Search

The second-order elastic constants and stress-strain coefficients are defined, respectively, as the second derivatives of the total energy and the first derivative of the stress with respect to strain. Since the Lagrangian and infinitesimal strain are commonly used in the two definitions above, the second-order elastic constants and stress-strain coefficients are separated into two categories, respectively. In general, any of the four physical quantities is employed to characterize the elastic properties of materials without differentiation. Nevertheless, differences may exist among them at non-zero pressures, especially high pressures. Having explored the confusing issue systemically in the present work, we find that the four quantities are indeed different from each other at high pressures and these differences depend on the initial stress applied on materials. Moreover, the various relations between the four quantities depicting elastic properties of materials and high-pressure sound velocities are also derived from the elastic wave equations. As examples, we calculated the high-pressure sound velocities of cubic tantalum and hexagonal rhenium using these nexus. The excellent agreement of our results with available experimental data suggests the general applicability of the relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Application of high pressure can substantially enhance the chemical reactivity of xenon and has recently extended the Xe-compounds to unexpected elements such as Fe and H. Using unbiased structure searching techniques combined with first-principles calculations, we predict novel compounds of stable XeH2 and XeH4, and metastable XeH, XeH3, XeH5, XeH6, XeH7, and XeH8 under high pressure. Rather than van der Waals complexes, these are weakly covalent or ionic compounds stabilized by a pressure-induced increase in charge transfer from Xe to H atoms. The calculated electronic structures with hybrid exchange-correlation functionals reveal that only XeH and XeH2 are metalized under 300 GPa. For the metallic XeH and XeH2 at certain pressures, the superconducting critical temperatures are finally studied, by using Allen-Dynes modified McMillan equation combined with the calculated electron-phonon coupling parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore the reactivity of xenon with sulfur under high pressure, using unbiased structure searching techniques combined with first-principles calculations, which identify a stable XeS2 compound crystallized in a Laves phase with hypercoordinated (16-fold) Xe at 191 GPa and 0 K. Taking the thermal effects into account, we find that increasing the temperature could further stabilize it. The formation of XeS2 is a consequence of pressure-induced charge transfer from Xe to S atoms and the delocalization of Xe 5p and S 3p electrons. Meanwhile, the stabilization into a Laves phase of XeS2 is the result of delocalized chemical bonding and the need for optimum structure packing. The present discussion of the formation mechanism in XeS2 is general, and conclusions can be used to understand the formation of other Laves-phase compounds and the Xe chemistry that allows closed-shell Xe to participate in chemical reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]