Density functional theory study on crystal nickel phosphides

A systematic study of the structure, bonding and relative thermodynamic stability of known crystalline nickel phosphides, such as Ni3P, Ni12P5, Ni2P, Ni5P4, NiP, NiP2, and NiP3, were carried out by density functional theory. The elastic behaviors for structurally less-complex compounds (Ni2P and NiP3) were then predicted. These data may be helpful in understanding the catalytic behavior of nickel phosphides.