In computational physics and materials science ground-state properties are often extracted from an equation of state fit to energy-volume data. Magnetic systems often have multiple magnetic phases present in the energy-volume data, which poses a challenge for the fitting approach because the results are sensitive to the selection of included fitting points. This is because practically all popular equation of state fitting functions, such as Murnaghan and Birch-Murnaghan, assume just one phase and therefore cannot correctly fit magnetic energy-volume data that contains multiple phases. When fitting magnetic energy-volume data it is therefore important to select the range of fitting points in such a way that only points from the one relevant phase are included. We present a simple algorithm that makes the point selection automatically. Selecting fitting points automatically removes human bias and should also be useful for large-scale projects where selecting all fitting points by hand is not feasible.

Density functional study of structure and dynamics in liquid antimony and Sbn clusters R. O. Jones,1,a) O. Ahlstedt,2 J. Akola,2,3 and M. Ropo2,4 1Peter Grünberg Institut PGI-1 and JARA/HPC, Forschungszentrum Jülich, D-52425 Jülich, Germany 2Laboratory of Physics, Tampere University of Technology, P.O. Box 692, FI-33101 Tampere, Finland 3Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway 4COMP Centre of Excellence, Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland

Density functional/molecular dynamics simulations have been performed on liquid antimony (588 atoms and six temperatures between 600 K and 1300 K) and on neutral Sb clusters with up to 14 atoms. We study structural patterns (coordination numbers, bond angles, and ring patterns, structure factors, pair distribution functions) and dynamical properties (vibration frequencies, diffusion constants, power spectra, dynamical structure factors, viscosity) and compare with available experimental results and with the results of our previous simulations on Bi. Three short covalent bonds characteristic of pnictogens are common in the clusters, and higher temperatures lead in the liquid to broader bond angle distributions, larger total cavity volumes, and weaker correlations between neighboring bond lengths. There are clear similarities between the properties of Sb and Bi aggregates.

Crystallization of liquid antimony has been studied at 600 K using six density functional/molecular dynamics simulations with up to 882 atoms and three scenarios: one completely disordered sample that did not crystallize even after 570 ps, four with fixed crystalline slab templates, and one with a fixed crystalline seed. Crystallization proceeded layer-by-layer in most cases and was rapid (similar to 36 m/s) with templates and somewhat slower with the seed. The seed simulation shows an unusual percolation asymmetry where the crystallite grows faster in the direction normal to the zigzag planes. Changes in pair distribution functions, bond angle distributions, ring statistics, nearest-neighbor distances, and cavity volumes were monitored. Diffusion plays a minor role in the process, and the evolution of bond lengths and ring statistics supports the bond-interchange model introduced to explain the rapid crystallization of Sb-rich phase change materials.

We derive structural and binding energy trends for twenty amino acids, their dipeptides, and their interactions with the divalent cations Ca$^{2+}$, Ba$^{2+}$, Sr$^{2+}$, Cd$^{2+}$, Pb$^{2+}$, and Hg$^{2+}$. The underlying data set consists of 45,892 first-principles predicted conformers with relative energies up to about 4 eV (about 400kJ/mol). We show that only very few distinct backbone structures of isolated amino acids and their dipeptides emerge as lowest-energy conformers. The isolated amino acids predominantly adopt structures that involve an acidic proton shared between the carboxy and amino function. Dipeptides adopt one of two intramolecular-hydrogen bonded conformations C$_5$ or equatorial C$_7$. Upon complexation with a divalent cation, the accessible conformational space shrinks and intramolecular hydrogen bonding is prevented due to strong electrostatic interaction of backbone and side chain functional groups with cations. Clear correlations emerge from the binding energies of the six divalent ions with amino acids and dipeptides. Cd$^{2+}$ and Hg$^{2+}$ show the largest binding energies - a potential correlation with their known high acute toxicities. Ca$^{2+}$ and Pb$^{2+}$ reveal almost identical binding energies across the entire series of amino acids and dipeptides. This observation validates past indications that ion-mimicry of calcium and lead should play an important role in a toxicological context.

We present a structural data set of the 20 proteinogenic amino acids and their amino-methylated and acetylated (capped) dipeptides. Different protonation states of the backbone (uncharged and zwitterionic) were considered for the amino acids as well as varied side chain protonation states. Furthermore, we studied amino acids and dipeptides in complex with divalent cations (Ca2+, Ba2+, Sr2+, Cd2+, Pb2+, and Hg2+). The database covers the conformational hierarchies of 280 systems in a wide relative energy range of up to 4 eV (390 kJ/mol), summing up to an overall of 45,892 stationary points on the respective potential-energy surfaces. All systems were calculated on equal first-principles footing, applying density-functional theory in the generalized gradient approximation corrected for long-range van der Waals interactions. We show good agreement to available experimental data for gas-phase ion affinities. Our curated data can be utilized, for example, for a wide comparison across chemical space of the building blocks of life, for the parametrization of protein force fields, and for the calculation of reference spectra for biophysical applications.

Iron-chromium alloys, the base components of various stainless steel grades, have numerous technologically and scientifically interesting properties. However, these features are not yet sufficiently understood to allow their full exploitation in technological applications. In this work, we investigate segregation, precipitation, and phase separation in Fe-Cr systems analyzing the physical mechanisms behind the observed phenomena. To get a comprehensive picture of Fe-Cr alloys as a function of composition, temperature, and time the present investigation combines Monte Carlo simulations using semiempirical interatomic potential, first-principles total energy calculations, and experimental spectroscopy. In order to obtain a general picture of the relation of the atomic interactions and properties of Fe-Cr alloys in bulk, surface, and interface regions several complementary methods have to be used. Using the exact muffin-tin orbitals method with the coherent potential approximation (CPA-EMTO) the effective chemical potential as a function of Cr content (0-15 at. % Cr) is calculated for a surface, second atomic layer, and bulk. At similar to 10 at. % Cr in the alloy the reversal of the driving force of a Cr atom to occupy either bulk or surface sites is obtained. The Cr-containing surfaces are expected when the Cr content exceeds similar to 10 at. %. The second atomic layer forms about a 0.3 eV barrier for the migration of Cr atoms between the bulk and surface atomic layer. To get information on Fe-Cr in larger scales we use semiempirical methods. However, for Cr concentration regions less than 10 at. %, the ab initio (CPA-EMTO) result of the important role of the second atomic layer to the surface is not reproducible from the large-scale Monte Carlo molecular dynamics (MCMD) simulation. On the other hand, for the nominal concentration of Cr larger than 10 at. % the MCMD simulations show the precipitation of Cr into isolated pockets in bulk Fe-Cr and the existence of the upper limit of the solubility of Cr into Fe layers in Fe/Cr layer systems. For high Cr concentration alloys the performed spectroscopic measurements support the MCMD simulations. Hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy investigations were carried out to explore Cr segregation and precipitation in the Fe/Cr double layer and Fe0.95Cr0.05 and Fe0.85Cr0.15 alloys. Initial oxidation of Fe-Cr was investigated experimentally at 10(-8) Torr pressure of the spectrometers showing intense Cr2O3 signal. Cr segregation and the formation of Cr-rich precipitates were traced by analyzing the experimental atomic concentrations and chemical shifts with respect to annealing time, Cr content, and kinetic energy of the exited electron.

Iron–chromium is the base material for most of the stainless steel grades. Recently, new insights into the origins of fundamental physical and chemical characteristics of Fe–Cr based alloys have been achieved. Some of the new results are quite unexpected and call for further investigations. The present study focuses on the magnetic contribution in the atomic driving forces related to the chemical composition in Fe–Cr when alloyed with Al, Ti, V, Mn, Co, Ni, and Mo. Using the ab initio exact muffin-tin orbitals method combined with an Ising-type spin model, we demonstrate that the magnetic moment of the solute atoms with the induced changes in the magnetic moments of the host atoms form the main factor in determining the mixing energy and chemical potentials of low-Cr Fe–Cr based alloys. The results obtained in the present work are related to the designing and tuning of the microstructure and corrosion protection of low-Cr steels.

We determine the interface energy and the work of separation of the Fe/Cr2O3 interface using first-principles density functional theory. Starting from different structures, we put forward a realistic interface model that is suitable to study the complex metal-oxide interaction. This model has the lowest formation energy and corresponds to an interface between Fe and oxygen terminated Cr2O3. The work of separation is calculated to be smaller than the intrinsic adhesion energy of pure Fe or Cr2O3, suggesting that stainless steel surfaces should preferentially break along the metal-oxide interface. The relative stabilities and magnetic interactions of the different interfaces are discussed. Next we introduce Cr atoms into the Fe matrix at different positions relative to the interface. We find that metallic Cr segregates very strongly to the (FeCr)/Cr2O3 interface, and increases the separation energy of the interface, making the adhesion of the oxide scale mechanically more stable. The Cr segregation is explained by the enthalpy of formation.

Surface and interface properties of Fe-Cr, Fe-Al, and Fe-Cr-Al are studied using Exact Muffin-Tin Orbitals and Monte Carlo methods and with x-ray photoelectron and Auger electron techniques. Surface composition is investigated as a function of oxidation (heating) time. Hard x ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) is used to scan non destructively the compositions below the surface. It is found that Cr boosts the Al segregation to the surface.

Using ab initio calculations we investigated the surface energies of paramagnetic Fe1−c−nCrcNin random alloys within the concentration range of 0.12≤c≤0.32 and 0.04≤n≤0.32. These alloys crystallize mainly in the face centred cubic (fcc) structure and constitute the main building blocks of austenitic stainless steels. It is shown that all alloys have the lowest surface energies along the most close packed crystal orientation, namely the fcc (111) surfaces. The amount of Ni seems to have little effect on the surface energy, while almost all composition-driven change may be attributed to the changes in the Cr content. Within the studied compositional range, the change of the surface energy with the composition is of the order of 10%. Trends of the surface energy can be related to the magnetic structure of surfaces. Using the total energy as a function of the concentration, we determine the effective chemical potentials in bulk and at the surface, which can be used to estimate the surface segregation energies.

Accurate description of materials requires the most advanced atomic-scale techniques from both experimental and theoretical areas. In spite of the vast number of available techniques, however, the experimental study of the atomic-scale properties and phenomena even in simple solids is rather difficult. In steels the challenges become more complex due to the interplay between the structural, chemical and magnetic effects. On the other hand, advanced computational methods based on density functional theory ensure a proper platform for studying the fundamental properties of steel materials from first-principles. In 1980’s the first-principles description of the thermodynamic properties of elemental iron was still on the borderline of atomistic simulations. Today the numerous applicationoriented activities at the industrial and academic sectors are paired by a rapidly increasing scientific interest. This is reflected by the number of publications on ab initio steel research, which has increased from null to about one thousand within the last two decades. Our research group has a well established position in developing and applying computational codes for steel related applications. Using our ab initio tools, we have presented an insight to the electronic and magnetic structure, and micromechanical properties of austenite and ferrite stainless steel alloys. In the present contribution, we review the most important developments within the ab initio quantum mechanics aided steel design with special emphasis on the role of magnetism on the fundamental properties of alloy steels.

The surface properties of Fe-rich ferromagnetic Fe-Cr alloys are investigated using a first-principles quantum-mechanical method. In dilute alloys, the surfaces are dominated by Fe, whereas the Cr-containing surfaces become favorable when the bulk Cr concentration exceeds the limit of ∼ 10 atomic per cent. The abrupt change in the surface behavior is the consequence of complex competing magneto-chemical interactions between the alloying atoms. Considering the quantities of various features: equilibrium surface profiles, chemical potentials, segregation energies, surface energies, magnetic moments, mixing energies and pair interactions, within a wider range of bulk and surface concentrations enables us to build a comprehensive picture of the physics of Fe-Cr surfaces. Using the present achievements many previously controversial results can now be merged into a consistent model of Fe-rich Fe-Cr alloys.

Good high-temperature corrosion resistance of Fe-Al alloys in oxidizing environments is due to the alpha-Al2O3 film which is formed on the surface provided temperature is above 900 degrees C and the Al-content of the alloy exceeds the critical value. Ab initio calculations combined with experiments on Fe-13Al, Fe-18Al, Fe-23Al and Fe-10Cr-10Al alloys show that the beneficial effect of Cr on the oxidation resistance is significantly related to bulk effects. The comparison of experimental and calculated results indicates a clear correlation between the Fe-Cr chemical potential difference and the formation of the protective oxide scales. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The third element effect to improve the high temperature corrosion resistance of the low-Al Fe-Cr-Al alloys is suggested to involve a mechanism that boosts the recovering of the Al concentration to the required level in the Al-depleted zone beneath the oxide layer. We propose that the key factor in this mechanism is the coexistent Cr depletion that helps to maintain a sufficient Al content in the depleted zone. Several previous experiments related to our study support that conditions for such a mechanism to be functional prevail in real oxidation processes of Fe-Cr-Al alloys.