Electronic, mechanical, phase transition, and thermo-physical properties of TMC (TM = V, Nb, and Ta): high pressure ab initio study

Abstract

The structural, electronic, mechanical, phase transition, and thermo-physical properties of refractory carbides, viz. VC, NbC, and TaC have been computed in stable B1 and high pressure B2 phases by means of two different ab initio calculations using pseudo- and full-potential schemes. These materials have mixed covalent-, metallic-, and ionic-type bonding. The calculations of elastic constants show the mechanical stability of these materials in B1 phase only. The brittle nature and anisotropy is observed in these materials in B1 phase. Non-central forces are present in both the phases. Elastic wave velocities and Debye temperature have also been calculated. The present results on structural, phase transition, elastic, and other properties are in reasonably good agreement with the available experimental and theoretical data. The calculations in high pressure phase need experimental verification.