Comparative analysis of the electronic structures of mono- and bi-atomic chains of IV, III–V and II–VI group elements calculated using the DFT LCAO and LACW methods

Using the first principle non-relativistic linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) and relativistic linearized augmented cylindrical wave (LACW) methods, the band structure of the covalent and partially ionic ANB8−N single atom width chain is calculated. Both the LCAO and LACW methods show that the chains of C, Si, Ge, Sn, and Pb are metallic. However, there is a great difference between the relativistic and non-relativistic band structures. The π bands crossing the Fermi level are orbitally doubly degenerate in the non-relativistic model. The relativistic LACW calculations demonstrate that the spin and orbital motion of electrons are coupled, thereby splitting the π bands. The spin–or…