An Interface to Quantum ESPRESSO

Our project aims at providing the materials engineering fraternity with a simple and effective interface using ipython to operate Quantum ESPRESSO (QE), an open source code for materials simulation. QE is a first principles code using density functional theory, plane waves and pseudo potentials; it has ability to predict material properties. Ipython notebook interface uses the scope of the following libraries; Atomic Simulation Environment (ASE), matplotlib, scipy, numpy, pyspglib, elastic and newly developed library: QE-nipy-advanced to predict the properties. QE-nipy-advanced is the latest version of QE-nipy. The latest version incorporates features that can take care of all the input parameters supported by PWscf and PHonon packages of Quantum ESPRESSO. Thermo-mechanical properties of some nuclear materials with different magnetic and metallic behavior has been studied using the QE-nipy-advanced, but in here we demonstrate the thermo-mechanical properties of non-magnetic insulator like silicon carbide and thoria, which are materials for future nuclear reactor applications.