Study of thermo-elastic and lattice dynamics properties of half-Heusler compounds XMgAl (X = Li, Na) by computational investigations

In this study, thermo-elastic and lattice dynamic properties of XMgAl (X = Li, Na) half-Heusler compounds are investigated using density functional theory implemented in WIEN2k and Quantum ESPRESSO codes. Generalized gradient approximation (GGA) as an exchange correlation function has been used in Kohn-Sham equations. Firstly, the structure of these Heusler compounds is optimized and then these optimized parameters are used to find three elastic constants C-11, C-12 and C-44 for C-1b type structures. Three elastic constants are then used to determine different elastic moduli like bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young's modulus and other mechanical parameters like Pugh's ratio, Poisson's ratio, anisotropic ratio, sound velocities, Debye temperature and melting temperature. On behalf of these mechanical parameters, the brittle/ductile nature and isotropic/anisotropic behavior of the materials has been studied. Different regions of vibrational modes in the materials are also discussed on behalf of Debye temperature calculations. The vibrational properties of the half-Heusler compounds are computed using Martins-Troullier pseudo potentials implemented in Quantum ESPRESSO. The phonon dispersion curves and phonon density of states in first Brillion zone are obtained and discussed. Reststrahlen band of LiMgAl is found greater than NaMgAl.