First-Principles Investigation of Structural and Thermoelectric Properties of KXH₃ (X = Al, Mn, Ni) Perovskite Hydrides

¹ Engineering and Applied Physics Laboratory (EAPL), Superior School of Technology, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco
² The Moroccan Association of Sciences and Techniques for Sustainable Development, Beni Mellal, Morocco
³ ERCI2A, FSTH, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan, Morocco
⁴ National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics (INAOE), Puebla, Mexico. Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology and Innovation (Secihti), Mexico

Abstract

In this work, we present a comprehensive first-principles study of the structural, electronic, thermal, and thermoelectric properties of perovskite hydrides KXH₃ (X = Al, Mn, and Ni). Calculations were performed within the framework of density functional theory combined with semiclassical Boltzmann transport theory. Structural analysis confirms the stability of all compounds in the cubic perovskite phase. The electronic band structures and density of states reveal that all three compounds exhibit metallic behavior. In particular, KAlH₃ shows a pseudo-gap-like feature near the Fermi level with a low but finite density of states, indicating a weak metallic character, while KMnH₃ and KNiH₃ display pronounced metallic properties due to significant contributions of transition-metal d orbitals near the Fermi level. The electrical and thermal conductivities increase with temperature for all compounds, with KAlH₃ exhibits relatively high electrical conductivity despite its low density of states at the Fermi level. Thermoelectric performance analysis shows an enhancement of the power factor and figure of merit (ZT) at elevated temperatures, with KMnH₃ achieving the best performance due to a favorable balance between electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and thermal conductivity. These results highlight the crucial role of chemical substitution at the X-site in tuning the electronic and transport properties of KXH₃ hydrides, making them promising candidates for high-temperature thermoelectric applications.