Fingerprint-Based Detection of Non-Local Effects in the Electronic Structure of a Simple Single Component Covalent System

Using fingerprints used mainly in machine learning schemes of the potential energy surface, we detect in a fully algorithmic way long range effects on local physical properties in a simple covalent system of carbon atoms. The fact that these long range effects exist for many configurations implies that atomistic simulation methods, such as force fields or modern machine learning schemes, that are based on locality assumptions, are limited in accuracy. We show that the basic driving mechanism for the long range effects is charge transfer. If the charge transfer is known, locality can be recovered for certain quantities such as the band structure energy.

Alloying-Driven Phase Stability in Group-VB Transition Metals under Compression

The change in phase stability of Group-VB transition metals (V, Nb, and Ta) due to pressure and alloying is explored by means of first-principles electronic-structure calculations. It is shown that under compression stabilization or destabilization of the ground-state body-centered cubic (bcc) phase of the metal is mainly dictated by the band-structure energy. In the case of alloying the change in phase stability is defined by the interplay between the band-structure and Madelung energies. We show that band-structure effects determine phase stability when a particular Group-VB metal is alloyed with its nearest neighbors within the same d-transition series: the neighbor with less and more d electrons destabilize and stabilize the bcc phase, respectively. When V is alloyed with neighbors of a higher (4d- or 5d-) transition series, both electrostatic Madelung and band-structure energies stabilize the bcc phase. Utilizing the self-consistent ab initio lattice dynamics approach, we show that pressure-induced mechanical instability of bcc V, which results in formation of a rhombohedral (rh) phase at around 60-70 GPa at room temperatures, will prevail significant heating and compression. Furthermore, alloying with Cr decreases the temperature at which stabilization of the bcc phase occurs at elevated pressure.

Alloying-Driven Phase Stability in Group-VB Transition Metals under Compression

ABSTRACTThe change in phase stability of Group-VB (V, Nb, and Ta) transition metals due to pressure and alloying is explored by means of first-principles electronic-structure calculations. It is shown that under compression stabilization or destabilization of the ground-state body-centered cubic (bcc) phase of the metal is mainly dictated by the band-structure energy that correlates well with the position of the Kohn anomaly in the transverse acoustic phonon mode. The predicted position of the Kohn anomaly in V, Nb, and Ta is found to be in a good agreement with data from the inelastic x-ray or neutron scattering measurements. In the case of alloying the change in phase stability is defined by the interplay between the band-structure and Madelung energies. We show that band-structure effects determine phase stability when a particular Group-VB metal is alloyed with its nearest neighbors within the same d-transition series: the neighbor with less and more d electrons destabilize and stabilize the bcc phase, respectively. When V is alloyed with neighbors of a higher (4d- or 5d-) transition series, both electrostatic Madelung and band-structure energies stabilize the body-centered-cubic phase. The opposite effect (destabilization) happens when Nb or Ta is alloyed with neighbors of the 3d-transition series.