In this work, the elastic anisotropy, mechanical stability, and electronic properties for P42/mnm XN (XN = BN, AlN, GaN, and InN) and Pbca XN are researched based on density functional theory. Here, the XN in the P42/mnm and Pbca phases have a mechanic stability and dynamic stability. Compared with the Pnma phase and Pm-3n phase, the P42/mnm and Pbca phases have greater values of bulk modulus and shear modulus. The ratio of the bulk modulus (B), shear modulus (G), and Poisson's ratio (v) of XN in the P42/mnm and Pbca phases are smaller than those for Pnma XN and Pm-3n XN, and larger than those for c-XN, indicating that Pnma XN and Pm-3n XN are more ductile than P42/mnm XN and Pbca XN, and that c-XN is more brittle than P42/mnm XN and Pbca XN. In addition, in the Pbca phases, XN can be considered a semiconductor material, while in the P42/mnm phase, GaN and InN have direct band-gap, and BN and AlN are indirect wide band gap materials. The novel III-V nitride polymorphs in the P42/mnm and Pbca phases may have great potential for application in visible light detectors, ultraviolet detectors, infrared detectors, and light-emitting diodes.
Keywords: III-V nitride polymorphs; direct band gap; mechanical anisotropy; stability.