424422

An Overview for Beginners on Density Functional Theory in Computational Materials Science and Some of the Related Software Packages

Article

Last updated: 27 Apr 2025

Subjects

-

Tags

-

Abstract

This review article explores the basic principles and some practical applications of Density Functional Theory (DFT) in computational materials science, highlighting its significance in predicting and analyzing the electronic, structural, thermodynamic, optical, electrical, and magnetic properties of materials. We begin with discussing the fundamental principles of DFT, including the Hohenberg-Kohn theorems and the Kohn-Sham equations, which provide the framework for solving quantum mechanical equations for many-body systems. The review then explores further approximations used to make these complex calculations feasible, such as the Local Density Approximation (LDA), Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA), and hybrid functionals. We also mention and classify some popular DFT-based software packages, such as WIEN2k, Quantum ESPRESSO, VASP, ABINIT, and CASTEP, according to their basis set types, computational requirements, and typical use cases. The discussion leads to a focus on WIEN2k, considering the balance of its accuracy and cost, and concluding its choice as a preferred software for our future research in materials science using computational methods.

DOI

10.21608/ejs.2025.366425.1061

Keywords

density functional theory (DFT), Computational Materials Science, Materials Modeling, WIEN2k

Authors

First Name

Mohamed

Last Name

Abu Radia

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt

Email

mohamed.abdelmageed@science.tanta.edu.eg

City

Tanta

Orcid

-

First Name

Samia

Last Name

Saafan

MiddleName

Ahmed

Affiliation

Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt

Email

samiasaafan@science.tanta.edu.eg

City

Tanta

Orcid

-

Volume

47

Article Issue

1

Related Issue

54597

Issue Date

2025-03-01

Receive Date

2025-03-14

Publish Date

2025-03-01

Page Start

110

Page End

138

Print ISSN

1012-5566

Online ISSN

2735-5640

Link

https://ejs.journals.ekb.eg/article_424422.html

Detail API

http://journals.ekb.eg?_action=service&article_code=424422

Order

424,422

Type

Original Article

Type Code

1,717

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Egyptian Journal of Solids

Publication Link

https://ejs.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

An Overview for Beginners on Density Functional Theory in Computational Materials Science and Some of the Related Software Packages

Details

Type

Article

Created At

27 Apr 2025