Optoelectronic and thermoelectric properties of Ba3DN (D = Sb, Bi): A DFT investigation

Abstract

We have investigated the optoelectronic and thermoelectric properties of hexagonal antiperovskites Ba$_3$DN (D = Sb, Bi) using DFT calculations. The calculated equilibrium lattice parameters of both compounds are in good agreement with the available data. The calculated electronic structures indicate that they are direct bandgap semiconductors and the values of bandgaps are 1.35 and 1.33 eV for Ba3SbN and Ba3BiN, respectively. The inclusion of the spin-orbit effect split the conduction bands and the band gap of Ba$_3$BiN is much reduced. These two compounds have a high absorption coefficient, notably higher than that for GaAs and close to that for silicon. The obtained static refractive index is ~2.8 and 3.26, for Ba$_3$SbN and Ba$_3$BiN, respectively. We predict that both materials are suitable for a high-efficiency solar cell. Both compounds exhibit a high Seebeck coefficient and high power factor. Our analysis predicts that the studied materials are potential candidates in thermoelectric device applications.