ABSTRACT
In this article, the crystal structure of solid hydrazine under pressure has been extensively investigated using ab initio evolutionary simulation methods. Calculations indicate that hydrazine remains both insulating and stable up to at least 300â GPa at low temperatures. A structure with P21 symmetry is found for the first time through theoretical prediction in the pressure range 0-99â GPa and it is consistent with previous experimental results. Two novel structures are also proposed, in the space groups Cc and C2/c, postulated to be stable in the range 99-235â GPa and above 235â GPa, respectively. Below 3.5â GPa, C2 symmetry is found originally, but it becomes unstable after adding the van der Waals interactions. The P21âCc transition is first order, with a volume discontinuity of 2.4%, while the CcâC2/c transition is second order with a continuous volume change. Pressure-induced hydrogen-bond symmetrization occurs at 235â GPa during the CcâC2/c transition. The underlying mechanism of hydrogen-bond symmetrization has also been investigated by analysis of electron localization functions and vibrational Raman/IR spectra.