Ab initio investigation of the electronic, lattice dynamic and thermodynamic properties of ScCd intermetallic alloy

Abstract

The electronic structures, lattice dynamics and thermodynamic properties of rare-earth intermetallic ScCd alloy are studied by the first-principles plane-wave pseudopotential method within the generalized gradient approximation in the framework of density functional pertubation theory. The band structure, density of states, phonon dispersion frequencies, vibrational free energy [Formula: see text], specific heat capacity [Formula: see text] and entropy are studied between 0 K and 1500 K. Finally, using the calculated phonon density of states, the thermodynamic properties are determined within the quasi-harmonic approximation and a value of 47.9 (J/mol⋅K) at 300 K for specific heat capacity of ScCd is predicted.