Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2014

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/500/16/162005

Abstract

High pressure experiments utilizing Raman spectroscopy indicate that the a phase of sodium azide undergoes a polymeric phase transition at high pressure. In this work, the structural and vibrational properties, including the first order Raman and infrared spectra, of the a phase of sodium azide are calculated using first-principles density functional theory up to 92 GPa. The equation of state of α NaN3 is obtained within the quasi-harmonic approximation at various temperatures. Each Raman-active mode blue shifts under compression whereas the doubly degenerate IR-active azide bending mode red-shifts under compression. However, at 70 GPa, the intensity of the Bu IR-active bending mode decreases substantially, and a new distorted azide bending lattice mode appears in the IR spectrum. In contrast to the bending mode, this new mode blue-shifts under compression. No new modes appear in the Raman spectra at high pressure, indicating that the changes in the Raman spectrum seen in experiment at high pressure are signs of new high nitrogen content structures, but not due to sodium azide.

Rights Information

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Journal of Physics: Conference Series, v. 500, art. 162005

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