First principle study of elastic and thermodynamic properties of ZrZn2 and HfZn2 under high pressure

A comprehensive investigation of the structural, elastic, and thermodynamic properties for Laves-phases ZrZn2 and HfZn2 are conducted using density functional total energy calculations combined with the quasi-harmonic Debye model. The optimized lattice parameters of ZrZn2 and HfZn2 compare well with available experimental values. We estimated the mechanical behaviors of both compounds under compression, including mechanical stability, Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, ductility, and anisotropy. Additionally, the thermodynamic properties as a function of pressure and temperature are analyzed and found to be in good agreement with the corresponding experimental data