Structural, elastic, electronic and phonon properties of SnX{sub 2}O{sub 4} (X=Mg, Zn, Cd) spinel from density functional theory

First-principle calculations of structural, electronic, elastic and phonon properties of SnMg{sub 2}O{sub 4}, SnZn{sub 2}O{sub 4} and SnCd{sub 2}O{sub 4} compounds are presented, using the pseudo-potential plane waves approach based on density functional theory (DFT) within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The computed ground state structural parameters, i.e. lattice constants, internal free parameter and bulk modulus are in good agreement with the available theoretical results. Our calculated elastic constants are indicative of stability of SnX{sub 2}O{sub 4} (X=Mg, Zn, Cd) compounds in the spinel structure. The partial density of states (PDOS) of these compounds is in good agreement with the earlier ab-initio calculations. The phonon dispersion relations were calculated using the direct method. Phonon dispersion results indicate that SnZn{sub 2}O{sub 4} is dynamically stable, while SnMg{sub 2}O{sub 4} and SnCd{sub 2}O{sub 4} are unstable.