Pressure-induced structural transition and thermodynamic properties of RhN2 and effect of metallic bonding on its hardness

The elastic constant, structural phase transition, and effect of metallic bonding on the hardness of RhN₂ under high pressure are investigated through the first principles calculation by means of the pseudopotential plane-waves method. Three structures are chosen to investigate for RhN₂, namely, simple hexagonal P6/mmm (denoted as SH), orthorhombic Pnnm (marcasite), and simple tetragonal P4/mbm (denoted as ST). Our calculations show that the SH phase is energetically more stable than the other two phases at zero pressure. On the basis of the third-order Birch-Murnaghan equation of states, we find that phase transition pressures from SH to marcasite structure and from marcasite to ST structure are 1.09 GPa and 354.57 GPa, respectively. Elastic constants, formation enthalpies, shear modulus, Young's modulus, and Debye temperature of RhN₂ are derived. The calculated values are, generally speaking, in good agreement with the previous theoretical results. Meanwhile, it is found that the pressure has an important influence on physical properties. Moreover, the effect of metallic bonding on the hardness of RhN₂ is investigated. This is a quantitative investigation on the structural properties of RhN₂, and it still awaits experimental confirmation.