First-principles study of the binary intermetallics in the Au-Rb system

摘要

First-principles calculations within density functional theory (DFT) with the projector augmented wave (PAW) technique were used to investigate the stabilities of intermetallics in the Au-Rb system at 0 K. Four intermetallics: Au_7Rb_3, Au_3Rb_2, Au_5Rb and AuRb were investigated in their observed experimental structures. The Au_2Rb compound, reported in the Au-Rb phase diagrams without specifying explicitly its structure, was also investigated by inspecting several hypothetical structures. A suspect compound (AuRb_2) was also investigated. Results show that: (i) The Au_3Rb_2 and Au_7Rb_3 compounds, which were never reported in any Au-Rb phase diagram, are stable at 0 K. (ii) The Au_2Rb compound is not a ground state for all the tested structures. (iii) Stability of the Au_5Rb and AuRb compounds was confirmed. (iv) The new compound AuRb_2, not yet reported experimentally, is found mechanically stable at 0 K.