Prediction of new thermodynamically stable ZnN₂O₃ at high pressure

Pressure has become a useful parameter to prepare novel functional materials. Considering the excellent performance of ZnO and Zn₃N₂ and the formation of strong Zn-O, Zn-N, and N-O bonds in the known compounds, we explored potential Zn-N-O ternary compounds with interesting properties. With the aid of first-principles swarm-intelligence search calculations, we identified a hitherto unknown ZnN₂O₃ ternary compound with a symmetry of P2₁. Its remarkable feature is that N pairs interconnect the distorted Zn-centered decahedrons, in which the Zn atom forms bonds with one N and six O atoms. The compression of ZnO + NO₂ + N₂ might be an easy way to synthesize ZnN₂O₃. Electronic property calculations disclose that ZnN₂O₃ is a wide band gap semiconductor with a gap value of 3.48 eV, which is larger than those of ZnO and Zn₃N₂. Moreover, the high-pressure phase diagram of Zn-N binary compounds was explored with a wide range of chemical compositions. Two metallic N-rich zinc nitrides (e.g., ZnN₂ and ZnN₄) are proposed, containing intriguing N₂ dimers and zigzag N chains. ZnN₂ exhibits superconducting properties, and becomes the first example of superconductor in zinc nitrides. Our current results unravel the unusual stoichiometry of Zn-N-O compounds and provide further insight into the diverse electronic properties of zinc nitrides under high pressure.