Physics

WIEN2k

Density functional theory

Lattice constant

Computational chemistry

Diffraction

Debye model

Chemistry

Materials science

Thermoelectric materials

Condensed matter physics

Quantum mechanics

Ground state

Thermoelectric effect

Local-density approximation

Thermodynamics

Journal of Materials Research and Technology

By using WIEN2k code, we investigated the mechanical and thermoelectric properties of magnesium based MgX2O4 (X = Rh and Bi) spinels. To compute the mechanical behavior of MgX2O4 (X = Rh and Bi), the Perdew-Bruke-Ernzerhof (PBEsol) flavor of generalized gradient approximation is used. From structural optimization, ground state lattice constant (a0) show a comparable with the previously evaluated theoretical and experimental values. The Born stability criterion represents that the investigated spinels are stable in the cubic phase and their ductile behaviors are observed by calculating Pugh's ratio as well as Poisson ratio. Besides, thermodynamic behavior is concluded in terms of the Debye temperature. To investigate the electronic and thermoelectric behavior, the modified Becke and Johnson (mBJ) potential is employed. Finally, we investigated the thermoelectric behavior to represent the importance of studied spinels in thermoelectric appliances by calculating the figure of merit (ZT). High values of the See-beck coefficient and ZT at room temperature explores the potential of the studied spinels in thermoelectric devices.

Exploration of magnesium based MgX2O4 (X = Rh, Bi) spinels for thermoelectric applications using density functional theory (DFT)