Enhanced optoelectronic and thermoelectric properties of half Heusler compounds KXSb (X = Be, Mg, Ca and Sr): A first principle study

In the present paper, structural, electronic, elastic, thermodynamic, optical, and thermoelectric properties of h-H alloys KXSb (X = Be, Mg, Ca, and Sr) are investigated for the first time. These properties were explored using quantum mechanical model – the density functional theory (DFT) with both GGA-PBE and TB-mBJ exchange-correlation functional. The Boltzmann transport equations and the Full Potential Linearized Augmented Plane wave (FP-LAPW) approach, as built into the WIEN2k code, are used to investigate these properties. The band structures and density of states (DOS) are also studied. The half-Heusler compounds show semiconductor properties with both the GGA and mBJ methods, while the KBeSb alloy exhibits metallic nature under the GGA-PBE approach. The elastic and thermo dynamical properties were also investigated, and the results revealed that the compounds are mechanically and thermally stable. The observed high Debye temperature (${ϴ}_D$ ) implies that the alloy is harder and possesses a significant Debye sound velocity. The current paper highlights the optical and thermoelectric applications of the alloys. At 900 K, KCaSb exhibits maximum power factors of 8.83 × 10¹¹ (W/mK²s) with the GGA-PBE method and 8.19 × 10¹¹ (W/mK²s) with the TB-mBJ approach.