First-principles calculations of two cubic fluoropervskite compounds: RbFeF3 and RbNiF3

•RbFeF3 and RbNiCl3 compounds are elastically stable.•RbFeF3 and RbNiCl3 compounds are classified as a ductile compound.•The RbFeF3 compound has a half-metallic behavior while the RbNiF3 compound has a semiconductor behavior.•The optical properties were calculated for the radiation of up to 40 eV.

We present first-principles calculations of the structural, elastic, electronic, magnetic and optical properties for RbFeF3 and RbNiF3. The full-potential linear augmented plan wave (FP-LAPW) method within the density functional theory was utilized to perform the present calculations. We employed the generalized gradient approximation as exchange-correlation potential. It was found that the calculated analytical lattice parameters agree with previous studies. The analysis of elastic constants showed that the present compounds are elastically stable and anisotropic. Moreover, both compounds are classified as a ductile compound. The calculations of the band structure and density functional theory revealed that the RbFeF3 compound has a half-metallic behavior while the RbNiF3 compound has a semiconductor behavior with indirect (M–Γ) band gap. The ferromagnetic behavior was studied for both compounds. The optical properties were calculated for the radiation of up to 40 eV. A beneficial optics technology is predicted as revealed from the optical spectra.