A. V. Ponomareva

Energy of interaction between carbon impurities in paramagnetic γ-iron

The energies of interaction between carbon impurity atoms in paramagnetic fcc iron (austenite) are calculated using electron density functional theory. Point defects in the paramagnetic matrix are described using a statistical approach that takes into account local magnetic fluctuations and atomic relaxation in the environment of impurity atoms. It is shown that, in addition to local deformations, magnetism significantly contributes to the energies of dissolution and interaction of carbon atoms. The values of the carbon-carbon interaction energy are indicative of a significant repulsion between these atoms in the first and second coordination spheres. The results of calculations are consistent with estimates obtained from experimental data on the activity of carbon impurity atoms in iron.

Influence of global magnetic state on chemical interactions in high-pressure high-temperature synthesis of B2 Fe2Si

We show that effective chemical interactions in an alloy can be tuned by its global magnetic state, which opens exciting possibilities for materials synthesis. Using first-principles theory we demo ...

Influence of stresses on structure and properties of Ti and Zr- based alloys from first-principles simulations

Computer simulations in the framework of the Density Functional Theory have become an established tool for computer simulations of materials properties. In most cases, however, information is obtained at ambient conditions, preventing design of materials for applications at extreme conditions. In this work we employ ab initio calculations to investigate the influence of stresses on structure and stability of Ti-Mo and Zr-Nb alloys, an important class of construction materials. Calculations reproduce known phase stability trends in these systems, and we resolve the controversy regarding the stability of body-centered cubic solid solution in Mo-rich Ti-Mo alloys against the isostructural decomposition. Calculated results are explained in terms of the electronic structure effects, as well as in terms of physically transparent thermodynamic arguments that relate phase stability to deviations of concentration dependence of atomic volume from the linear behavior.

Fe-N system at high pressure reveals a compound featuring polymeric nitrogen chains

Poly-nitrogen compounds have been considered as potential high energy density materials for a long time due to the large number of energetic N–N or N=N bonds. In most cases high nitrogen content and stability at ambient conditions are mutually exclusive, thereby making the synthesis of such materials challenging. One way to stabilize such compounds is the application of high pressure. Here, through a direct reaction between Fe and N2 in a laser-heated diamond anvil cell, we synthesize three ironnitrogen compounds Fe3N2, FeN2 and FeN4. Their crystal structures are revealed by single-crystal synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Fe3N2, synthesized at 50 GPa, is isostructural to chromium carbide Cr3C2. FeN2 has a marcasite structure type and features covalently bonded dinitrogen units in its crystal structure. FeN4, synthesized at 106 GPa, features polymeric nitrogen chains of [N42−]n units. Based on results of structural studies and theoretical analysis, [N42−]n units in this compound reveal catena-poly[tetraz-1-ene-1,4-diyl] anions.Owing to the energetic nature of N–N bonds, poly-nitrogen compounds are considered promising high energy density materials. Here, the authors synthesize three iron–nitrogen compounds at high pressure, including FeN4, which features polymeric nitrogen chains of [N42−]n units.

High‐Pressure Synthesis of a Nitrogen‐Rich Inclusion Compound ReN8⋅x N2 with Conjugated Polymeric Nitrogen Chains

A nitrogen-rich compound, ReN8 ⋅x N2 , was synthesized by a direct reaction between rhenium and nitrogen at high pressure and high temperature in a laser-heated diamond anvil cell. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed that the crystal structure, which is based on the ReN8 framework, has rectangular-shaped channels that accommodate nitrogen molecules. Thus, despite a very high synthesis pressure, exceeding 100 GPa, ReN8 ⋅x N2 is an inclusion compound. The amount of trapped nitrogen (x) depends on the synthesis conditions. The polydiazenediyl chains [-N=N-]∞ that constitute the framework have not been previously observed in any compound. Ab initio calculations on ReN8 ⋅x N2 provide strong support for the experimental results and conclusions.

Calculation of mechanical properties of BCC Ti-Nb alloys

We have calculated mechanical properties of bcc Ti-Nb alloys in the framework of the first-principles approach using the exact muffin-tin orbital method. The results obtained quantitatively correlate well with known experimental data and can be used in order to design new materials based on of Ti alloys intended for various applications, e.g. for bio-medical applications.

Erratum to: “Numerical Study of Mechanical Properties of Nanoparticles of ß-Type Ti-Nb Alloy under Conditions Identical to Laser Sintering. Multilevel Approach”

A multilevel approach is used to numerically investigate physical and mechanical properties of titanium-based bcc alloys and their behavior under conditions identical to selective laser sintering. Plastic properties of P-Ti-Nb alloy are calculated within the first principles approach. An algorithm is proposed and tested to optimize the calculations and reduce their number by more than 5 times. A molecular dynamics method is employed to study structural changes of titanium and niobium powder particles during sintering and to calculate adhesion characteristics of nanoparticles of the produced alloy depending on the external action. The simulation results are in good agreement with the known experimental data and can be used as input data both for numerical models of a higher spatial scale and for the optimization of production parameters of titanium alloys by additive technologies.

First-principles modeling of materials for nuclear energy applications

We discuss recent developments in the field of ab initio electronic structure theory and its use for studies of materials for nuclear energy applications. We review state-of-the-art simulation methods that allow for an efficient treatment of effects due to chemical and magnetic disorder, and illustrate their predictive power with examples of two materials systems, Fe-Cr-Ni alloys and Zr-Nb alloys.

Importance of Thermally Induced Magnetic Excitations in First-Principles Simulations of Elastic Properties of Transition Metal Alloys

We demonstrate the importance of accounting for the complex magnetic ground state and finite temperature magnetic excitations in theoretical simulations of structural and elastic properties of transition metal alloys. Considering Fe72Cr16Ni12 face centered cubic (fcc) alloy, we compare results of first-principles calculations carried out for ferromagnetic and non-magnetic states, as well as for the state with disordered local moments. We show that the latter gives much more accurate description of the elastic properties for paramagnetic alloys. We carry out a determination of the magnetic ground state for fcc Fe-Mn alloys, considering collinear, as well as non-collinear states, and show the sensitively of structural and elastic properties in this system to the detailed alignment between magnetic moments. We therefore conclude that it is essential to develop accurate models of the magnetic state for the predictive description of properties of transition metal alloys.

Influence of Ni on the lattice stability of Fe-Ni alloys at multimegabar pressures

The lattice stability trends of the primary candidate for Earths core material, the Fe-Ni alloy, were examined from first principles. We employed the exact muffin-tin orbital method (EMTO) combined ...