nanotubes

The atomic and electronic structures of saturated and unsaturated GaN nanotubes along the [001] direction with (100) lateral facets are studied using first-principles calculations. Atomic relaxation of nanotubes shows that appreciable distortion occurs in the unsaturated nanotubes. All the nanotubes considered, including saturated and unsaturated ones, exhibit semiconducting, with a direct band gap Surface states arisen from the 3-fold-coordinated N and Ga atoms at the lateral facets exist inside the bulklike band gap. When the nanotubes are saturated with hydrogen, these dangling bond bands are removed from the band gap, but the band gap decreases with increasing the wall thickness of the nanotubes.

Electronic, structural, and optical properties of crystalline yttria

The electronic structure of crystalline Y2O3 is investigated by first-principles calculations within the local-density approximation (LDA) of the density-functional theory. Results are presented for the band structure, the total density of states (DOS), the atom-and orbital-resolved partial DOS. effective charges, bond order, and charge-density distributions. Partial covalent character in the Y-O bonding is shown, and the nonequivalency of the two Y sites is demonstrated. The calculated electronic structure is compared with a variety of available experimental data. The total energy of the crystal is calculated as a function of crystal volume. A bulk modulus B of 183 Gpa and a pressure coefficient B' of 4.01 are obtained, which are in good agreement with compression data. An LDA band gap of 4.54 eV at Gamma is obtained which increases with pressure at a rate of dE(g)/dP = 0.012 eV/Gpa at the equilibrium volume. Also investigated are the optical properties of Y2O3 up to a photon energy of 20 eV. The calculated complex dielectric function and electron-energy-loss function are in good agreement with experimental data. A static dielectric constant of epsilon(O)= 3.20 is obtained. It is also found that the bottom of the conduction band consists of a single band, and direct optical transition at Gamma between the top of the valence band and the bottom of the conduction band may be symmetry forbidden.

无机材料的结构与物理性能：第一性原理计算

本论文的研究方向是通过密度泛函理论研究各种材料的物理化学性质。近年来相关理论和数值算法的飞速发展，使得基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理方法成为凝聚态物理、量子化学和材料科学中的常规计算研究手段。本论文对无机材料进行第一性原理研究，研究涉及材料物性包括几何构型、电子结构、磁性能、和力学性质等等。 第一章简要地介绍了密度泛函理论的基本框架和近年来的理论发展。密度泛函理论的发展以及寻找合适的交换相关能量泛函为主线。从最初的局域密度近似（LDA）、广义梯度近似（GGA）到现在的非局域泛函、自相互作用修正，多种泛函形式的出现使得密度泛函理论可以提供越来越精确的计算结果。除了改进交换相关泛函，近年来密度泛函理论向动力学平均场和含时理论等方面扩展也很活跃。这些扩展式的密度泛函理论的应用领域不断扩大。在本章的最后，我们介绍一些密度泛函理论的应用程序。 第二章我们通过第一性原理从头算系统的研究了5d过渡金属二硼化物TMB2 (TM = Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os and Ir, Pt)在假想的Pmmn空间群中的结合能、生成焓、力学常数和电子能带结构。我们的计算结果表明在力学常数和价电子浓度之间存在一种关系：即当价电子浓度在6.8到7.2之间时，体模量和剪切模量达到最大值。再者，这种力学常数与价电子浓度之间的关系可以通过电子能带结构分析，如费米面附近价电子的占据情况，决定了体系的结合能和力学性能。最大的体模量和剪切模量的获得归因于TM d-B p成键态的几乎完全占据和反键态的未占据。依据上述这种关系，我们预测了在正交结构OsB2合金化W和Re将比合金化Ir元素更容易和更硬。事实上，我们的进一步计算证实了我们的期望。 通过第一性原理计算研究了ReB2和WB2的结构、弹性力学，和电子性质。计算结果表明：ReB2的平衡态结构参数和报导的实验结构一致。在常温常压下，WB2在P63/mmc空间群比在P6/mmm更稳定。依据我们计算的多晶聚集体的体模量、剪切模量，ReB2和WB2可以被看作是具有前景的低压缩率和硬材料。再者，化合物的力学各项异性通过计算得到的弹性力学常数来详细的分析讨论。态密度和电子密度分析揭示过渡金属和硼原子之间的共价键是材料具有高的体模量、剪切模量和小的Poisson比率的原因。 第四章，采用WIEN2k程序包中的缀加平面波+局域轨道方法的第一性原理计算，研究了层状钙钛矿化合物Cs2AgF4的结构、电子结构和磁性等性质。我们的计算结果表明Cs2AgF4的基态为正交相，能量比四方相低。我们同时发现Cs2AgF4应该表现出一种强的二维铁磁性，铁磁层之间为弱的反铁磁性耦合，这一结果与实验观察相一致。更主要的是，通过分析态密度图和自旋电子密度等密度面的分析，可以清楚地看出体系中存在 和 轨道的反铁电弹性有序现象。 第五章中，采用WIEN2k程序包中的缀加平面波+局域轨道方法的第一性原理计算，研究了YBaFe2O5的晶体结构、电子和磁性等方面的物理性能，特别是有关电荷和轨道有序的情况。尽管总的3d电荷不均衡程度很小，以Fe2+ 和Fe3+阳离子t2g轨道占据数的差别所定义的轨道有序序参量相当大（0.73），无可非议的显示YBaFe2O5中存在电荷和轨道有序。O 2p和Fe eg轨道之间的强的杂化作用使得Fe2+ 和Fe3+阳离子之间总电荷差别几乎完全消失。此外，我们讨论了轨道有序和电荷有序以及磁有序之间的关系。dxz轨道有序决定了G型反铁磁性自旋有序的稳定性和电荷有序模式。

Room-Temperature Ferromagnetism in Co-Doped In2O3 Nanocrystals

Co-doped In2O3 nanocrystals showing room-temperature ferromagnetism have been successfully prepared by a simple sol-gel synthesis route. The sample displays it clear ferromagnetism behavior above 300 K. Phase and structure analyses reveal that the nanocrystals are crystallized with Co ions substituted for In ions in the In2O3 matrix, and no trace of secondary phases or clusters is detected. The experimental results are explained theoretically by first-principles calculations based on density functional theory, which indicate that the native ferromagnetic behavior of Co-doped In2O3 could be mainly ascribed to the strong d-d coupling of the magnetic ions.

Quantum confinement effect in thin quantum wires

The electronic states and optical transition properties of three semiconductor wires Si? GaAs, and ZnSe are studied by the empirical pseudopotential homojunction model. The energy levels, wave functions, optical transition matrix elements, and lifetimes are obtained for wires of square cross section with width from 2 to 5 (root 2a/2), where a is the lattice constant. It is found that these three kinds of wires have different quantum confinement properties. For Si wires, the energy gap is pseudodirect, and the wave function of the electronic ground state consists mainly of four bulk Delta states. The optical transition matrix elements are much smaller than that of a direct transition, and increase with decreasing wire width. Where the width of wire is 7.7 Angstrom, the Si wire changes from an indirect energy gap to a direct energy gap due to mixing of the bulk Gamma(15) state. For GaAs wires. the energy gap is also pseudodirect in the width range considered, but the optical transition matrix elements are larger than those of Si wires by two orders of magnitude for the same width. However, there is no transfer to a direct energy gap as the wire width decreases. For ZnSe wires, the energy gap is always direct, and the optical transition matrix elements are comparable to those of the direct energy gap bulk semiconductors. They decrease with decreasing wire width due to mixing of the bulk Gamma(1) state with other states. All quantum confinement properties are discussed and explained by our theoretical model and the semiconductor energy band structures derived. The calculated lifetimes of the Si wire, and the positions of photoluminescence peaks, are in good agreement with experimental results.

Ab initio study on the electronic, magnetic, and mechanical properties of CaCu3V4O12

The electronic, magnetic, and mechanical properties of CaCu3V4O12 are investigated by use of the density functional theory method. The calculated results indicate that CaCu3V4O12 is a half-metallic and ferrimagnetic compound. The magnetic coupling for Cu-V is antiferromagnetic, while those for Cu-Cu and V-V are ferromagnetic. The obtained elastic constants suggest that the compound is mechanically stable. The calculated oxidation states and density of states reveal the existence of a mixed valence for Cu and V. This supports the experimental observation of the mixed valence in Ca2+Cu2+Cu2+(V25+V24+)O-12.

Ab initio study on the physical properties of CoN3 and RhN3 with skutterudite structure

The elastic and electronic properties of hypothetical CoN3 and RhN3 with cubic skutterudite structure were studied by first principles calculations based on density functional theory. By choosing different initial geometries, two local minima or modifications were located on the potential energy surface, termed as modifications I and II. Both compounds are mechanically stable. For each compound, modification I is lower in energy than II. Thermodynamically stable phases can be achieved by applying pressures. Modification II is lower in energy than I at above 50 GPa for both compounds.

Charge disproportionation in CaCu3Fe4O12

First-principles calculations using the APW+lo method, as implemented in the WIEN2K code, have been used to investigate the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of the perovskite CaCu3Fe4O12, including the high-temperature Im-3 and low-temperature Pn-3 phase. The high-temperature phase presents a homogeneous valence and an orbital degenerate half-metallic behavior, which is consistent with the previous theoretical result. Instead orbital ordering, charge ordering, or disproportionation on Fe sites occur in the low-temperature phase, leading to the insulating character. More importantly, the charge disproportionation is of 2d(5)L -> d(5)L(2) + d(5) type (where L denotes an oxygen hole or a ligand hole), and the origin for the phenomenon is discussed in detail.

Tunable photoluminescent and cathodoluminescent properties of ZnO and ZnO : Zn phosphors

ZnO and ZnO: Zn powder phosphors were prepared by the polyol-method followed by annealing in air and reducing gas, respectively. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and photoluminescence (PL) and cathodoluminescence ( CL) spectra, respectively. The results indicate that all samples are in agreement with the hexagonal structure of the ZnO phase and the particle sizes are in the range of 1-2 mu m. The PL and CL spectra of ZnO powders annealed at 950 degrees C in air consist of a weak ultraviolet emission band ( similar to 390 nm) and a broad emission band centered at about 527 nm, exhibiting yellow emission color to the naked eyes. When the sample was reduced at the temperatures from 500 to 1050 degrees C, the yellow emission decreased gradually and disappeared completely at 800 degrees C, whereas the ultraviolet emission band became the strongest. Above this temperature, the green emission ( similar to 500 nm) appeared and increased with increasing of reducing temperatures.

Theory of elasticity and electric polarization effects in the group-III nitrides

In this work, the properties of strained tetrahedrally bonded materials are explored theoretically, with special focus on group-III nitrides. In order to do so, a multiscale approach is taken: accurate quantitative calculations of material properties are carried out in a quantum first-principles frame, for small systems. These properties are then extrapolated and empirical methods are employed to make predictions for larger systems, such as alloys or nanostructures. We focus our attention on elasticity and electric polarization in semiconductors. These quantities serve as input for the calculation of the optoelectronic properties of these systems. Regarding the methods employed, our first-principles calculations use highly- accurate density functional theory (DFT) within both standard Kohn-Sham and generalized (hybrid functional) Kohn-Sham approaches. We have developed our own empirical methods, including valence force field (VFF) and a point-dipole model for the calculation of local polarization and local polarization potential. Our local polarization model gives insight for the first time to local fluctuations of the electric polarization at an atomistic level. At the continuum level, we have studied composition-engineering optimization of nitride nanostructures for built-in electrostatic field reduction, and have developed a highly efficient hybrid analytical-numerical staggered-grid computational implementation of continuum elasticity theory, that is used to treat larger systems, such as quantum dots.