Zigzag equilibrium structure in monatomic wires

We have applied first-principles density-functional calculations to the study of the energetics, and the elastic and electronic properties of monatomic wires of Au, Cu, K, and Ca in linear and a planar zigzag geometries. For Cu and Au wires, the zigzag distortion is favorable even when the linear wire is stretched, but this is not observed for K and Ca wires. In all the cases, the equilibrium structure is an equilateral zigzag (bond angle of 60°). Only in the case of Au, the zigzag geometry can also be stabilized for an intermediate bond angle of 131°. The relationship between the bond and wire lengths is qualitatively different for the metallic (Au, Cu, and K) and semiconducting (Ca) wires.