Lattice dynamics and chemical bonding in Sb₂Te₃ from first-principles calculations

Pressure effects on the lattice dynamics and the chemical bonding of the three-dimensional topological insulator, Sb₂Te₃, have been studied from a first-principles perspective in its rhombohedral phase. Where it is possible to compare, theory agrees with most of the measured phonon dispersions. We find that the inclusion of relativistic effects, in terms of the spin-orbit interaction, affects the vibrational features to some extend and creates large fluctuations on phonon density of state in high frequency zone. By investigations of structure and electronic structure, we analyze in detail the semiconductor to metal transition at ∼2 GPa followed by an electronic topological transition at a pressure of ∼4.25 GPa