STRUCTURAL, ELECTRONIC, OPTICAL AND THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF PbS, PbSe AND THEIR TERNARY ALLOY PbS1-xSex.

On the basis of ab initio calculations employing density functional theory (DFT), we investigate the structural, electronic, optical and thermodynamic properties of two binaries: PbS and PbSe in rock-salt structures. In addition, several compositions with various ordered structures of PbS1-xSex alloys were studied. The calculations were performed using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). Various quantities, such as equilibrium lattice constants, bulk modulus, band structures and refractive index for all Se-concentrations are presented. The microscopic origins of the gap bowing were explained by using the approach of Zunger and coworkers. On the other hand, the thermodynamic stability of these alloys was investigated by calculating the excess enthalpy of mixing ΔHm as well as the phase diagram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]