Abstract
We present a density functional theory investigation of the decomposition of Mg(OH)2. Based on recent experiments indicating a lamellar dehydroxylation process we have calculated the energetics, elastic behavior and structural trends of a series of oxyhydroxide intermediates of composition Mgx+yOx(OH)2y representing a solid solution series between brucite (Mg(OH)2) and periclase (MgO). Using a variationally induced breathing (VIB) ionic approach we find that this broad range of lamellar oxyhydroxide intermediate materials becomes thermodynamically accessible at temperatures near 500°C. The computed dehydroxylation dependence of the compressibility is found to vary dramatically with the initial formation of periclase-like oxide layers displaying an abrupt jump to a value near that of periclase (∼160GPa). In contrast to this very non-linear behavior the basal plane lattice parameter a is found to exhibit a nearly linear (Vegard-like) dependence on hydroxyl content.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 416-425 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Materials Chemistry and Physics |
Volume | 77 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 15 2003 |
Keywords
- Computer simulation
- Density functional theory
- Intermediate phases
- Mg(OH)
- MgO
- Oxyhydroxide
- Reactivity
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Materials Science(all)
- Condensed Matter Physics