S. Cottenier

Solution Enthalpy of Po and Te in solid Lead-Bismuth Eutectic

K. Rijpstra, A. Van Yperen-De Deyne, J. Neuhausen, V. Van Speybroeck, S. Cottenier
Journal of Nuclear Materials
450 (1–3), 287–291
2014
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Abstract 

It is examined to which extent first-principles calculations can be used to collect a priori information on the solution enthalpy and solubility of Po in solid lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE). Such information can be helpful to limit the number of complicated experiments that are required to measure these properties. It is found that in the thermodynamic limit and at 0 K, Po does not dissolve in solid LBE. Its solution enthalpy is negative, in particular in Pb-rich environments, but competing compound-forming reactions are more exothermic. A clear correlation is found between the calculated solution enthalpies for Te in LBE and for Po in LBE, suggesting that Te-experiments can be used to map the expected behaviour for Po. The role of spin-orbit coupling as the major relativistic effect on the solution enthalpies of these heavy atoms is inspected.

First-principles study of possible shallow donors in ZnAl2 O4 spinel

H. Dixit, N. Tandon, S. Cottenier, R. Saniz, D. Lamoen, B. Partoens
Physical Review B
87 (17), 174101
2013
A1

Abstract 

ZnAl2O4 (gahnite) is a ceramic which is considered a possible transparent conducting oxide (TCO) due to its wide band gap and transparency for UV. Defects play an important role in controlling the conductivity of a TCO material along with the dopant, which is the main source of conductivity in an otherwise insulating oxide. A comprehensive first-principles density functional theory study for point defects in ZnAl2O4 spinel is presented using the Heyd, Scuseria, and Ernzerhof hybrid functional (HSE06) to overcome the band gap problem. We have investigated the formation energies of intrinsic defects which include the Zn, Al, and O vacancy and the antisite defects: Zn at the Al site (Zn-Al) and Al at the Zn site (Al-Zn). The antisite defect Al-Zn has the lowest formation energy and acts as a shallow donor, indicating possible n-type conductivity in ZnAl2O4 spinel by Al doping.

Open Access version available at UGent repository

Ranking the stars: A refined Pareto approach to computational materials design

K. Lejaeghere, S. Cottenier, V. Van Speybroeck
Physical Review Letters
111 (7), 075501
2013
A1

Abstract 

We propose a procedure to rank the most interesting solutions from high-throughput materials design studies. Such a tool is becoming indispensable due to the growing size of computational screening studies and the large number of criteria involved in realistic materials design. As a proof of principle, the binary tungsten alloys are screened for both large-weight and high-impact materials, as well as for fusion reactor applications. Moreover, the concept is generally applicable to any design problem where multiple competing criteria have to be optimized.

Open Access version available at UGent repository

Direct observation of substitutional Ga after ion implantation in Ge by means of extended x-ray absorption fine structure

S. Decoster, B. Johannessen, C.J. Glover, S. Cottenier, T. Bierschenk, H. Salama, F. Kremer, K. Temst, A. Vantomme, M.C. Ridgway
Applied Physics Letters
101 (26), 261904
2012
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Abstract 

We present an experimental lattice location study of Ga atoms in Ge after ion implantation at elevated temperature (250 degrees C). Using extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) experiments and a dedicated sample preparation method, we have studied the lattice location of Ga atoms in Ge with a concentration ranging from 0.5 at. % down to 0.005 at. %. At Ga concentrations http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4773185]

Open Access version available at UGent repository

Error estimates for solid-state density-functional theory predictions: an overview by means of the ground-state elemental crystals

K. Lejaeghere, V. Van Speybroeck, G. Van Oost, S. Cottenier
Critical Reviews in Solid State and Materials Sciences
39 (1), 1-24
2014
A1

Abstract 

Predictions of observable properties by density-functional theory calculations (DFT) are used increasingly often by experimental condensed-matter physicists and materials engineers as data. These predictions are used to analyze recent measurements, or to plan future experiments in a rational way. Increasingly more experimental scientists in these fields therefore face the natural question: what is the expected error for such a first-principles prediction? Information and experience about this question is implicitly available in the computational community, scattered over two decades of literature. The present review aims to summarize and quantify this implicit knowledge. This eventually leads to a practical protocol that allows any scientist -- experimental or theoretical -- to determine justifiable error estimates for many basic property predictions, without having to perform additional DFT calculations.

A central role is played by a large and diverse test set of crystalline solids, containing all ground-state elemental crystals (except most lanthanides). For several properties of each crystal, the difference between DFT results and experimental values is assessed. We discuss trends in these deviations and review explanations suggested in the literature.

A prerequisite for such an error analysis is that different implementations of the same first-principles formalism provide the same predictions. Therefore, the reproducibility of predictions across several mainstream methods and codes is discussed too. A quality factor Delta expresses the spread in predictions from two distinct DFT implementations by a single number. To compare the PAW method to the highly accurate APW+lo approach, a code assessment of VASP and GPAW (PAW) with respect to WIEN2k (APW+lo) yields Delta-values of 1.8 and 3.3 meV/atom, respectively. In both cases the PAW potentials recommended by the respective codes have been used. These differences are an order of magnitude smaller than the typical difference with experiment, and therefore predictions by APW+lo and PAW are for practical purposes identical.

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