arXiv subjects

Zi-Kui Liu

Publications and source records attributed to Zi-Kui Liu.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2022

Thermodynamic modeling with uncertainty quantification in the Nb-Ni system using the upgraded PyCalphad and ESPEI

The Nb-Ni system has been remodeled with uncertainty quantification (UQ) by using the presently upgraded software tools of PyCalphad and ESPEI that contain the new capability to model site occupancy of Wyckoff position for the phases of interest. Specifically, the five- and three-sublattice models are used to model the topologically close pack (TCP) phases of μ-Nb7Ni6 and δ-NbNi3, respectively, according to exactly their Wyckoff positions; where the inputs for CALPHAD-based modeling include the presently predicted thermochemical data as a function of temperature by density functional theory (DFT) based first-principles and phonon calculations together with both phase equilibrium and site occupancy data in the literature. Besides phase diagram and thermodynamic properties, the present CALPHAD predictions of site occupancies are also agreed well with experimental data such as the measured Nb sites in μ-Nb7Ni6. In addition, the predicted UQ values using the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method as implemented in ESPEI make it possible to quantify uncertainties in the Nb-Ni system, such as site occupancies in μ-Nb7Ni6 and enthalpy of mixing in liquid.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

Thermodynamic modeling with uncertainty quantification using the modified quasichemical model in quadruplet approximation: Implementation into PyCalphad and ESPEI

The modified quasichemical model in the quadruplet approximation (MQMQA) considers the first- and the second-nearest-neighbor coordination and interactions, particularly useful in describing short-range ordering in complex liquids such as molten salts, slag in metal processing, and electrolytic solutions. The present work implements the MQMQA into the Python based open-source software PyCalphad for thermodynamic calculations. This endeavor facilitates the development of MQMQA-based thermodynamic database with uncertainty quantification (UQ) using the open-source software ESPEI. A new database structure based on Extensible Markup Language (XML) is proposed for ESPEI evaluation of MQMQA model parameters. Using the KF-NiF2 system as an example, we demonstrate the successful implementation of MQMQA in PyCalphad through thermodynamic calculations of Gibbs energy, equilibrium quadruplet fractions, and phase diagram, as well as database development with UQ using ESPEI. The present implementation offers an open-source capability for performing CALPHAD modeling for complex liquids with short-range ordering using MQMQA.

physics.comp-ph↗

arXiv2022

A Solution to the Temperature Evolution of Multi-well Free-energy Landscape

It has been a grand challenge to resolve the temperature evolution of multi-well free-energy landscape which is fundamentally relevant to phase transitions and associated critical phenomena as listed by Ginzburg [Rev. Mod. Phys. 76 (2004) 981]. To address this challenge, here we provide a simple solution based on a priori concept of Boltzmann thermal mixing among multiple parabolic potentials. The success and the impact of the present approach have been extensively demonstrated using a variety of materials, including Nb, YBa2Cu3O(7-x), Ca3Ru2O7, Ni, BiFeO3, and PbTiO3.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2022

Theory of Cross Phenomena and Their Coefficients Beyond Onsager Theorem

Cross phenomena, representing responses of a system to external stimuli, are ubiquitous from quantum to macro scale. The Onsager theorem is often used to describe them, stating that the coefficient matrix of cross phenomena connecting the driving forces and the fluxes of internal processes is symmetric. Here we show that this matrix is intrinsically diagonal when the driving forces are chosen from the gradients of potentials that drive the fluxes of their respective conjugate molar quantities in the combined law of thermodynamics including the contributions from internal processes. Various cross phenomena are discussed in terms of the present theory. https://doi.org/10.1080/21663831.2022.2054668

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

Thermodynamic modeling of the Pd-Zn system with uncertainty quantification and its implication to tailor catalysts

Pd-Zn intermetallic catalysts show encouraging combinations of activity and selectivity on well-defined active site ensembles. Thermodynamic description of the Pd-Zn system, delineating phase boundaries, and enumerating site occupancies within intermediate alloy phases, are essential to determining the ensembles of Pd-Zn atoms as a function of composition and temperature. Combining the present extensive first-principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) and available experimental data, the Pd-Zn system was remodeled using the CALculation of PHAse Diagrams (CALPHAD) approach. High throughput modeling tools with uncertainty quantification, i.e., ESPEI and PyCalphad, were incorporated in the phase analysis. The site occupancies across the γ-phase composition region were given special attention. A four-sublattice model was used for the γ-phase owing to its four Wyckoff positions, i.e., the outer tetrahedral (OT) site 8c, the inner tetrahedral (IT) site 8c, the octahedral (OH) 12e, and the cuboctahedral (CO) site 24g. The site fractions of Pd and Zn calculated from the present thermodynamic model show the occupancy preference of Pd in the OT and OH sublattices in agreement with experimental observations. The force constants obtained from DFT-based phonon calculations further supports the tendency of Pd occupying the OH sublattice compared with the IT and CO sublattice. The catalytic assembles changing from Pd monomers (Pd1) to trimers (Pd3) on the surface of the γ-phase is attributed to the increase of Pd occupancy in the OH sublattice.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

Predictive Crystal Plasticity Modeling of Single Crystal Nickel Based on First-Principles Calculations

To reduce reliance on experimental fitting data within the crystal plasticity finite element method (CPFEM), an approached is proposed that integrates first-principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) to predict the strain hardening behavior of pure Ni single crystals. Flow resistance was evaluated through the Peierls-Nabarro equation using the ideal shear strength and elastic properties calculated by DFT-based methods, with hardening behavior modeled by imposing strains on supercells in first-principles calculations. Considered alone, elastic interactions of pure edge dislocations capture hardening behavior for small strains on single slip systems. For larger strains, hardening is captured through a strain-weighted linear combination of edge and screw flow resistance components. The rate of combination is not predicted in the present framework, but agreement with experiments through large strains (~0.4) for multiple loading orientations demonstrates a possible route for more predictive crystal plasticity modeling through incorporation of analytical models of mesoscale physics.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

Zentropy Theory for Positive and Negative Thermal Expansions

It has been observed in both natural and man-made materials that volume sometimes decreases with increasing temperature. Though mechanistic understanding has been gained for some individual materials, a general answer to the question "Why does volume sometimes decrease with the increase of temperature?" remains lacking. Based on the thermodynamic relation that the derivative of volume with respect to temperature, i.e., thermal expansion, is equal to the negative derivative of entropy with respect to pressure, we developed a general theory in terms of multiscale entropy to understand and predict the change of volume as a function of temperature, which is termed as zentropy theory in the present work. It is shown that a phase at high temperatures is a statistical representation of the ground-state stable and multiple nonground-state metastable configurations. It is demonstrated that when the volumes of the major nonground-state configurations are smaller than that of the ground-state configuration, the volume of the phase may decrease with the increase of temperature in certain ranges of temperature-pressure combinations, depicting the negative divergency of thermal expansion at the critical point. As examples, positive and negative divergencies of thermal expansion are predicted at the critical points of Ce and Fe3Pt, respectively, along with the temperature and pressure ranges for abnormally positive and negative thermal expansion. The authors believe that the zentropy theory is applicable to predict anomalies of other physical properties of phases because the change of entropy drives the responses of a system to external stimuli.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

Extensible Structure-Informed Prediction of Formation Energy with Improved Accuracy and Usability employing Neural Networks

In the present paper, we introduce a new neural network-based tool for the prediction of formation energies of atomic structures based on elemental and structural features of Voronoi-tessellated materials. We provide a concise overview of the connection between the machine learning and the true material-property relationship, how to improve the generalization accuracy by reducing overfitting, how new data can be incorporated into the model to tune it to a specific material system, and preliminary results on using models to preform local structure relaxations. The present work resulted in three final models optimized for (1) highest test accuracy on the Open Quantum Materials Database (OQMD), (2) performance in the discovery of new materials, and (3) performance at a low computational cost. On a test set of 21,800 compounds randomly selected from OQMD, they achieve a mean absolute error (MAE) of 28, 40, and 42 meV/atom, respectively. The second model provides better predictions in a test case of interest not present in the OQMD, while the third reduces the computational cost by a factor of 8. We collect our results in a new open-source tool called SIPFENN (Structure-Informed Prediction of Formation Energy using Neural Networks). SIPFENN not only improves the accuracy beyond existing models but also ships in a ready-to-use form with pre-trained neural networks and a GUI interface. By virtue of this, it can be included in DFT calculations routines at nearly no cost.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

DFTTK: Density Functional Theory ToolKit for High-throughput Lattice Dynamics Calculations

In this work, we present a software package in Python for high-throughput first-principles calculations of thermodynamic properties at finite temperatures, which we refer to as DFTTK (Density Functional Theory Tool Kit). DFTTK is based on the atomate package and integrates our experiences in the last decades on the development of theoretical methods and computational software. It includes task submissions on all major operating systems and task execution on high-performance computing environments. The distribution of the DFTTK package comes with examples of calculations of phonon density of states, heat capacity, entropy, enthalpy, and free energy under the quasi-harmonic phonon scheme for the stoichiometric phases of Al, Ni, Al3Ni, AlNi, AlNi3, Al3Ni4, and Al3Ni5, and the fcc solution phases treated using the special quasirandom structures at the compositions of Al3Ni, AlNi, and AlNi3.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

Generative deep learning as a tool for inverse design of high-entropy refractory alloys

Generative deep learning is powering a wave of new innovations in materials design. In this article, we discuss the basic operating principles of these methods and their advantages over rational design through the lens of a case study on refractory high-entropy alloys for ultra-high-temperature applications. We present our computational infrastructure and workflow for the inverse design of new alloys powered by these methods. Our preliminary results show that generative models can learn complex relationships in order to generate novelty on demand, making them a valuable tool for materials informatics.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

Ab initio simulations on the pure Cr lattice stability at 0K: Verification with the Fe-Cr and Ni-Cr binary systems

Significant discrepancies have been observed and discussed on the lattice stability of Cr between the predictions from the ab initio calculations and the CALPHAD approach. In the current work, we carefully examined the possible structures for pure Cr and reviewed the history back from how Kaufman originally determined the Gibbs energy of FCC-Cr in the 1970s. The reliability of Cr lattice stability derived by the CALPHAD and ab initio approaches was systematically discussed. It is concluded that the Cr lattice stability based on the CALPHAD approach has large uncertainty. Meanwhile, we cannot claim that the ab initio HFCC-Cr is error-free as FCC-Cr is an unstable phase under ambient conditions. The present work shows that the ab initio HFCC-Cr can be a viable scientific approach. As both approaches have their limitations, the present work propose to integrate the ab initio results into the CALPHAD platform for the development of the next generation CALPHAD database. The Fe-Cr and Ni-Cr binary systems were chosen as two case studies demonstrating the capability to adopt the ab initio Cr lattice stability directly into the current CALPHAD database framework.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

Comments on Thermodiffusion: The physico-chemical mechanics view. J. Chem. Phys. 154, 024112 (2021)

In a series of publications, Kocherginsky and Gruebele presented a systematic framework for chemical transport and thermodiffusion to predict the Soret coefficients from thermodynamics. A macroscopic derivation of the Onsager reciprocal relations without recourse to microscopic fluctuations or equations of motion was also discussed. Their important contributions and some confusions are discussed.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

Revisiting the third-order elastic constants of diamond: the higher-order effect

In this letter, we study the higher-order effect on the third-order elastic constants (TOECs) of diamond using longitudinal stress-uniaxial strain (LSUS) approach based on density functional theory. The result shows that the higher-order effect on TOECs is not negligible in the shock wave experiments and similar calculations. By taking the higher-order elastic response (up to fifth order) into consideration, the convergence of TOECs against maximum stain gets improved significantly and resolves the discrepancy of several different theoretical methods and experiments.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

Tensile behavior of stainless steel 304L to Ni-20Cr functionally graded material: experimental characterization and computational simulations

This study presents experimental and computational analyses of the phase composition and mechanical behavior of a functionally graded material (FGM) grading from 100 vol% 304L stainless steel (SS304L) to 100 vol% Ni-20Cr (NiCr) in 10 vol% increments. The mechanical behavior of the FGM was evaluated by extracting tensile specimens from SS304L-rich and NiCr-rich regions of the FGM, with the former behaving in a ductile manner and the latter being relatively brittle. The brittle response of the NiCr-rich sample was explained by the presence of the eutectic FCC+BCC phase in this sample, as identified by Scheil-Gulliver simulations along with experimental phase and composition analyses. The spatially varying yield and flow behavior of the FGM was determined through comparison of finite element analysis simulations with experimentally measured stress-strain curves and surface strain contours. The results highlight that the overall ductile behavior of SS304L and brittle behavior of NiCr are preserved in the SS304L/NiCr FGM but the formation of the brittle eutectic phase further reduced the ductility within the regions where it formed (90 vol% NiCr/10 vol% SS304L).

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Adsorption-Controlled Growth of Ga2O3 by Suboxide Molecular-Beam Epitaxy

This paper introduces a growth method---suboxide molecular-beam epitaxy (S-MBE)---which enables the growth of Ga2O3 and related materials at growth rates exceeding 1 micrometer per hours with excellent crystallinity in an adsorptioncontrolled regime. Using a Ga + Ga2O3 mixture with an oxygen mole fraction of x(O) = 0.4 as an MBE source, we overcome kinetic limits that had previously hampered the adsorption-controlled growth of Ga2O3 by MBE. We present growth rates up to 1.6 micrometer per hour for Ga2O3--Al2O3 heterostructures with unprecedented crystalline quality and also at unparalleled low growth temperature for this level of perfection. We combine thermodynamic knowledge of how to create molecular-beams of targeted suboxides with a kinetic model developed for the S-MBE of III-VI compounds to identify appropriate growth conditions. Using S-MBE we demonstrate the growth of phase-pure, smooth, and high-purity homoepitaxial Ga2O3 films that are thicker than 4 micrometer. With the high growth rate of S-MBE we anticipate a significant improvement to vertical Ga2O3-based devices. We describe and demonstrate how this growth method can be applied to a wide-range of oxides. S-MBE rivals leading synthesis methods currently used for the production of Ga2O3-based devices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

A Thermochemical Database from High-throughput First-Principles Calculations and Its Application to Analyzing Phase Evolution in AM-fabricated IN718

A comprehensive thermochemical database is constructed based on high-throughput first-principles phonon calculations of over 3000 atomic structures in Ni, Fe, and Co alloys involving a total of 26 elements including Al, B, C, Cr, Cu, Hf, La, Mn, Mo, N, Nb, O, P, Re, Ru, S, Si, Ta, Ti, V, W, Y, and Zr, providing thermochemical data largely unavailable from existing experiments. The database can be employed to predict the equilibrium phase compositions and fractions at a given temperature and an overall chemical composition directly from first-principles by minimizing the chemical potential. It is applied to the additively manufactured nickel-based IN718 superalloy to analyze the phase evolution with temperature. In particular, we successfully predicted the formation of L1$_0$-FeNi, $γ'$-Ni$_3$(Fe,Al), $α$-Cr, $γ$-Ni$_3$(Nb,Mo), $γ''$-Ni$_3$Nb , and $η$-Ni$_3$Ti at low temperatures, $γ'$-Ni$_3$Al, $δ$-Ni$_3$Nb, $γ''$-Ni$_3$Nb, $α$-Cr, and $γ$-Ni(Fe,Cr,Mo) at intermediate temperatures, and $δ$-Ni$_3$Nb and $γ$-Ni(Fe,Cr,Mo) at high temperatures in IN718. These predictions are validated by EDS mapping of compositional distributions and corresponding identifications of phase distributions. The database is expected to be a valuable source for future thermodynamic analysis and microstructure prediction of alloys involving the 26 elements.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Route to in situ synthesis of epitaxial Pr2Ir2O7 thin films guided by thermodynamic calculations

In situ growth of pyrochlore iridate thin films has been a long-standing challenge due to the low reactivity of Ir at low temperatures and the vaporization of volatile gas species such as IrO3(g) and IrO2(g) at high temperatures and high oxygen partial pressures. To address this challenge, we combine thermodynamic analysis of the Pr-Ir-O2 system with experimental results from the conventional physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique of co-sputtering. Our results indicate that only high growth temperatures yield films with crystallinity sufficient for utilizing and tailoring the desired topological electronic properties. Thermodynamic calculations indicate that high deposition temperatures and high partial pressures of gas species O2(g) and IrO3(g), are required to stabilize Pr2Ir2O7. We further find that the gas species partial pressure requirements are beyond that achievable by any conventional PVD technique. We experimentally show that conventional PVD growth parameters produce exclusively Pr3IrO7, which conclusion we reproduce with theoretical calculations. Our findings provide solid evidence that in situ synthesis of Pr2Ir2O7 thin films is fettered by the inability to grow with oxygen partial pressure on the order of 10 Torr, a limitation inherent to the PVD process. Thus, we suggest high-pressure techniques, in particular chemical vapor deposition (CVD), as a route to synthesis of Pr2Ir2O7, as this can support thin film deposition under the high pressure needed for in situ stabilization of Pr2Ir2O7.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Selection of strain and fitting schemes for calculating higher-order elastic constants

Criteria of selecting strain and fitting schemes are proposed for the calculation of higher-order elastic constants more efficiently, robustly and accurately. As demonstrated by the third-order elastic constants (TOECs) of diamond, the proposed method is 3-5 times faster than existing methods, and the range of strain for getting correct TOECs is expanded. In addition, our result provides an evidence for the inaccuracy of some previous experiments caused by higher-order effect, and the difference among experiments and several different theoretical methods is resolved. Finally, we give the recommend TOECs values for diamond.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗