0000000000315982
AUTHOR
Andrei Postnikov
First-principles and semiempirical calculations forFcenters inKNbO3
The linear muffin-tin-orbital method combined with density functional theory (local approximation) and the semiempirical method of the intermediate neglect of the differential overlap (INDO) based on the Hartree-Fock formalism are used for the study of the $F$ centers (O vacancy with two electrons) in cubic and orthorhombic ferroelectric KNbO$_3$ crystals. Calculations for 39-atom supercells show that the two electrons are considerably delocalized even in the ground state of the defect. Their wave functions extend over the two Nb atoms closest to the O vacancy and over other nearby atoms. Thus, the $F$ center in KNbO$_3$ resembles electron defects in the partially-covalent SiO$_2$ crystal (…
First-principles and semi-empirical calculations for bound hole polarons in KNbO3
The ab initio linear muffin-tin-orbital (LMTO) formalism and the semi-empirical method of the Intermediate Neglect of the Differential Overlap (INDO) based on the Hartree-Fock formalism are combined for the study of the hole polarons (a hole trapped nearby the cation vacancy) in a cubic phase of KNbO3 perovskite crystals. The 40-atom and 320-atom supercells were used, respectively. We predict existence of both, one-site and two-site (molecular) polarons with close optical absorption energies (0.9 eV and 0.95 eV). The relevant experimental data are discussed.
Quantum Mechanical Modelling of Pure and Defective KNbO3 Perovskites
Ab initio electronic structure calculations using the density-functional theory (DFT) are performed for KNbO3 with and without defects. Ferroelectric distortive transitions involve very small changes in energies and are therefore sensitive to DFT-approximations. This is discussed by comparing results obtained with the local density approximation (LDA) to those where generalized gradient approximations (GGA) are used. The results of ab initio calculations for F-type centers and bound hole polarons are compared to those obtained by a semiempirical method of the Intermediate Neglect of the Differential Overlap (INDO), based on the HartreeFock formalism. Supercells with 40 and 320 atoms were us…
First-Principles Simulation of Substitutional Defects in Perovskites
The results of supercell calculations of electronic structure and related properties of substitutional impurities in perovskite oxides KNbO3 and KTaO3 are discussed. For Fe impurities in KNbO3, the results obtained in the local density approximation (LDA) and in the LDA+U approach (that allows an ad hoc treatment of nonlocality in exchange-correlation) are compared, and different impurity charge configurations are discussed. The study of off-centre Li defects in incipient ferroelectric KTaO3 have been done by the appropriately parametrized Intermediate Neglect of Differential Overlap (INDO) method. The interaction energies of two off-centre impurities in different relative configurations ar…
Semi-empirical Hartree-Fock calculations for KNbO 3 and KTaO 3
As a first step in modeling the electronic structure of Perovskite-type ferroelectric mixed crystals K(Nb,Ta)O3, semiempirical calculations for pure KNbO3 and KTaO3 are performed with the intermediate neglect of the differential overlap (INDO) quantum chemical method. The calculations are mostly done for 40-atom supercells. The choice of the INDO parameters based on the comparison of results with ab initio and experimental data is discussed. INDO results for the equilibrium geometry and the (Gamma) -TO phonon frequencies are given. The results show that the accuracy of the INDO method is sufficient for reliably reproducing the energy differences on the order of 1 mRy (per formula unit) scal…
First-principles and semiempirical Hartree-Fock calculations for F centers in KNbO3 and Li impurities in KTaO3
The LMTO method based on the density-functional theory and the semi-empirical INDO method based on the Hartree--Fock formalism are used for the supercell study of the F centers in cubic and orthorhombic ferroelectric KNbO3 crystals. Two electrons are found to be considerably delocalized even in the ground state of the defect. The absorption energies were calculated by means of the INDO method using the Delta-SCF scheme after a relaxation of atoms surrounding the F center. As an example of another type of point defect in perovskite, an isolated Li impurity in KTaO3 as well as interacting Li pairs are considered in the supercell approach, using the supercells of up to 270 atoms. The off-cente…