Biaxial strain enhanced piezoelectric properties in monolayer g-$mathrm{C_3N_4}$


Abstract in English

Graphite-like carbon nitride (g-$mathrm{C_3N_4}$) is considered as a promising candidate for energy materials. In this work, the biaxial strain (-4%-4%) effects on piezoelectric properties of g-$mathrm{C_3N_4}$ monolayer are studied by density functional theory (DFT). It is found that the increasing strain can reduce the elastic coefficient $C_{11}$-$C_{12}$, and increases piezoelectric stress coefficient $e_{11}$, which lead to the enhanced piezoelectric strain coefficient $d_{11}$. Compared to unstrained one, strain of 4% can raise the $d_{11}$ by about 330%. From -4% to 4%, strain can induce the improved ionic contribution to $e_{11}$ of g-$mathrm{C_3N_4}$, and almost unchanged electronic contribution, which is different from $mathrm{MoS_2}$ monolayer (the enhanced electronic contribution and reduced ionic contribution). To prohibit current leakage, a piezoelectric material should be a semiconductor, and g-$mathrm{C_3N_4}$ monolayer is always a semiconductor in considered strain range. Calculated results show that the gap increases from compressive strain to tensile one. At 4% strain, the first and second valence bands cross, which has important effect on transition dipole moment (TDM). Our works provide a strategy to achieve enhanced piezoelectric effect of g-$mathrm{C_3N_4}$ monolayer, which gives a useful guidence for developing efficient energy conversion devices.

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