Theoretical predictions for low-temperature phases, softening of phonons and elastic stiffnesses, and electronic properties of sodium peroxide under high pressure.

High-pressure phase stabilities up to 600 K and the related properties of NaO under pressures up to 300 GPa were investigated using first-principles calculations and the quasi-harmonic approximation. Two high-pressure phases of NaO that are thermodynamically and dynamically stable were predicted consisting of the 2 (distorted 6̄2) and the 2/ structures, which are stable at low temperature in the pressure range of 0-22 GPa and 22-28 GPa, respectively. However, the 6̄2 and structures become the most stable instead of the 2 and 2/ structures at the elevated temperatures, respectively. Interestingly, the softening of some phonon modes and the decreasing of some elastic stiffnesses in the 2 structure were also predicted in the pressure ranges of 2-3 GPa and 9-10 GPa. This leads to the decreasing of phonon free energy and the increasing of the ELF value in the same pressure ranges. The HSE06 band gaps suggest that all phases are insulators, and they increase with increasing pressure. Our findings provide the - phase diagram of NaO, which may be useful for investigating the thermodynamic properties and experimental verification.