An ab initio prediction study of the electronic structure and elastic properties of V3GeC2

Abstract

The electronic structure and elastic properties of the ternary layered carbide V3GeC2 were investigated by the first-principle plane-wave pseudopotential total energy calculation method based on density functional theory. It is found that the computed P63/mmc lattice constants and internal coordinates are a = 2.9636?, c = 17.2256? and zV2 = 0.1325, zC = 0.5712, respectively. The predictable cohesive energy of V3GeC2 reflects that it could be a stable Mn+1AXn phase like Ti3GeC2 and V2GeC, while the band structure shows that the V3GeC2 has anisotropic electrical conductivity, with a high density of states at the Fermi energy. The V3GeC2 exhibits potential anisotropic elastic properties, as well as self-lubricating and ductile behaviour, related to the V-Ge bonds being relatively weaker than the V-C bonds.