Paper alert! 

Yonghui published his first paper on the transport properties of FeSi at high pressure conditions in GRL.

Ab Initio Study of the Conductivities of B2 FeSi Under Core-Mantle Boundary Conditions

The ultra-low velocity zones (ULVZs) are anomalies at the core-mantle boundary (CMB), identified by their extremely low seismic velocities. However, their origins and conductive properties remain uncertain. Recent high-pressure experiments suggest that ULVZs may form from the B2 FeSi phase, crystallized from the outer core containing hydrogen and silicon. To better understand the conductive properties of B2 FeSi and its impact, we used first-principles calculations to determine its thermal and electrical conductivities under CMB conditions. Our results show that B2 FeSi has the highest thermal conductivity compared to mantle minerals. This makes ULVZs heat anomalies characterized by high thermal conductivity, high temperature, and high heat flux. Consequently, ULVZs could act as cooling spots at the top of the outer core, driving convection in the outer core and helping maintain the Earth's dynamo and geomagnetic field.

Comparison of the calculated thermal conductivity of B2 FeSi with literature data (De Koker et al., 2012; Dekura & Tsuchiya, 2019; Haigis et al., 2012; Hsieh et al., 2020; Pozzo et al., 2012; Wang et al., 2023; Xu et al., 2018; Zhang et al., 2022). Different marker shapes represent various studies, while colors denote distinct materials. Solid and hollow markers differentiate between different states.

A short introduction of this paper in Chinese can be found here.