First-principles study of structural stability and elastic property of pre-perovskite PbTiO₃

The structural stability and the elastic properties of a novel structure of lead titanate, which is named pre-perovskite PbTiO₃ (PP-PTO) and is constructed with TiO₆ octahedral columns arranged in a one-dimensional manner, are investigated by using first-principles calculations. PP-PTO is energetically unstable compared with conventional perovskite phases, however it is mechanically stable. The equilibrium transition pressures for changing from pre-perovskite to cubic and tetragonal phases are -0.5 GPa and -1.4 GPa, respectively, with first-order characteristics. Further, the differences in elastic properties between pre-perovskite and conventional perovskite phases are discussed for the covalent bonding network, which shows a highly anisotropic character in PP-PTO. This study provides a crucial insight into the structural stabilities of PP-PTO and conventional perovskite.