Reliable density functional calculations for the electronic structure of thermoelectric material ZnSb.

Bibliographic Details
Title: Reliable density functional calculations for the electronic structure of thermoelectric material ZnSb.
Authors: Zhao, Guang-Lin1, Gao, Feng1, Bagayoko, Diola1
Source: AIP Advances. Oct2018, Vol. 8 Issue 10, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 8p.
Subject Terms: *THERMOELECTRIC materials, *ZINC antimonides, *DENSITY functional theory
Abstract: In this paper, we present the results of systematic test calculations for the electronic structure of thermoelectric material ZnSb using a first-principles full-potential all electron computational method. We used a linear combination of atomic orbitals (LACO) formalism, based on density functional theory (DFT). The exchange-correlation interaction potential of the many electron system was described by using a generalized gradient approximation (GGA). We compared the calculated indirect and direct band gaps as well as the effective masses of holes and electrons in ZnSb with experimental measurement results. The calculated indirect band gap of ZnSb is 0.56 eV, which agrees very well with the experimentally measured values of 0.50 eV ∼ 0.61 eV. The calculated direct band gap at X point is 0.89 eV. The calculated effective masses of electrons and holes in ZnSb also agree with experimental data. The systematical test calculations as well as the comparisons of the calculated results with experimental measurements show that the obtained electronic structure of ZnSb would be reliable. We did not observe a major deficiency of the first-principles DFT calculation for the electronic structure of ZnSb, using full-potential all electron LACO method. The reported electronic structure of single crystal ZnSb from this work may provide a fundamental knowledge base for further research and applications for this important thermoelectric material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of AIP Advances is the property of American Institute of Physics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Academic Search Complete
More Details
ISSN:21583226
DOI:10.1063/1.5051346
Published in:AIP Advances
Language:English