Electron-induced non-monotonic pressure dependence of the lattice thermal conductivity of θ-TaN

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Kundu, Ashis, Chen, Yani, Yang, Xiaolong, Meng, Fanchen, Carrete, Jesús, Kabir, Mukul, Madsen, Georg K. H., Li, Wu
Format: Preprint
Published: 2023
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author Kundu, Ashis
Chen, Yani
Yang, Xiaolong
Meng, Fanchen
Carrete, Jesús
Kabir, Mukul
Madsen, Georg K. H.
Li, Wu
author_facet Kundu, Ashis
Chen, Yani
Yang, Xiaolong
Meng, Fanchen
Carrete, Jesús
Kabir, Mukul
Madsen, Georg K. H.
Li, Wu
contents Recent theoretical and experimental research suggests that $θ$-TaN is a semimetal with high thermal conductivity ($κ$), primarily due to the contribution of phonons ($κ_\texttt{ph}$). By using first-principles calculations, we show a non-monotonic pressure dependence of the $κ$ of $θ$-TaN. $κ_\texttt{ph}$ first increases until it reaches a maximum at around 60~GPa, and then decreases. This anomalous behaviour is a consequence of the competing pressure responses of phonon-phonon and phonon-electron interactions, in contrast to the known materials BAs and BP, where the non-monotonic pressure dependence is caused by the interplay between different phonon-phonon scattering channels. Although TaN has phonon dispersion features similar to BAs at ambient pressure, its response to pressure is different and an overall stiffening of the phonon branches takes place. Consequently, the relevant phonon-phonon scattering weakens as pressure increases. However, the increased electronic density of states near the Fermi level, and specifically the emergence of additional pockets of the Fermi surface at the high-symmetry L point in the Brillouin zone, leads to a substantial increase in phonon-electron scattering at high pressures, driving a decrease in $κ_{\mathrm{ph}}$. At intermediate pressures ($\sim$~20$-$70~GPa), the $κ$ of TaN surpasses that of BAs. Our work provides deeper insight into phonon transport in semimetals and metals where phonon-electron scattering is relevant.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2307_15407
institution arXiv
publishDate 2023
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Electron-induced non-monotonic pressure dependence of the lattice thermal conductivity of θ-TaN
Kundu, Ashis
Chen, Yani
Yang, Xiaolong
Meng, Fanchen
Carrete, Jesús
Kabir, Mukul
Madsen, Georg K. H.
Li, Wu
Materials Science
Recent theoretical and experimental research suggests that $θ$-TaN is a semimetal with high thermal conductivity ($κ$), primarily due to the contribution of phonons ($κ_\texttt{ph}$). By using first-principles calculations, we show a non-monotonic pressure dependence of the $κ$ of $θ$-TaN. $κ_\texttt{ph}$ first increases until it reaches a maximum at around 60~GPa, and then decreases. This anomalous behaviour is a consequence of the competing pressure responses of phonon-phonon and phonon-electron interactions, in contrast to the known materials BAs and BP, where the non-monotonic pressure dependence is caused by the interplay between different phonon-phonon scattering channels. Although TaN has phonon dispersion features similar to BAs at ambient pressure, its response to pressure is different and an overall stiffening of the phonon branches takes place. Consequently, the relevant phonon-phonon scattering weakens as pressure increases. However, the increased electronic density of states near the Fermi level, and specifically the emergence of additional pockets of the Fermi surface at the high-symmetry L point in the Brillouin zone, leads to a substantial increase in phonon-electron scattering at high pressures, driving a decrease in $κ_{\mathrm{ph}}$. At intermediate pressures ($\sim$~20$-$70~GPa), the $κ$ of TaN surpasses that of BAs. Our work provides deeper insight into phonon transport in semimetals and metals where phonon-electron scattering is relevant.
title Electron-induced non-monotonic pressure dependence of the lattice thermal conductivity of θ-TaN
topic Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2307.15407