Predicted novel metallic metastable phases of polymeric nitrogen at high pressures

Two new metallic polymeric structures of nitrogen, Pnnm and Cccm, are found by means of the first-principles density functional theory and a random structure-searching method. Firstly, it is shown that the transition behavior of nitrogen from insulator to metal starts at a pressure of approximately 460 GPa at 0 K. The Pnnm phase becomes energetically favorable with respect to cubic gauche at 363 GPa, and then transforms to the Cccm structure at 884 GPa. Electron-phonon coupling calculations suggest that the Pnnm crystal possesses superconductivity. The stability of these two phases is also explored, showing for the first time that they are stable structures of nitrogen exhibiting metallic properties.