The stability of intrinsic point defects in Be 12 X intermetallics (where X = Ti, V, Mo or W) are predicted using density functional theory simulations and discussed with respect to fusion energy applications. Schottky disorder is found to be the lowest energy complete disorder process, closely matched by Be Frenkel disorder in the cases of Be 12 V and Be 12 Ti. Antitisite and X Frenkel disorder are of significantly higher energy. Small clusters of point defects including Be divacancies, Be di-interstitials and accommodation of the X species on two Be sites were considered. Some di-interstitial, divacancy and X 2Be combinations exhibit negative binding enthalpy (i.e. clustering is favourable), although this is orientationally dependent. None of the Be 12 X intermetallics are predicted to exhibit significant non-stoichiometry, ruling out non-stoichiometry as a mechanism for accommodating Be depletion due to neutron transmutation.
There has been considerable controversy regarding the structure of TiBe12, which is variously reported as hexagonal and tetragonal. Lattice dynamics simulations based on density functional theory (DFT) show the tetragonal phase space group I4/mmm to be more stable over all temperatures, while the hexagonal phase exhibits an imaginary phonon mode, which, if followed, would lead to the cell adopting the tetragonal structure. We then report the predicted ground state elastic constants and temperature dependence of the bulk modulus and thermal expansion for the tetragonal phase.
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