Ab initio study of phase transition and bulk modulus of NaH

Abstract

The phase transition of NaH from NaCl- to CsCl-type structure is investigated by an ab initio plane-wave pseudopotential density functional theory method with the norm-conserving pseudopotential scheme in the frame of the generalized gradient approximation correction; the isothermal bulk modulus and its first and second pressure derivatives of the NaCl- and CsCl-type structures under high pressure and temperature are obtained through the quasi-harmonic Debye model. The phase transition obtained from the usual condition of equal enthalpies occurs at the pressure of 32 GPa, which is consistent with the experimental and other calculated values. Through the quasi-harmonic Debye model, in which the phononic effects are considered, the dependences of cell volume V and lattice constant a on temperature T at zero pressure, the isothermal bulk modulus B 0 and its pressure derivatives B 0′and B 0″ on pressure P along isotherms 0, 300, and 600 K, are also successfully obtained.