Specific features of structural, electronic, optical and elastic properties of the cubic calcium pyroniobate Ca2Nb2O7 crystals

Using first principles density functional theory (DFT) calculation, the structural, electronic, optical and elastic properties of cubic Ca2Nb2O7 pyrochlore oxide is studied by highly accurate full potential augmented plane wave method with GGA+U approximation. The calculated lattice parameter is in good agreement with available experimental data. The electronic band structure calculations reveal that Ca2Nb2O7 has direct energy band. For the understanding of optical properties of Ca2Nb2O7, absorption coefficient, dielectric constant, energy loss function, reflectivity, refractive index, extension coefficient and optical conductivity are also calculated for 0-12 eV. A study of elastic properties for cubic pyrochlore oxide (Ca2Nb2O7) is also conducted within a frameowork of DFT calculations. The stress strain method is used for the determination of elastic constants (C11, C12 and C44) in cubic phase. Hence, bulk, shear and Young's modulus along with Debye temperature, elastic anisotropy factors and Poisson's ratio are calculated successfully. Furthermore, pressure dependence of transverse and longitudinal wave velocities for cubic pyrochlore oxide (Ca2Nb2O7) are also calculated for the first time.