First-Principle Studies of the Vibrational Properties of Carbonates under Pressure

Sensors (Basel). 2021 May 24;21(11):3644. doi: 10.3390/s21113644.

Abstract

Using the density functional theory with the hybrid functional B3LYP and the basis of localized orbitals of the CRYSTAL17 program code, the dependences of the wavenumbers of normal long-wave ν vibrations on the P(GPa) pressure ν(cm-1) = ν0 + (dv/dPP + (d2v/dP2P and structural parameters R(Å) (R: a, b, c, RM-O, RC-O): ν(cm-1) = ν0 + (dv/dR) - (R - R0) were calculated. Calculations were made for crystals with the structure of calcite (MgCO3, ZnCO3, CdCO3), dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2, CdMg(CO3)2, CaZn(CO3)2) and aragonite (SrCO3, BaCO3, PbCO3). A comparison with the experimental data showed that the derivatives can be used to determine the P pressures, a, b, c lattice constants and the RM-O metal-oxygen, and the RC-O carbon-oxygen interatomic distances from the known Δν shifts. It was found that, with the increasing pressure, the lattice constants and distances R decrease, and the wavenumbers increase with velocities the more, the higher the ν0 is. The exceptions were individual low-frequency lattice modes and out-of-plane vibrations of the v2-type carbonate ion, for which the dependences are either nonlinear or have negative dv/dP (positive dv/dR) derivatives. The reason for this lies in the properties of chemical bonding and the nature of atomic displacements during these vibrations, which cause a decrease in RM-O and an increase in RC-O.

Keywords: aragonite; calcite; dolomite; first-principle calculation; hydrostaticity; pressure; vibrational spectroscopy.