Assessing the viability of hydrogen-based perovskites for optoelectronic and thermoelectric applications via first principle modeling.

CONTEXT: In this study, we delve into the physical characteristics of six hydride perovskites of ABH3-type materials (CsCaH3, CsSrH3, KMgH3, LiBaH3, NaBeH3, and RbCaH3). Our investigation primarily focuses on assessing their structural stability by determining the enthalpy of formation and examining the dispersion of phonons. Using band structure calculations, we discern the characteristics of semiconductors, observing a direct bandgap in all four perovskites except NaBeH3 and KMgH3, which exhibit indirect gaps. Among these, NaBeH3 possesses the narrowest gap at 1.91 eV, while the widest gap is observed in the perovskite RbCaH3, measuring 4.56 eV. Furthermore, we conduct a thorough analysis of their optical properties, including parameters such as the real and imaginary dielectric function, absorption coefficient, and refractive index within an energy range of 0 to 14 eV. The results of our study are highly encouraging, suggesting that these materials hold significant promise for utilization in photovoltaic cells. This is primarily attributed to their remarkable ability to absorb light across both the ultraviolet (UV) and visible spectra. Additionally, we conducted an assessment of the thermoelectric properties of the six perovskite materials. RbMgH3 exhibits a maximum Seebeck coefficient (Smax) of 1.5 mV/K, whereas KMgH3 achieves a figure of merit reaching unity. These findings present promising opportunities for utilizing these compounds in thermoelectric devices. METHODS: In this study, all self-consistent field (SCF) calculations were performed using density functional theory (DFT), employing the FP-LAPW + lo method as implemented in the Wien2k code. The Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) generalized gradient approximation, the modified Becke-Johnson (mBJ) methods, and the HSE06 hybrid functional were employed to characterize the exchange-correlation interactions. Thermoelectric parameters were extracted using the BoltzTraP software.

Structural, elastic, electronic, and optical properties of lead-free halide double perovskites Cs2BꞌBꞌꞌBr6 (BꞌBꞌꞌ: BeMg, CdBe, CdGe, GeMg, GeZn, MgZn): Ab initio calculations.

CONTEXT: In our study, we theoretically investigated the structural, elastic, electronic, and optical characteristics of halide double perovskites (DPs) Cs2B'B''Br6 (B'B'': BeMg, CdBe, CdGe, GeMg, GeZn, MgZn). Structural stabilities were assessed based on the enthalpy of formation, tolerance factor, and elastic constants. Ductile and brittle behavior was examined using Poisson and Pugh's ratios. Based on electronic calculations, it has been concluded that Cs2B'B''Br6 double perovskites with B'B'' as BeMg or CdBe exhibit direct bandgaps, whereas those with B'B'' as CdGe, GeMg, GeZn, or MgZn display indirect bandgaps. Additionally, we thoroughly investigated the optical properties of double perovskites by analyzing all their parameters in the energy range spanning 0 to 13 eV. Primary absorption was noted in the ultraviolet (UV) region. METHODS: In this work, all calculations were performed using the Wien2k package. The generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and the modified Becke-Johnson (mBJ) method were employed to describe the exchange-correlation interactions.

Study of mechanical, optical, and thermoelectric characteristics of Ba2 XMoO6 (X = Zn, Cd) double perovskite for energy harvesting.

The double perovskites are become the emerging aspirant to fulfill the demand of energy. Therefore, the optoelectronic, elastic and transport characteristics of Ba2 XMoO6 (X = Zn, Cd) are addressed systemically. The elastic constants show the mechanical stability. The nature of Ba2 ZnMoO6 is brittle and Ba2 CdMoO6 is ductile with large values of Debye temperature covalent bonding. The electronic band structures exhibit band gaps of 2.81 and 2.98 eV, which increase their importance for optoelectronic applications. The absorption of light energy, optical loss, refractive index, polarization of light energy are addressed in the energy range zero to 14 eV. Furthermore, thermoelectric characteristics are computed against chemical potentials at 300, 600, and 900 K. The chemical potential decides the p-type nature, with holes as majority carriers. The increasing temperature increases the power factor and figure of merit. Therefore, the optoelectronic and thermoelectric characteristics reveals the importance of studied DPs for energy applications.

Theoretical insight of stabilities and optoelectronic properties of double perovskite Cs2CuIrF6: Ab-initio calculations.

CONTEXT: In this study, we predict the stability, elastic, electronic and optical properties of double perovskite (DP) Cs2CuIrF6. The detailed investigation of electronic structure and optical properties to find the suitability of DP Cs2CuIrF6 for device applications. From the structural optimization results, the stability of DP (Cs2CuIrF6) is in cubic order and belongs to the Fm-3 m space group (#225) with a nonmagnetic (NM) state. Additionally, the elastic results show that this DP is mechanically stable in a cubic and ductile manner. Further, we explain in detail the semiconducting nature of the proposed DP with the help of electronic structure and density of states (DOS). The electronic band gap of DP Cs2CuIrF6 is 0.72 eV (LV-XC). The optical part discussion, like the dielectric function ε, reflectivity R, refractive index n, absorption coefficient α and optical conductivity σ up to 13.00 eV. The studied compound is explored as a potential candidate for optoelectronic applications. METHODS: The density functional theory (DFT) within generalized gradient approximation (GGA) scheme of Perdew, Burke and Ernzerhof (PBE) as implemented in Wien2k computational code is utilized to achieve stable structure, elastic, electronic and optical properties of this material. The dynamic stability of this material was studied using the finite displacement method implemented in the CASTEP computational code. The elastic results have been computed by the IRelast package implemented in the Wien2k computational code.

A theoretical investigation of the lead-free double perovskites halides Rb2 XCl6 (X = Se, Ti) for optoelectronic and thermoelectric applications.

In this study, structural, electronic, optical, thermoelectric, and thermodynamics properties of vacancy-ordered double perovskites Rb2 XCl6 (X = Se, Ti) were explored theoretically. The results revealed that Rb2SeCl6 and Rb2 TiCl6 are indirect band gap (Eg ) semiconductors with Eg values of 2.95 eV, and 2.84 eV respectively. The calculated properties (phonons, elastic constant, Poisson's ratio, and Pugh's ratio) revealed that both materials are dynamically and chemically stable and can exhibit brittle (Rb2 SeCl6 ) and ductile (Rb2 TiCl6 ) nature. From the analysis of optical parameters, it was noticed that the refractive index of the materials has a value of 1.5-2.0 where light absorption was found from the visible to the ultraviolet region. The thermoelectric properties determined by using the BoltzTrap code demonstrated that at room temperature, the Figure of merit (ZT) was found to be 0.74 and 0.76 for Rb2 SeCl6 and Rb2 TiCl6 , respectively. Despite a moderate value of ZT in such materials, further studies might explore effective methods for tuning the electronic band gap and improving the thermoelectric response of the material for practical energy production applications.

First-principles calculations to investigate physical properties of orthorhombic perovskite YBO3 (B = Ti & Fe) for high energy applications.

Orthorhombic oxide perovskite compounds are very promising materials for the applications of optoelectronics and thermal barrier coating. This work represents a numerical simulation of YBO3 compounds through the first-principles ab initio approach. The electronic and magnetic properties are investigated employing the general gradient approximation (GGA) coupled to the integration of the Hubbard U-term which is the GGA + U. The Ti and Fe-based YBO3 perovskite compounds are found to be actively promising within the ferromagnetic configuration and their lattice parameters are consistent with the previous studies. The calculations of formation energy signify that the compounds YBO3 are stable thermodynamically. The electronic properties are computed and evaluated by the band structure and density of states for both compounds and the results depict that these materials are ferromagnetic half-metallic. Mechanically these compounds are stable, ductile, anisotropic, and hard to scratch. The thermal properties are evaluated for YBO3 (B = Ti and Fe) compounds up to a temperature range of 2000 K. This work can open new opportunities for further exploration in this field.

Computational study of structural, elastic and electronic properties of lithium disilicate (Li(2)Si(2)O(5)) glass-ceramic.

The objective of this study is to investigate theoretically the structural, elastic and electronic properties of Lithium Disilicate (LD) crystal (Li2Si2O5), using the pseudo potential method based on Density Functional Theory (DFT) with the Local Density Approximation (LDA) and the Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA). The calculated structural properties namely the equilibrium lattice parameters and cell volume are in good agreement with the available experimental results. However, for the LD crystal elastic moduli: Shear modulus G, Young's modulus E and Poisson's ratio ν we have found a discrepancy between our theoretical values and experimental ones reported in polycrystalline sample containing LD crystals. The calculated elastic properties show that LD is more rigid compared with other components. We also investigated the mechanical stability of Li2Si2O5 compound and we have noticed that this compound is stable against elastic deformations. On the basis of shear to bulk modulus ratio analysis, we inferred that Li2Si2O5 compound is brittle in nature. In order to complete the fundamental characteristics of this compound we have measured the elastic anisotropy. Our results for the energy band structure and Density of States (DOS) show that Li2Si2O5 compound has an insulator characteristic.