Maija M. Kuklja

Defects in yttrium aluminium perovskite and garnet crystals: atomistic study

Native and impurity point defects in both yttrium aluminium perovskite (YAP) and garnet (YAG) crystals are studied in the framework of the pair-potential approximation coupled with the shell model description of the lattice ions. The calculated formation energies for native defects suggest that the antisite disorder is preferred over the Frenkel and Schottky-like disorder in both YAP and YAG. The calculated values of the distortion caused by the antisite YAl x in the lattice turn out to be in an excellent agreement with the EXAFS measurements. In non-stoichiometric compounds, the calculated reaction energies indicate that excess Y2 O3 or Al2 O3 is most likely to be accommodated by the formation of antisites rather than vacancies or interstitials in the lattice. Enthalpies of the reactions for impurity (Ca2+ , Mg2+ , Sr2+ , Ba2+ , Cr3+ , Fe3+ , Nd3+ , Si4+ ) incorporation into both YAP and YAG lattices are calculated. The relevant experimental data are discussed.

An excitonic mechanism of detonation initiation in explosives

A novel mechanism for detonation initiation in solid explosives is proposed. This is based on electronic excitations induced by an impact wave propagating through the crystal. We illustrate the model by using the RDX (C3H6N6O6) crystal as an example. In our model, a key role belongs to lattice defects, in particular edge dislocations, which promote dramatic changes in the electronic structure, primarily a reduction of the optical gap due to the splitting off of local electronic states from both valence and conduction bands. The pressure inside the impact wavefront further reduces the band gap, making it close to zero. This promotes highest occupied molecular orbital–lowest unoccupied molecular orbital HOMO–LUMO transitions resulting in N–NO2 bond breaking and the creation of favorable conditions for the initiation of a chain reaction. Experimental facts supporting the suggested mechanism are discussed.

Role of electronic excitations in explosive decomposition of solids

A combined theoretical and experimental study is performed for the initiation of chemistry process in high explosive crystals from a solid-state physics viewpoint. In particular, we were looking for the relationship between the defect-induced deformation of the electronic structure of solids, electronic excitations, and chemical reactions under shock conditions. Band structure calculations by means of the Hartree–Fock method with correlation corrections were done to model an effect of a strong compression induced by a shock/impact wave on the crystals with and without edge dislocations. Based on the obtained results, an excitonic mechanism of the earliest stages for initiation of high explosive solids is suggested with application to cyclotrimethylene trinitramine (also known as RDX) crystal. Experimental tests of this mechanism for AgN3 decomposition controlled by the dislocation density were worked out. The use of pulse radiolysis techniques allows us to observe pre-explosion modifications in properties...

Shear-strain-induced chemical reactivity of layered molecular crystals

A density-functional theory study of shear related dissociation of two molecular crystals, diamino-dinitroethylene (FOX-7) and triamino-trinitrobenzine (TATB), is presented. A detailed explanation is proposed for the fact that FOX-7 is more sensitive than TATB while their sensitivities to initiation of chemistry have been expected to be comparable. The authors suggest that shear plays a crucial role in the dissociation of molecules in organic energetic crystals and may be imperative in providing specific recommendations on ways for materials design.

Ab initio simulation of defects in energetic materials: Hydrostatic compression of cyclotrimethylene trinitramine

An isotropic compression of both the perfect solid cyclotrimethylene trinitramine (C3H6N6O6), also known as RDX, and of the solid containing vacancies is simulated using the ab initio Hartree–Fock method combined with two different crystal models: a periodic (band structure) and a molecular cluster. We show that an external pressure causes a significant decrease of the optical gap for both the perfect material and the crystal with vacancies. The solid RDX is found to be highly compressible; a pure crystal could be compressed to 57% of its equilibrium volume, whereas crystals containing vacancies are even more compressible. The critical pressure necessary for the insulator–metal transition is also predicted. It is shown that the voids present in a real RDX solid lower the metallization pressure by about 30%. Theoretical results are in close agreement with the experimental data on solid and porous RDX. The influence of defects present in the crystal and the relation to control of the sensitivity to detonati...

First-principles modelling of complex perovskite (Ba1-xSrx)(Co1-yFey)O3-δ for solid oxide fuel cell and gas separation membrane applications

The results of the first principles spin-polarized DFT calculations of the atomic and electronic structure of a complex perovskite (Ba1-xSrx)(Co1-yFey)O3-δ (BSCF) used as a cathode material for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and gas separation membranes are presented and discussed. The formation energies of oxygen vacancies are found to be considerably smaller than in other magnetic perovskites, e.g. (La,Sr)MnO3, which explains the experimentally observed strong deviation of this material from stoichiometry. The presence of oxygen vacancies induces a local charge redistribution, associated with the local lattice perturbation, and expansion of the equilibrium volume, in line with the experimental data.

Electronic structure of molecular crystals containing edge dislocations

An attempt to model the electronic structure of molecular crystals containing an edge dislocation at the ab initio Hartree–Fock level is performed. The experimentally determined configurations for edge-type dislocations with the Burgers vector [001] in crystalline cyclotrimethylene trinitramine (RDX) and pentaetythritol tetranitrate (PETN) are theoretically simulated. It is shown that a shear stress, induced by the dislocations, produces local electronic states in the fundamental band gap of the crystal. These states are mainly formed by molecular orbitals of critical bonds (which are the N–NO2 group in RDX and the O–NO2 group in PETN) responsible for the stability of the materials. Optical absorption attributed to these electronic states is predicted and compared to the available experimental data. Properties of the defective solids are compared with those of the perfect crystals. Correlation of the electronic structure and sensitivity of the materials to initiation of a chemical reaction as well as some...

Compression-induced effect on the electronic structure of cyclotrimethylene trinitramine containing an edge dislocation

An effect of a hydrostatic compression on the electronic structure of cyclotrimethylene trinitramine (C3H6N6O6), also known as RDX, with an edge dislocation has been studied by means of the ab initio Hartree–Fock method for a periodic system combined with the many-body perturbation theory. An external pressure causes a significant decrease of the optical gap for both the perfect material and the crystal with dislocations. The edge dislocations produce local electronic states in the optical gap whereas the external pressure moves these states deep within the band gap. This contributes strongly to properties of the RDX crystals creating favorable conditions for the N–NO2 chemical bond rupture due to exciton formation. The relationship between the edge dislocations, hot spot formation, and the sensitivity of RDX to detonation are discussed in detail.

Effect of Molecular and Lattice Structure on Hydrogen Transfer in Molecular Crystals of Diamino-dinitroethylene and Triamino-trinitrobenzene

We have studied the intra- and intermolecular hydrogen transfer in a crystalline 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethylene (DADNE) and 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB) by means of an embedded cluster method and density functional theory (DFT). We found that, even though both of these materials have similar amino- and nitro- functional groups and layered crystalline structures, there are important differences in the mechanisms of hydrogen transfer. In particular, our calculations suggest that the proton migration from an amino-group to a nitro-group of the same molecule is a feasible process in TATB but not in DADNE. At the same time, we have found that no intermolecular hydrogen transfer occurs in either molecular crystal. These results imply that the activation of the decomposition reactions proceeds via different paths in these two materials.

Effect of charged and excited states on the decomposition of 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethylene molecules

The authors have calculated the electronic structure of individual 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethylene molecules (FOX-7) in the gas phase by means of density functional theory with the hybrid B3LYP functional and 6-31+G(d,p) basis set and considered their dissociation pathways. Positively and negatively charged states as well as the lowest excited states of the molecule were simulated. They found that charging and excitation can not only reduce the activation barriers for decomposition reactions but also change the dominating chemistry from endo- to exothermic type. In particular, they found that there are two competing primary initiation mechanisms of FOX-7 decomposition: C-NO2 bond fission and C-NO2 to CONO isomerization. Electronic excitation or charging of FOX-7 disfavors CONO formation and, thus, terminates this channel of decomposition. However, if CONO is formed from the neutral FOX-7 molecule, charge trapping and/or excitation results in spontaneous splitting of an NO group accompanied by the energy release. Intramolecular hydrogen transfer is found to be a rare event in FOX-7 unless free electrons are available in the vicinity of the molecule, in which case HONO formation is a feasible exothermic reaction with a relatively low energy barrier. The effect of charged and excited states on other possible reactions is also studied. Implications of the obtained results to FOX-7 decomposition in condensed state are discussed.