Ground-state structure determination and mechanical properties of palladium seminitride

Combining first-principles calculations with the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm, we have explored the ground-state structure of Pd2N, whose structure is in debate although it is the first synthesized binary platinum group nitride. The ground-state structure is predicted to be tetragonal with space group P (4) over bar m2, which is energetically more favorable than the previously proposed orthorhombic Co2N-type structure. The stability is confirmed by the subsequent calculations on the phonon dispersion curves and elastic constants. Furthermore, the calculated mechanical properties indicate that Pd2N has low incompressibility and is a common hard material.