Structural, elastic, and electronic properties of sodium atoms encapsulated type-I silicon–clathrate compound under high pressure**Project supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11347134 and 11304254) and the Doctor Foundation of Southwest University of Science and Technology, China (Grant No. 13zx7125).

Abstract

We calculated the structural, elastic, and electronic properties of alkali metal Na atoms doped type-I silicon–clathrate compound (Na8Si46) under pressure using first-principles methods. The obtained dependencies of bond lengths and bond angles on pressure show heterogeneous behaviors which may bring out a structural transition. By using the elastic stability criteria from the calculated elastic constants, we confirm that the Na8Si46 is elastically unstable under high pressure. Some of the mechanical and thermal quantities include bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young’s modulus, Debye temperature, sound velocity, melting point, and hardness, which are also derived from the elastic constants. The calculated total and partial electron densities of states of Na8Si46 indicate a weak interaction between the encapsulated Na atoms and the silicon framework. Moreover, the effect of pressure on its electronic structure is also investigated, which suggests that pressure is not a good choice to enhance the thermoelectricity performance of Na8Si46.