Phase formation capability and compositional design of ß-phase multiple rare-earth principal component disilicates.

A key strategy to design environmental barrier coatings focuses on doping multiple rare-earth principal components into ß-type rare-earth disilicates (RE2Si2O7) to achieve versatile property optimization. However, controlling the phase formation capability of (nRExi)2Si2O7 remains a crucial challenge, due to the complex polymorphic phase competitions and evolutions led by different RE3+ combination. Herein, by fabricating twenty-one model (REI0.25REII0.25REIII0.25REIV0.25)2Si2O7 compounds, we find that their formation capability can be evaluated by the ability to accommodate configurational randomness of multiple RE3+ cations in ß-type lattice while preventing the ß-to-γ polymorphic transformation. The phase formation and stabilization are controlled by the average RE3+ radius and the deviations of different RE3+ combinations. Subsequently, based on high-throughput density-functional-theory calculations, we propose that the configurational entropy of mixing is a reliable descriptor to predict the phase formation of ß-type (nRExi)2Si2O7. The results may accelerate the design of (nRExi)2Si2O7 materials with tailored compositions and controlled polymorphic phases.

Vibrational hierarchy leads to dual-phonon transport in low thermal conductivity crystals.

Many low-thermal-conductivity (κL) crystals show intriguing temperature (T) dependence of κL: κL ∝ T-1 (crystal-like) at intermediate temperatures whereas weak T-dependence (glass-like) at high temperatures. It has been in debate whether thermal transport can still be described by phonons at the Ioffe-Regel limit. In this work, we propose that most phonons are still well defined for thermal transport, whereas they carry heat via dual channels: normal phonons described by the Boltzmann transport equation theory, and diffuson-like phonons described by the diffusion theory. Three physics-based criteria are incorporated into first-principles calculations to judge mode-by-mode between the two phonon channels. Case studies on La2Zr2O7 and Tl3VSe4 show that normal phonons dominate low temperatures while diffuson-like phonons dominate high temperatures. Our present dual-phonon theory enlightens the physics of hierarchical phonon transport as approaching the Ioffe-Regel limit and provides a numerical method that should be practically applicable to many materials with vibrational hierarchy.

Giant Phonon Anharmonicity and Anomalous Pressure Dependence of Lattice Thermal Conductivity in Y2Si2O7 silicate.

Modification of lattice thermal conductivity (κL) of a solid by means of hydrostatic pressure (P) has been a crucially interesting approach that targets a broad range of advanced materials from thermoelectrics and thermal insulators to minerals in mantle. Although it is well documented knowledge that thermal conductivity of bulk materials normally increase upon hydrostatic pressure, such positive relationship is seriously challenged when it comes to ceramics with complex crystal structure and heterogeneous chemical bonds. In this paper, we predict an abnormally negative trend dκL/dP < 0 in Y2Si2O7 silicate using density functional theoretical calculations. The mechanism is disclosed as combined effects of slightly decreased group velocity and significantly augmented scattering of heat-carrying acoustic phonons in pressured lattice, which is originated from pressure-induced downward shift of low-lying optic and acoustic phonons. The structural origin of low-lying optic phonons as well as the induced phonon anharmonicity is also qualitatively elucidated with respect to intrinsic bonding heterogeneity of Y2Si2O7. The present results are expected to bring deeper insights for phonon engineering and modulation of thermal conductivity in complex solids with diverging structural flexibility, enormous bonding heterogeneity, and giant phonon anharmonicity.