Structural, magnetic and electronic properties of quaternary oxybismuthides LaOMBi (where M = Sc, Ti ... Ni, Cu) - possible parent phases for new superconducting materials

The extensive ab initio total energy calculations using the VASP-PAW method with the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) for the exchange-correlation potential are applied to systematic investigation of structural, electronic and magnetic properties in quaternary oxybismuthides LaOMBi (where M = Sc, Ti...Ni, Cu). The energy spectrum features similar to lanthanum-iron oxyarsenide LaOFeAs and non-magnetic ground state are indicative of superconductivity possible in lanthanum-nickel oxybismuthide LaONiBi.