Thermodynamic and elastic properties of laves phase AB2-based alloys and their hydrides: A density functional theory (DFT) study

A first-principles method based on the density functional theory (DFT) was employed in conjunction with quasi-harmonic Debye model to investigate the structural, elastic, and thermodynamic properties of a series of AB2-based Laves phases alloys and their hydrides. Simulation results revealed that the studied materials possess the Laves phase structure with lattice parameters comparable to experimental findings. For the first time, to the best of our knowledge, mixing entropy determined using Debye model was used to classify alloys into (Low- Medium-High Entropy Alloys) LEA, MEA and HEA categories rather than the commonly used ideal solution model, which is often inaccurate and ignores the impact of temperature. Lattice analyses of the alloy materials indicated that cell volume increases with the addition of elements, while the enthalpy of hydride formation indicates that hydrogen absorption in these alloys is exothermic and that the 3.00 H/F.U configuration is energetically stable. The alloys and their hydrides are metallic with no band gap at the Fermi level. The thermodynamic properties were studied using the quasi-harmonic Debye model and it was found that Bulk modulus decreases with increasing volume, and the hydrides possess lower bulk modulus compared to their metallic counterparts. Moreover, Debye temperature decreases with the gradual addition of elements, indicating weaker chemical bonds in ternary and other alloys. All hydrides have lower Debye temperature than their parent alloy materials. Finally, The alloys are classified into low-, medium-, and high-entropy alloys based on mixing entropy calculated using the Debye model. TiMn2 is classified as a low-entropy alloy, ZrMn2, Ti0.5Zr0.5Mn2, and Ti0.5Zr0.5MnFe as medium-entropy alloys, and Ti0.5Zr0.5(MnCr)2, Ti0.5Zr0.5Mn2/3Fe2/3Cr2/3, and Ti0.5Zr0.5Mn0.5Fe0.5Cr0.5Ni0.5 as high-entropy alloys.