Theoretical study of the structural, elastic and thermodynamic properties of chalcopyrite ZnGeP2

The structural, elastic, and thermodynamic properties of ZnGeP2 with chalcopyrite structure are investigated using the pseudo-potentials plane wave method based on the density functional theory with the generalized gradient approximation. The lattice parameters (a, c and u) are directly calculated and agree well with previous experimental and theoretical results. The obtained negative formation enthalpy shows that ZnGeP2 crystal has strong structural stability. We have also calculated the bulk modulus B and the elastic parameters (C11, C12, C13, C33, C44, and C66) which have not been measured yet. The accuracy and reliability of the calculated elastic constants of ZnGeP2 crystal are discussed. In addition, the pressure and temperature dependencies of the lattice parameters, bulk modulus, Debye temperature, Grüneisen parameter, entropy, volume thermal expansion coefficient, and specific heat capacity are obtained in the ranges of 0–20 GPa and 0–1200 K using the quasi-harmonic Debye model. To our knowledge this is the first quantitative theoretical prediction of the thermodynamic properties for ZnGeP2 compound and still awaits experimental confirmations.