QSEC members Dr. Igor Mazin, Dr. Karen Sauer and student Jaafar Ansari have recently published their collaborative work of DFT-based EFG calculation, Density functional theory-based electric field gradient database, doi:10.1038/s41597-020-00707-8, on Scientific Data.
The deviation of the electron density around the nuclei from spherical symmetry determines the electric field gradient (EFG), which can be measured by various types of spectroscopy. Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance (NQR) is particularly sensitive to the EFG. The EFGs, and by implication NQR frequencies, vary dramatically across materials. Consequently, searching for NQR spectral lines in previously uninvestigated materials represents a major challenge. Calculated EFGs can significantly aid at the search’s inception. To facilitate this task, we have applied high-throughput density functional theory calculations to predict EFGs for 15187 materials in the JARVIS-DFT database. This database, which will include EFG as a standard entry, is continuously increasing. Given the large scope of the database, it is impractical to verify each calculation. However, we assess accuracy by singling out cases for which reliable experimental information is readily available and compare them to the calculations. We further present a statistical analysis of the results. The database and tools associated with our work are made publicly available by JARVIS-DFT and NIST-JARVIS API.
For more information please see this article on Scientific Data or visit the Magnetic Resonance Laboratory.