Abstract
The recently proposed genetic algorithm for crystal structure prediction combined with first-principles structural optimizations is used to investigate the high-pressure structures of solid nitrogen. Starting from a population of randomly generated eight-atom structures at , the evolutionary process not only recovers the four lowest-energy nonmolecular structures (CG, , black phosphorus, and chain) predicted theoretically or known experimentally, but also reveals a metastable single-bonded three-dimensional structure. The stability of this structure at is established by phonon calculations. At this pressure, the enthalpy of the structure is /atom higher than that of the cubic gauche phase. The energetic difference between this structure and other nonmolecular high-pressure phases is explained from analysis of the local structural motifs.
- Received 31 August 2007
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.77.052103
©2008 American Physical Society