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Stochastic generation of complex crystal structures combining group and graph theory with application to carbon

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Shi, X 
He, C 
Pickard, CJ 
Tang, C 
Zhong, J 

Abstract

A method is introduced to stochastically generate crystal structures with defined structural characteristics. Reasonable quotient graphs for symmetric crystals are constructed using a random strategy combined with space group and graph theory. Our algorithm enables the search for large-size and complex crystal structures with a specified connectivity, such as three-fold sp2 carbons, four-fold sp3 carbons, as well as mixed sp2-sp3 carbons. To demonstrate the method we randomly construct initial structures adhering to space groups from No.75 to No.230 and a range of lattice constants, and we identify 281 new sp3 carbon crystals. First-principles optimization of these structures show that most of them are dynamically and mechanically stable and are energetically comparable to those previously proposed. Some of the new structures can be considered as candidates to explain the experimental cold compression of graphite.

Description

Keywords

3402 Inorganic Chemistry, 34 Chemical Sciences

Journal Title

Physical Review B

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2469-9950
2469-9969

Volume Title

97

Publisher

American Physical Society (APS)
Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/J010863/2)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/P022596/1)
Royal Society (WM150023)