First-principles calculations of the electronic structure and mechanical properties of non-doped and Cr3+-Doped K2LiAlF6 under pressure

We report on the results of the first principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) of the electronic structure and mechanical properties of K2LiAlF6, both non-doped and doped with Cr3+ ions. The densities of states of K2LiAlF6 and the K2LiAlF6:Cr3+ phosphor as well as the crystal-field strength 10Dq, the Cr3+2E→4A2 emission energy, elastic constants, bulk and shear moduli, sound velocities and Debye temperature as functions of hydrostatic pressure ranging from 0 up to 40 GPa were calculated. The present DFT calculations indicate that, the band gap of non-doped K2LiAlF6 increases quadratically with increasing pressure. Further, the crystal field strength 10Dq and the 2E→4A2 emission energy, the Debye temperature, sound velocities and shear moduli of Cr-doped K2LiAlF6 increase with increasing pressure, while the 2E→4A2 emission energy becomes red-shifted, which indicates potential applicability of the studied system for pressure sensing. Such calculations for the title system were performed for the first time; the obtained results provide a firm basis for a deeper understanding of physical properties of both neat and doped functional materials. [Display omitted] •Ab initio calculations of the electronic and optical properties of K2LiAlF6:Cr3+ were performed.•Pressure effects on the spectral properties were modelled.•Potential of the studied host for the pressure sensing was highlighted.