Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-15-2012
Abstract
The electronic structure of the ferroelectric crystal, NaNO 2, is studied by means of first-principles, local density calculations. Our ab-initio, non-relativistic calculations employed a local density functional approximation (LDA) potential and the linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO). Following the Bagayoko, Zhao, Williams, method, as enhanced by Ekuma and Franklin (BZW-EF), we solved self-consistently both the Kohn-Sham equation and the equation giving the ground state charge density in terms of the wave functions of the occupied states. We found an indirect band gap of 2.83 eV, from W to R. Our calculated direct gaps are 2.90, 2.98, 3.02, 3.22, and 3.51 eV at R, W, X, Γ, and T, respectively. The band structure and density of states show high localization, typical of a molecular solid. The partial density of states shows that the valence bands are formed only by complex anionic states. These results are in excellent agreement with experiment. So are the calculated densities of states. Our calculated electron effective masses of 1.18, 0.63, and 0.73 m o in the Γ-X, Γ-R, and Γ-W directions, respectively, show the highly anisotropic nature of this material. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
Materials Chemistry and Physics
First Page
1137
Last Page
1142
Recommended Citation
Ekuma, C., Jarrell, M., Moreno, J., Franklin, L., Zhao, G., Wang, J., & Bagayoko, D. (2012). First principle local density approximation description of the electronic properties of ferroelectric sodium nitrite. Materials Chemistry and Physics, 136 (2-3), 1137-1142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2012.08.066