High-pressure phases and transitions of the layered alkaline earth nitridosilicates SrSiN2 and BaSiN2

We investigate the high-pressure phase diagram of SrSiN2 and BaSiN2 with density-functional calculation. Searching a manifold of possible candidate structures, we propose new structural modifications of SrSiN2 and BaSiN2 attainable in high-pressure experiments. The monoclinic ground state of SrSiN2 transforms at 3 GPa into an orthorhombic BaSiN2 type. At 14 GPa a CaSiN2-type structure becomes the most stable configuration of SrSiN2. A hitherto unknown Pbcm modification is adopted at 85 GPa and, finally, at 131 GPa a LiFeO2-type structure. The higher homologue BaSiN2 transforms to a CaSiN2 type at 41 GPa and further to a Pbcm modification at 105 GPa. Both systems follow the pressure-coordination rule: the coordination environment of Si increases from tetrahedral through trigonal bipyramidal to octahedral. Some high-pressure phases are related in structure through simple group-subgroup mechanisms, indicating displacive phase transformations with low activation barriers.