Ordered U(Al, Si)3phase: Structure and bonding

V. Y. Zenou, G. Rafailov, I. Dahan, A. Kiv, L. Meshi, D. Fuks

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Recently the crystal structure of a new stable ordered U(Al, Si)3phase was solved using electron crystallography and powder X-ray diffraction. The proposed atomic structure included 7 Wyckoff sites. 16m site was assigned to uranium atoms, while others could not be certainly assigned to either silicon or aluminum atoms due to similar scattering factors. In the current research, ab initio calculations, via Density Functional theory (DFT), were used for full structure solution. Assuming that only one type of elements occupies each specific Wyckoff position, the silicon and aluminum positions were assigned. It was found that compared to aluminum, the silicon occupies the closest sites to uranium. The optimized volume and the relaxed atomic positions calculated in the framework of DFT are in good agreement with the experimental data. Density of States (DOS) analysis shows stronger bonding between uranium and silicon compared to the bond between uranium and aluminum in the energetically preferable structure.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)884-889
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Alloys and Compounds
Volume690
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2017

Keywords

  • Actinide alloys and compounds
  • Crystal structure
  • Intermetallics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Metals and Alloys
  • Materials Chemistry

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