Periodic first-principle calculations have been performed
to study
the effect of high pressure on the geometrical and electronic structures
of the energetic ionic salt 3-azido-1,2,4-triazolium nitrate (ATAN)
under hydrostatic pressure of 0–300 GPa. The local density
approximation with CA-PZ functional has been adopted because the crystal
structure optimized with it agrees better with the experimental results
than with other functionals at the ambient pressure. When the hydrostatic
compression is exerted upon the ATAN crystal, the unit cell parameters,
density, total energy, interatomic distances, bond angles, atom charges,
bond populations, band structure, and density of states of ATAN crystal
change regularly with the increase in pressure except at 200 GPa where
the structural transformations occur. Although the azido group bends
gradually and slowly to form a five-membered tetrazole ring, the H
atom in the adjacent cation transfer to the terminal N atom of the
azido group and a new covalent bond forms at 200 GPa; thus, the azide–tetrazole
ring–chain transformation has not completely been realized
even under the higher pressure owing to this new covalent bond.