Phase stability and elastic properties of chromium borides with various stoichiometries

Authors

Bing Wang, Henan Univeristy
De Yu Wang, Henan Univeristy
Zhenxiang Cheng, University of WollongongFollow
Xiaolin Wang, University of WollongongFollow
Yuan Xu Wang, Henan Univeristy

RIS ID

77460

Publication Details

Wang, B., Wang, D., Cheng, Z., Wang, X. & Wang, Y. (2013). Phase stability and elastic properties of chromium borides with various stoichiometries. ChemPhysChem, 14 (6), 1245-1255.

Abstract

Phase stability is important to the application of materials. By first-principles calculations, we establish the phase stability of chromium borides with various stoichiometries. Moreover, the phases of CrB3 and CrB4 have been predicted by using a newly developed particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. Formation enthalpy-pressure diagrams reveal that the MoB-type structure is more energetically favorable than the TiI-type structure for CrB. For CrB2, the WB2-type structure is preferred at zero pressure. The predicted new phase of CrB3 belongs to the hexagonal P-6m2 space group and it transforms into an orthorhombic phase as the pressure exceeds 93 GPa. The predicted CrB4 (space group: Pnnm) phase is more energetically favorable than the previously proposed Immm structure. The mechanical and thermodynamic stabilities of predicted CrB 3 and CrB4 are verified by the calculated elastic constants and formation enthalpies. The full phonon dispersion calculations confirm the dynamic stability of WB2-type CrB2 and predicted CrB3. The large shear moduli, large Young's moduli, low Poisson ratios, and low bulk and shear modulus ratios of CrB4-PS C and CrB4-PSD indicate that they are potential hard materials. Analyses of Debye temperature, electronic localization function, and electronic structure provide further understanding of the chemical and physical properties of these borides. Mix and match: Two new structures of CrB3 (P-6m2 and Pmmn) are predicted by using a newly developed particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm and the experimental structures of CrB4 (Immm and Pnnm) are also reproduced successfully (see picture). The strong covalent Cr-B bonding in CrB4 induced hardness and the Pnnm phase is thermodynamically stable up to 100 GPa.