The elastic properties and point defects of thorium monocarbide（ThC） have been studied by means of density functional theory based on the projector-augmented-wave method. The calculated electronic and elastic proper...The elastic properties and point defects of thorium monocarbide（ThC） have been studied by means of density functional theory based on the projector-augmented-wave method. The calculated electronic and elastic properties of ThC are in good agreement with experimental data and previous theoretical results. Five types of point defects have been considered in our study, including the vacancy defect, interstitial defect, antisite defect, schottky defect, and composition-conserving defect. Among these defects, the carbon vacancy defect has the lowest formation energy of 0.29 eV. The second most stable defect（0.49 eV） is one of composition-conserving defects in which one carbon is removed to another carbon site forming a C2 dimer. In addition, we also discuss several kinds of carbon interstitial defects, and predict that the carbon trimer configuration may be a transition state for a carbon dimer diffusion in Th C.展开更多
Hybrid density functional theory is employed to systematically investigate the structural,magnetic,vibrational,thermodynamic properties of plutonium monocarbide（Pu C and Pu C0.75）.For comparison,the results obtained...Hybrid density functional theory is employed to systematically investigate the structural,magnetic,vibrational,thermodynamic properties of plutonium monocarbide（Pu C and Pu C0.75）.For comparison,the results obtained by DFT,DFT ＋ U are also given.For Pu C and Pu C0.75,Fock-0.25 hybrid functional gives the best lattice constants and predicts the correct ground states of antiferromagnetic（AFM） structure.The calculated phonon spectra suggest that Pu C and Pu C0.75 are dynamically stable.Values of the Helmholtz free energy ？F,internal energy ？E,entropy S,and constant-volume specific heat Cv of Pu C and Pu C0.75 are given.The results are in good agreement with available experimental or theoretical data.As for the chemical bonding nature,the difference charge densities,the partial densities of states and the Bader charge analysis suggest that the Pu–C bonds of Pu C and Pu C0.75 have a mixture of covalent character and ionic character.The effect of carbon vacancy on the chemical bonding is also discussed in detail.We expect that our study can provide some useful reference for further experimental research on the phonon density of states,thermodynamic properties of the plutonium monocarbide.展开更多
Uranium dioxide (UO2) has become the basic fuel material for power reactor industry. It has many excellences such as high melting point dimensional stability under irradiation and good mechanical property. Compared wi...Uranium dioxide (UO2) has become the basic fuel material for power reactor industry. It has many excellences such as high melting point dimensional stability under irradiation and good mechanical property. Compared with UO2, uranium monocarbide (UC) also has the high fissionable material density and the good thermal conductivity, which can generate more power per kilogram. Therefore, UC is widely considered to be a potential nuclear fuel.展开更多
基金Project supported by the International S&T Cooperation Program of China(Grant No.2014DFG60230)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.91326105)+1 种基金the National Basic Research Program of China(Grant No.2010CB934504)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDA02040104)
文摘The elastic properties and point defects of thorium monocarbide（ThC） have been studied by means of density functional theory based on the projector-augmented-wave method. The calculated electronic and elastic properties of ThC are in good agreement with experimental data and previous theoretical results. Five types of point defects have been considered in our study, including the vacancy defect, interstitial defect, antisite defect, schottky defect, and composition-conserving defect. Among these defects, the carbon vacancy defect has the lowest formation energy of 0.29 eV. The second most stable defect（0.49 eV） is one of composition-conserving defects in which one carbon is removed to another carbon site forming a C2 dimer. In addition, we also discuss several kinds of carbon interstitial defects, and predict that the carbon trimer configuration may be a transition state for a carbon dimer diffusion in Th C.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.21371160 and 21401173)
文摘Hybrid density functional theory is employed to systematically investigate the structural,magnetic,vibrational,thermodynamic properties of plutonium monocarbide（Pu C and Pu C0.75）.For comparison,the results obtained by DFT,DFT ＋ U are also given.For Pu C and Pu C0.75,Fock-0.25 hybrid functional gives the best lattice constants and predicts the correct ground states of antiferromagnetic（AFM） structure.The calculated phonon spectra suggest that Pu C and Pu C0.75 are dynamically stable.Values of the Helmholtz free energy ？F,internal energy ？E,entropy S,and constant-volume specific heat Cv of Pu C and Pu C0.75 are given.The results are in good agreement with available experimental or theoretical data.As for the chemical bonding nature,the difference charge densities,the partial densities of states and the Bader charge analysis suggest that the Pu–C bonds of Pu C and Pu C0.75 have a mixture of covalent character and ionic character.The effect of carbon vacancy on the chemical bonding is also discussed in detail.We expect that our study can provide some useful reference for further experimental research on the phonon density of states,thermodynamic properties of the plutonium monocarbide.
文摘Uranium dioxide (UO2) has become the basic fuel material for power reactor industry. It has many excellences such as high melting point dimensional stability under irradiation and good mechanical property. Compared with UO2, uranium monocarbide (UC) also has the high fissionable material density and the good thermal conductivity, which can generate more power per kilogram. Therefore, UC is widely considered to be a potential nuclear fuel.
