An empirical model for bulk modulus and cohesive energy of rocksalt‐, zincblende‐ and chalcopyrite‐structured solids

In this paper we present empirical models for ground‐state properties such as bulk modulus and cohesive energy of rocksalt‐, zincblende‐ and chalcopyrite‐structured solids. The bulk moduli and cohesive energy of these solids exhibit a linear relationship when plotted on a log–log scale versus the nearest‐neighbor distance d (Å), but fall on different straight lines according to the product of valence electrons of the solids. We have applied the proposed relations to alkali halides, alkaline‐earth chalcogenides, binary and ternary tetrahedral semiconductors and found a better agreement with experimental data as compared to the values evaluated by earlier researchers. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)