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Title: Configuration Dependence of the Electronic Structure and Optical Property of BC2N Alloys

Journal Article · · Physica Status Solidi B

Using the first-principles band structure and total energy method, we have studied the general trend of physical properties of the BC{sub 2}N alloy as a function of atomic configurations. We found that the mechanical properties of the BC{sub 2}N alloy are basically determined by the bond components: structures with more C-C and B-N bonds have low energy, high density, and high bulk and shear moduli, which validates the so called the bond counting rule. We also show that the electronic and optical properties of the BC{sub 2}N alloy are more sensitive to the atomic configuration, thus could be used in future experimental measurement to identify the atomic configuration of BC{sub 2}N samples. A strong internal electric field produced by the polar interfaces is observed in the long period BC{sub 2}N{sub n x n} (111) superlattices, which explains the significant band gap decrease as the period n increases.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
960298
Journal Information:
Physica Status Solidi B, Vol. 246, Issue 3, 2009
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English