Apresentamos cálculos de primeiros princípios da geometria atômica, energia de formação e estrutura eletrônica para as impurezas substitucionais de oxigênio e nitrogênio em GaAs (\'O IND. aS1\'\'N IND.As \'e \'N IND. Ga\'). Também estudamos a geometria atômica e estrutura eletrônica dos complexos neutros formados pelas mesmas impurezas substitucionais e átomos de hidrogênio intersticial (\'O IND. As-H\',\'N IND. As-H\',\'N IND. Ga-H\', \'N IND. As-H IND.2\' e \'N IND. Ga-H IND 2\'). Nossos resultados para os centros \'O IND. As\'e \'N IND. Ga\', em diferentes estados de carga, mostram distorções Jahn-Teller as quais induzem estados de carga não estáveis, observando-se um comportamento U-negativo para cada centro. Entretanto para o centro \'N IND. As\' não foram observadas distorções. Em todos os sistemas estudados, as impurezas introduzem níveis profundos no gap. Para os complexos O-H e N-H foram encontradas várias configurações metaestáveis, correspondentes a diferentes posições de equilíbrio do átomo de hidrogênio, as quais apresentam energias entre 0.5 e 2.5 e V relativas à configuração estável. Na configuração estável do complexo \'O IND. As-H\', oxigênio não interage diretamente com hidrogênio, ligando-se a três gálios primeiros vizinhos. Entretanto para os complexos \'N IND. As-H\' e \'N IND. Ga\'-Hg\' é observada a formação de um dímero NH ligado à rede. Para os complexos N-\'H IND. 2\' também são encontradas várias configurações metaestáveis. O complexo\'N IND. As\'-\'H IND. 2\' apresenta uma configuração estável onde um dos hidrogênios forma o dímero NH, enquanto que o segundo fica ligado a um gálio primeiro vizinho, em simetria \'C IND. 3 v\'. Para o complexo \'N IND. Ga\'-\'H IND.2\' é observada a formação de uma molécula do tipo N\'H IND.2\', a qual também se liga à rede. As propriedades passivadora e ativadora do átomo de hidrogênio, como também sua interação com os níveis no gap, são discutidas para cada complexo / We report first-principles calculations of the electronic structure, atomic geometry and formation energy for the isolated oxygen and nitrogen substitutional impurities in GaAs (OA, NA, and Naa)· Also we performed electronic structure and atomic geometry calculations for the neutra! complexes formed by the same substitutional impurities and interstitial hydrogen atoms (O A,-H,NA,-H, Naa-H, Nk,-H2 and Naa-H2). Our results for the O ko and Naa centers for different charge states show Jahn-Telier distortions which induce unstable charge states, implying in a nega tive-U behaviour for each center. The NA-< center remains on-site for ali the charge states studied. Ali the substitutional impurity give rise deep leveis in the gap. For the 0-H and N-H complexes we found severa! metastable configurations related to different hydrogen equilibrium positions, with energies ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 eV relative to the stable configuration. The stable configuration for the O A,-H complex shows a weak interaction between oxygen and hydrogen, while for the NA,-H and Naa-H complexes it shows the formation of a N H dimer which is bonded to the lattice. For the N-H2 complexes we also found severa! metastable configuration. The stable configuration for the Nk,-H2 complex shows one H atom fonning a N H dimer wit.h nitrogen, while the second one bonds with a nearestneighbour Ga atom, in C3, symmetry. For the Naa·H2 complex we observed the formation o f a N H T like molecule ais o bonded to the lattice. The passivation and activation properties related to hydrogen atom and their interaction with the gap leveis are discussed.

Duas são as principais características deste trabalho. A primeira é a introdução de um método para o cálculo da energia livre absoluta no programa de dinâmica molecular clássica Thor. Este método é geral e pode ser usado no vácuo ou em solução,sob quaisquer condições de pressão e/ou temperatura. Trata-se de um caso especial de integração termodinâmica para cálculos de energia livre, e compara um estado termodinâmico com um sistema modelo para o qual a energia livre é conhecidaanaliticamente. O estado modelo é conhecido no início, e após uma integração termodinâmica até o estado real final, a energia livre absoluta é calculada como uma soma desta integração mais a energia livre do estado modelo. A energia livredepende do modelo a partir do qual a função de partição é derivada analiticamente. O modelo definido é o sólido de Einstein. Os átomos deste sólido ideal não interagem entre si (como um gás ideal) e estão ligados harmonicamente às suas posiçõesideais. O acoplamento entre os dois estados é feito. / This work has two main features. First it introduces a method for absolute free energy calculations in the classical molecular dynamics Thor program. This method is general and could be used in vacuum or in solution, under any conditions of pressure and/or temperature. It is a special case of thermodynamic integration for free energy calculations, and compares one thermodynamic state with a model system for which the free energy is analytically known. The initial model state is known and after an integration to a final real state, the absolute free energy is calculated as a sum of that integration plus the free energy of model state. The absolute free energy depends on the model from which the partition function is analytically derived. The model that we have defined is the Einstein solid. The atoms of this ideal system do not interact (like an ideal gas) and are linked harmonically to their ideal position. The coupling between the two states is done directly through the energy. We calibrated and tested this method of free energy calculations on the fentanyl molecule and our results were comparable to those presented by the Discover package for the same molecule. We applied this method to the aminoacid tryptophan, that is a fluorescent probe for the structure of peptides and proteins. The absolute free energy is proposed as the relevant parameter that determines the rotameric conformational states of tryptophan molecule. The second feature is the use of the semi empirical Geomop quantum program. The calculations made with this program gave us the electronic structure and the geometry\'s of Abz (anthranilic acid, an extrinsic probe for the study of peptides) and its compounds with alanine, phenilalanine and proline. The resulting spectra are comparable with those obtained experimentally. Another application of the program is the analysis of the paths of the inter-conversion of the thiocarbazone molecule in two isomeric forms, showing another possibility of use of semi empirical calculations.

Duas são as principais características deste trabalho. A primeira é a introdução de um método para o cálculo da energia livre absoluta no programa de dinâmica molecular clássica Thor. Este método é geral e pode ser usado no vácuo ou em solução,sob quaisquer condições de pressão e/ou temperatura. Trata-se de um caso especial de integração termodinâmica para cálculos de energia livre, e compara um estado termodinâmico com um sistema modelo para o qual a energia livre é conhecidaanaliticamente. O estado modelo é conhecido no início, e após uma integração termodinâmica até o estado real final, a energia livre absoluta é calculada como uma soma desta integração mais a energia livre do estado modelo. A energia livredepende do modelo a partir do qual a função de partição é derivada analiticamente. O modelo definido é o sólido de Einstein. Os átomos deste sólido ideal não interagem entre si (como um gás ideal) e estão ligados harmonicamente às suas posiçõesideais. O acoplamento entre os dois estados é feito. / This work has two main features. First it introduces a method for absolute free energy calculations in the classical molecular dynamics Thor program. This method is general and could be used in vacuum or in solution, under any conditions of pressure and/or temperature. It is a special case of thermodynamic integration for free energy calculations, and compares one thermodynamic state with a model system for which the free energy is analytically known. The initial model state is known and after an integration to a final real state, the absolute free energy is calculated as a sum of that integration plus the free energy of model state. The absolute free energy depends on the model from which the partition function is analytically derived. The model that we have defined is the Einstein solid. The atoms of this ideal system do not interact (like an ideal gas) and are linked harmonically to their ideal position. The coupling between the two states is done directly through the energy. We calibrated and tested this method of free energy calculations on the fentanyl molecule and our results were comparable to those presented by the Discover package for the same molecule. We applied this method to the aminoacid tryptophan, that is a fluorescent probe for the structure of peptides and proteins. The absolute free energy is proposed as the relevant parameter that determines the rotameric conformational states of tryptophan molecule. The second feature is the use of the semi empirical Geomop quantum program. The calculations made with this program gave us the electronic structure and the geometry\'s of Abz (anthranilic acid, an extrinsic probe for the study of peptides) and its compounds with alanine, phenilalanine and proline. The resulting spectra are comparable with those obtained experimentally. Another application of the program is the analysis of the paths of the inter-conversion of the thiocarbazone molecule in two isomeric forms, showing another possibility of use of semi empirical calculations.

Calculamos a estrutura eletrônica do sistema formado por dois poços quânticos assimétricos (Al0.3Ga0.7As/GaAs) com dopagem delta (Si) no centro de cada poço. Resolvemos a equação de Schrödinger usando a teoria do funcional densidade na aproximação de densidade local. Obtemos o potencial efetivo, os níveis de energia, a ocupação das sub-bandas e a densidade eletrônica total em função da temperatura, espessura da barreira de potencial que separa os dois poços, concentração e difusão dos átomos doadores. Verificamos que a estrutura eletrônica e pouco influenciada pela temperatura e difusão dos doadores. Por outro lado, nossos resultados mostram que ela depende de forma significativa da concentração dos doadores. Investigamos também como o sistema e influenciado por uma tensão elétrica aplicada na direção de crescimento. Calculamos os níveis de energia e ocupação das sub-bandas em função da tensão elétrica aplicada. Determinamos então a tensão elétrica necessária para tomar ressonantes os dois primeiros níveis de energia para barreiras de potencial de espessuras 25&#197 e 50&#197. Uma possível aplicação para esse sistema e analisada. Verificamos que ele apresenta efeitos de mobilidade modulada e transcondutância negativa quando as mobilidades nos dois poços são diferentes. Consideramos ainda o caso em que um campo magnético e aplicado perpendicularmente a direção de crescimento. Nossos resultados mostram que a forma da relação de dispersão En( kx), inicialmente parabólica, e bastante modificada pelo campo magnético, surgindo estados ressonantes para kx diferente de zero. Conseqüentemente, a massa efetiva eletrônica nessa direção também e modificada, dependendo agora da energia do elétron. Para campo magnético nulo verificamos que a massa efetiva e diferente em cada sub-banda. / In this work we calculate the electronic structure of a double asymmetric quantum well of Al0.3Ga0.7As/GaAs with a delta doping at the center of the wells. The local density approximation was used in order to obtain the effective potential energy levels, population and the total electronic density as a function of the temperature, barrier thickness, impurity concentration and impurity spread. We have observed that the electronic structure is almost not sensitive to the temperature and the spread of the donors but it depends strongly of the donors concentration. The effect of a gate voltage (Vc) is also studied. The energy levels and the occupation of these levels are calculated as a function of Vc. The resonances of the two first levels are studied for a system with barrier thickness 25&#197 and 50&#197. A possible practical application for this system is analyzed. We observe that mobility modulation and negative transconductance can be achieved when the mobilities of the two wells are different. We have considered the effect of a uniform magnetic field applied perpendicular to the growth direction. The dispersion relation is strongly modified and the effective mass for each subband has been calculated.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Physics)) --University of Limpopo, 2008 / We present first principles structural, electronic and optical properties investigation of PdS, which are carried out using density functional theory under plane wave pseudopotential method within the local density approximation. We used ultrasoft- pseudopotentials to carry out our calculations. Calculated lattice parameters of the system show excellent agreement with the experimental values. The lattice parameters were observed to decrease linearly with increasing pressure. The density of states and optical properties of PdS have been computed under hydrostatic pressure. The actual size of the band gap remains constant with increasing pressure, whilst the peaks just below and above the Fermi energy moves to the left and to the right respectively. We also investigated the effect of compositional variation on our reflectance by calculating the reflectivity of Pd4-xPtxS4 and Pd4-xNixS4. Since we have different positions for the same concentration, we used the heats of formation to determine the most stable structures and these structures were used to study the effect of compositional variation on our reflectance spectrum. We studied the equation of state (EOS), structure under hydrostatic pressure, and deduced the bulk modulus. It is important to study these properties under such extreme conditions of pressure and temperature as they tend to occur below the earth's surface. Investigation of stability and mechanical properties of binary and ternary compounds from PtS to PdS have been carried out, were the presence of the miscibility gap is still uncertain. We investigate stability of these compounds by studying the heats of formation, elasticity and electronic properties. Our results show no miscibility gap but continuum solid solution between these compounds. A shift of the Fermi energy towards the conduction band is observed at a 50% concentration of Pd and Pt. All the information obtained on PdS is intended to assist in fitting interatomic potentials to enable studies of systems with many atoms.

<p>Using field theoretical methods models of strongly correlated electrons have been investigated. Application to electronic structure calculations has been made.</p><p>In this thesis an attempt is made to build a bridge between first-principle band structure calculations and a theory of systems with strongly correlated electrons, by making use of perturbation theory from the atomic limit. Analyzing the total non-relativistic Hamiltonian leads to the basic model of strongly correlated systems, the Hubbard-Anderson model. In this thesis these basic models have been tested. Conclusions on delocalization and many-body aspects have been extracted from the solutions. Specifically for the lanthanides a separation of the f-system into two subsystems has resolved the discrepancy between calculated equilibrium volumes and experimental ones. The calculations are done within the Hubbard-I approximation, where it is possible to define renormalized fermion operators. The calculation is a true many-body calculation.</p><p>Using perturbation theory a set of self consistent equations has been formulated, and solved, for praseodymium metal using the periodical Anderson model. The solution shows a self consistent decrease of the Hubbard U, and delocalization of the f-shell, when crucial parameters of the model are changed. The most salient feature of the models for strongly correlated electrons is the transfer of spectral weight from one energy region to another by adjusting pressure or other external parameters. The effects come from kinematic interactions that are important for strongly correlated systems.</p><p>Investigations of the degenerate Hubbard model applied to the metal to insulator transition has also been made. When the degeneracy is considered, the transition to the metallic state occurs at smaller Coulomb energies. </p><p>The validity of the Fermi liquid description for strongly correlated electrons has also been studied. The results show that the general behavior of the Fermi liquid state is quite robust.</p>

First principles calculations provide a powerful tool for sorting out the interplay of chemical composition and structure with the physical properties of materials. In this dissertation, I discuss the physical properties and their microscopic basis within this framework for following illustrative examples. (i) The Zintl phase hydrides, where I find H is anionic and the formation of covalent sp2 bonds in the Al/Ga/Al-Si planes, which is a highly unusual bonding configuration for these elements. (ii) PbTe, which shows strong coupling between the longitudinal acoustic and transverse optic modes that may explain its low thermal conductivity. (iii) The double perovskites BiPbZnNbO6 and BiSrZnNbO6, where introducing size disorder at A-site prevents the BO6 octahedra from tiling and enhances the polar behavior. (iv) FeSe, which shares the salient electronic and magnetic features of other Fe superconductors and cannot be described as a conventional electron phonon superconductor. (v) NbFe2, which is near a magnetic quantum critical point and shows strong competition between various magnetic orderings that may explain its unusual non-Fermi liquid behavior at very low temperatures. (vi) The nickel analogues of Fe superconductors LaNiPO and BaNi2As2, where I show that superconductivity is of conventional electron-phonon type in contrast to the Fe-based superconductors. (vii) Noncentrosymmetric LaNiC2, which I find is a conventional electron-phonon superconductor with intermediate coupling.

Using field theoretical methods models of strongly correlated electrons have been investigated. Application to electronic structure calculations has been made. In this thesis an attempt is made to build a bridge between first-principle band structure calculations and a theory of systems with strongly correlated electrons, by making use of perturbation theory from the atomic limit. Analyzing the total non-relativistic Hamiltonian leads to the basic model of strongly correlated systems, the Hubbard-Anderson model. In this thesis these basic models have been tested. Conclusions on delocalization and many-body aspects have been extracted from the solutions. Specifically for the lanthanides a separation of the f-system into two subsystems has resolved the discrepancy between calculated equilibrium volumes and experimental ones. The calculations are done within the Hubbard-I approximation, where it is possible to define renormalized fermion operators. The calculation is a true many-body calculation. Using perturbation theory a set of self consistent equations has been formulated, and solved, for praseodymium metal using the periodical Anderson model. The solution shows a self consistent decrease of the Hubbard U, and delocalization of the f-shell, when crucial parameters of the model are changed. The most salient feature of the models for strongly correlated electrons is the transfer of spectral weight from one energy region to another by adjusting pressure or other external parameters. The effects come from kinematic interactions that are important for strongly correlated systems. Investigations of the degenerate Hubbard model applied to the metal to insulator transition has also been made. When the degeneracy is considered, the transition to the metallic state occurs at smaller Coulomb energies. The validity of the Fermi liquid description for strongly correlated electrons has also been studied. The results show that the general behavior of the Fermi liquid state is quite robust.

In the first part of this dissertation, we study mainly novel boron structures and their electronic and mechanical properties, using ab initio calculations. The electronic structure and construction of the boron buckyball B80, and boron nanotubes as the α-sheet wrapped around a cylinder are studied. The α-sheet is considered so far to be the most stable structure energetically out of the two dimensional boron assemblies. We will argue however that there are other sheets close in energy, using cluster expansion method. The boron buckyball is shown to have different possible isomers. Characterization of these isomers according to their geometry and electronic structure is studied in detail. Since the B80 structure is made of interwoven double-ring clusters, we also investigate double-rings with various diameters. We investigate the properties of nanotubes obtained from α-sheet. Computations confirm their high stability and identify mechanical stiffness parameters. Careful relaxation reveals the curvature-induced buckling of certain atoms off the original plane. This distortion opens up the gap in narrow tubes, rendering them semi-conducting. Wider tubes with the diameter d  1.7 nm retain original metallic character of the α-sheet. We conclude this part by investigation into hydrogen storage capacity of boron-rich compounds, namely the metallacarboranes. In the second part of dissertation, we switch our focus to electronic and transport properties of carbon nano-structures. We study the application of carbon nanotubes as electro-chemical gas sensors. The effect of physisorption of NO2 gas molecules on electron transport properties of semi-conducting carbon nanotubes is studied using ab initio calculations and Green’s function formalism. It is shown that upon exposure of nanotube to different concentrations of gas, the common feature is the shift in conductance towards lower energies. This suggests that physisorption of NO2 will result in a decrease (increase) in conductance of p-type (n-type) nanotubes with Fermi energies close to the edge of valence and conduction band. Finally we study the effect of torsion on electronic properties of carbon nano-ribbons, using helical symmetry of the structures.

Thermoelectric energy (TE) conversion can be used to create electricity from temperature gradients. Hence power can be generated from waste heat using TE materials, e.g. from the exhaust in automotives. This power in turn may lead to a reduction of gas consumption by reducing the alternator load on the engine. Because of the increasing demand and limited availability of energy sources, there is strong and renewed interest in advancing thermoelectric materials. Past research shows that the best TE materials are narrow band gap semiconductors composed of heavy elements, exhibiting a large Seebeck coefficient, S, combined with high electrical conductivity, σ, and low thermal conductivity, κ. Various research projects have been attempted during the past four years of my Ph.D. studies. These include the synthesis, crystal structure studies, electronic structure calculations and thermoelectric properties of transition metal oxides and thallium main group chalcogenides. Because of the good thermal stability, lack of sensitivity to the air, and non-toxicity, transition metal oxides are potential candidates for commercial thermoelectric applications. During the investigation of oxides for thermoelectric application, several interesting features of different transition metal oxides have been discovered: 1. A new quaternary layered transition-metal oxide, Na2Cu2TeO6, has been synthesized under air using stoichiometric mixtures of Na2CO3, CuO and TeO2. Na2Cu2TeO6 crystallizes in a new structure type, monoclinic space group C2/m with a = 5.7059(6) Å, b = 8.6751(9) Å, c = 5.9380(6) Å,  = 113.740(2)°, V = 269.05(5) Å3 and Z = 2, as determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure is composed of[Cu2TeO6] layers with the Na atoms located in the octahedral voids between the layers. Na2Cu2TeO6 is a green nonmetallic compound, in agreement with the electronic structure calculation and electrical resistance measurement. 2. An n-type narrow band gap semiconductor, LaMo8O14, exhibiting the high Seebeck coefficient of -94 μVK-1 at room temperature has been investigated. 3. Pb0.69Mo4O6 with a new modulated structure and stoichiometry was determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The compound crystallizes in the tetragonal super space group, P4/mbm(00g)00ss, with a = 9.6112(3) Å, c = 2.8411(1) Å, q = 0.25c*, which is different from the previously reported structure. As for the research of thermoelectric properties of thallium main group chalcogenides, three new ternary thallium selenides, Tl2.35Sb8.65Se14, Tl1.97Sb8.03Se13 and Tl2.04Bi7.96Se13, have been discovered. All three compounds crystallize in the same space group P21/m with different cell parameters, and in part different Wyckoff sites, hence different structure types. The three selenides with similar structures are composed of distorted edge-sharing (Sb,Bi)Se6 octahedra, while the distorted Tl/(Sb, Bi) sites are coordinated by 8 - 9 Se atoms. Electronic structure calculations and physical property measurements reveal they are semiconductors with high Seebeck coefficient but low electrical conductivity, and therefore not good thermoelectrics. On the other hand, our transport property measurements on the unoptimized Tl2SnTe3 sample show interesting thermoelectric properties of this known compound. Advanced thermoelectrics are dominated by antimonides and tellurides so far. The structures of the tellurides are mostly composed of NaCl-related motifs, hence do not contain any Te–Te bonds. All of the antimonide structures containing Sb–Sb bonds of various lengths are much more complex. The Sb atom substructures are Sb24– pairs in β-Zn4Sb3, linear Sb37– units in Yb14MnSb11, planar Sb44– rectangles in the skutterudites, e.g., LaFe3CoSb12, and Sb8 cubes interconnected via short Sb–Sb bonds to a three-dimensional network in Mo3Sb5Te2. The results of electronic structure calculations suggested that these interactions have a significant impact on the band gap size as well as on the effective mass around the Fermi level, which represent vital criteria for advanced thermoelectrics. The crystal structure and electronic structure investigation for the unique T net planar Sb–Sb interactions in Hf5Sb9 will be also presented, although Hf5Sb9 is metallic compound with poor thermoelectric performances.