Thermodynamic optimization of the Li-Pb system aided by first-principles calculations

The Li-Pb system was optimized using CALPHAD (CALculation of PHAse Diagram) method. The enthalpies of formation of eight intermetallic compounds Li4Pb (Li22Pb5), Li7Pb2, Li10Pb3, Li3Pb, Li8Pb3, Li5Pb2, αLiPb and βLiPb at 0 K were calculated from first-principles calculations with DFT + GGA approximations. The liquid phase was treated as (Li,Li0.8Pb0.2,Pb) using an associated solution model because a short-range-order phenomenon was proven to exist in liquid. The solution phases fcc and bcc were described as (Li,Pb) with a simple substitutional model. The intermetallic compounds Li4Pb, Li3Pb and Li5Pb2 were treated as stoichiometric compounds. With certain solubility ranges, the intermetallic compounds Li7Pb2, αLiPb and βLiPb were modeled as Li7(Li,Pb)2, (Li,Pb)(Li,Pb) and (Li,Pb)(Li,Pb) using the two-sublattice model. A set of self-consistent thermodynamic parameters in the Li-Pb system was obtained in the present work.