Electronic Structure of Iron.

A survey of previous theoretical and experimental works on iron in some Bravais lattices and at various temperature and pressures shows this 3d transition metal to exhibit a wealth of allotropic transformations and to possess, along with some of its alloys, peculiar magnetic properties in the face centered cubic (FCC) phase. We present an ab-initio self-consistent spin polarized band structure study of this metal in the body (BCC) and face centered cubic lattices at absolute zero and at various atomic volumes. Our calculations employed gaussian basis functions in a LCAO scheme and used the RSK local density potential. In contrast to previous attempts, the structural and atomic volume dependences of the electronic and magnetic states of iron are analysed using the fundamental parameters, band widths and exchange splittings, of the energy bands. While the smooth variation of the magnetic moment in BCC iron with lattice spacings greater or equal to 4.8 a.u. is attributed to the atomic origin of magnetism in that structural phase, its drastic change in FCC iron between a = 6.5516 a.u. and 7.0 a.u. is ascribed to a transition from an itinerant picture to a localized one. This analysis sheds some light on the nature of magnetism in other metals like cobalt. The relevance of the above transition to the properties of FCC iron based alloys is illustrated. Applications of the numerically established local quadratic dependence of the charge and spin form factors on the lattice spacing are discussed

Electronic, structural, and elastic properties of metal nitrides XN (X = Sc, Y): A first principle study

We utilized a simple, robust, first principle method, based on basis set optimization with the BZW-EF method, to study the electronic and related properties of transition metal mono-nitrides: ScN and YN. We solved the KS system of equations self-consistently within the linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) formalism. It is shown that the band gap and low energy conduction bands, as well as elastic and structural properties, can be calculated with a reasonable accuracy when the LCAO formalism is used to obtain an optimal basis. Our calculated, indirect electronic band gap (E gΓ-X) is 0.79 (LDA) and 0.88 eV (GGA) for ScN. In the case of YN, we predict an indirect band gap (EgΓ-X) of 1.09 (LDA) and 1.15 eV (GGA). We also calculated the equilibrium lattice constants, the bulk moduli (Bo), effective masses, and elastic constants for both systems. Our calculated values are in excellent agreement with experimental ones where the latter are available. Copyright 2012 Author(s)

Understanding density functional theory (DFT) and completing it in practice

We review some salient points in the derivation of density functional theory (DFT) and of the local density approximation (LDA) of it. We then articulate an understanding of DFT and LDA that seems to be ignored in the literature. We note the well-established failures of many DFT and LDA calculations to reproduce the measured energy gaps of finite systems and band gaps of semiconductors and insulators. We then illustrate significant differences between the results from self consistent calculations using single trial basis sets and those from computations following the Bagayoko, Zhao, and Williams (BZW) method, as enhanced by Ekuma and Franklin (BZW-EF). Unlike the former, the latter calculations verifiably attain the absolute minima of the occupied energies, as required by DFT. These minima are one of the reasons for the agreement between their results and corresponding, experimental ones for the band gap and a host of other properties. Further, we note predictions of DFT BZW-EF calculations that have been confirmed by experiment. Our subsequent description of the BZW-EF method ends with the application of the Rayleigh theorem in the selection, among the several calculations the method requires, of the one whose results have a full, physics content ascribed to DFT. This application of the Rayleigh theorem adds to or completes DFT, in practice, to preserve the physical content of unoccupied, low energy levels. Discussions, including implications of the method, and a short conclusion follow the description of the method. The successive augmentation of the basis set in the BZW-EF method, needed for the application of the Rayleigh theorem, is also necessary in the search for the absolute minima of the occupied energies, in practice

Reliable density functional calculations for the electronic structure of thermoelectric material ZnSb

In this paper, we present the results of systematic test calculations for the electronic structure of thermoelectric material ZnSb using a first-principles full-potential all electron computational method. We used a linear combination of atomic orbitals (LACO) formalism, based on density functional theory (DFT). The exchange-correlation interaction potential of the many electron system was described by using a generalized gradient approximation (GGA). We compared the calculated indirect and direct band gaps as well as the effective masses of holes and electrons in ZnSb with experimental measurement results. The calculated indirect band gap of ZnSb is 0.56 eV, which agrees very well with the experimentally measured values of 0.50 eV ∼ 0.61 eV. The calculated direct band gap at X point is 0.89 eV. The calculated effective masses of electrons and holes in ZnSb also agree with experimental data. The systematical test calculations as well as the comparisons of the calculated results with experimental measurements show that the obtained electronic structure of ZnSb would be reliable. We did not observe a major deficiency of the first-principles DFT calculation for the electronic structure of ZnSb, using full-potential all electron LACO method. The reported electronic structure of single crystal ZnSb from this work may provide a fundamental knowledge base for further research and applications for this important thermoelectric material

First-principles studies of electronic, transport and bulk properties of pyrite FeS2

We present results from first principle, local density approximation (LDA) calculations of electronic, transport, and bulk properties of iron pyrite (FeS2). Our non-relativistic computations employed the Ceperley and Alder LDA potential and the linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) formalism. The implementation of the LCAO formalism followed the Bagayoko, Zhao, and Williams (BZW) method, as enhanced by Ekuma and Franklin (BZW-EF). We discuss the electronic energy bands, total and partial densities of states, electron effective masses, and the bulk modulus. Our calculated indirect band gap of 0.959 eV (0.96), using an experimental lattice constant of 5.4166 Å, at room temperature, is in agreement with the measured indirect values, for bulk samples, ranging from 0.84 eV to 1.03 ± 0.05 eV. Our calculated bulk modulus of 147 GPa is practically in agreement with the experimental value of 145 GPa. The calculated, partial densities of states reproduced the splitting of the Fe d bands to constitute the dominant upper most valence and lower most conduction bands, separated by the generally accepted, indirect, experimental band gap of 0.95 eV

First Principle Investigation of Electronic, Transport, and Bulk Properties of Zinc-Blende Magnesium Sulfide

We have studied electronic, structural, and transport properties of zinc-blende magnesium sulfide (zb-MgS). We employed a local density approximation (LDA) potential and the linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) method. Our computational method is able to reach the ground state of a material, as dictated by the second theorem of density functional theory (DFT). Consequently, our findings have the physical content of DFT and agree with available, corresponding experimental ones. The calculated band gap of zb-MgS, a direct gap equal to 4.43 eV, obtained at the experimental lattice constant of 5.620 Å, completely agrees with the experimental band gap of 4.45 ± 0.2 eV. We also report total (DOS) and partial (pDOS) densities of states, electron and hole effective masses, the equilibrium lattice constant, and the bulk modulus. The calculated pDOS also agree with the experiment for the description of the states at the top and the bottom of the valence and conduction bands, respectively

First Principle Calculation of Accurate Electronic and Related Properties of Zinc Blende Indium Arsenide (zb-InAs)

We carried out a density functional theory (DFT) study of the electronic and related properties of zinc blende indium arsenide (zb-InAs). These related properties include the total and partial densities of states and electron and hole effective masses. We utilized the local density approximation (LDA) potential of Ceperley and Alder. Instead of the conventional practice of performing self-consistent calculations with a single basis set, albeit judiciously selected, we do several self-consistent calculations with successively augmented basis sets to search for and reach the ground state of the material. As such, our calculations strictly adhere to the conditions of validity of DFT and the results are fully supported by the theory, which explains the agreement between our findings and corresponding, experimental results. Indeed, unlike some 21 previous ab initio DFT calculations that reported zb-InAs band gaps that are negative or zero, we found the room temperature measured value of 0.360 eV. It is a clear achievement to reproduce not only the locations of the peaks in the valence band density of states, but also the measured values of the electron and hole effective masses. This agreement with experimental results underscores not only the correct description of the band gap, but also of the overall structure of the bands, including their curvatures in the vicinities of the conduction band minimum (CBM) and of the valence band maximum (VBM)