Reinterpretation of the bond-valence model with bond-order formalism: An improved bond-valence-based interatomic potential for PbTiO3

S Liu and I Grinberg and H Takenaka and AM Rappe, PHYSICAL REVIEW B, 88, 104102 (2013).

DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.88.104102

We present a modified bond-valence model of PbTiO3 based on the principles of bond-valence and bond-valence vector conservation. The relationship between the bond-valence model and the bond-order potential is derived analytically in the framework of a tight-binding model. An energy term, bond-valence vector energy, is introduced into the atomistic model and the potential parameters are reoptimized. This model potential can be applied both to canonical-ensemble (NVT) and isobaric- isothermal ensemble (NPT) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. This model reproduces the experimental phase transition in NVT MD simulations and also exhibits the experimental sequence of temperature-driven and pressure-driven phase transitions in NPT simulations. We expect that this improved bond-valence model can be applied to a broad range of inorganic materials.

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