First-principles calculation of the lattice compressibility, elastic anisotropy and thermodynamic stability of V₂GeC

We investigate the elastic and the thermodynamic properties of nanolaminate V₂GeC by using the ab initio pseudopotential total energy method. The axial compressibility shows that the c axis is always stiffer than the a axis. The elastic constant calculations demonstrate that the structural stability is within 0–800 GPa. The calculations of Young's and shear moduli reveal the softening behaviour at about 300 GPa. The Possion ratio makes a higher ionic or a weaker covalent contribution to intra-atomic bonding and the degree of ionicity increases with pressure. The relationship between brittleness and ductility shows that V₂GeC is brittle in ambient conditions and the brittleness decreases and ductility increases with pressure. Moveover, we find that V₂GeC is largely isotropic in compression and in shear, and the degree of isotropy decreases with pressure. The Grüneisen parameter, the Debye temperature and the thermal expansion coefficient are also successfully obtained for the first time.