Here we prove that, in addition to temperature and pressure, another important thermodynamic variable permits the exploration of the phase diagram of ammonia: the electric field. By means of (path integral) ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, we predict that, upon applying intense electric fields on ammonia, the electrofreezing phenomenon occurs, leading the liquid toward a novel ferroelectric solid phase. This study proves that electric fields can generally be exploited as the access key to otherwise-unreachable regions in phase diagrams, unveiling the existence of new condensed-phase structures. Furthermore, the reported findings have manifold practical implications, from the safe storage and transportation of ammonia to the understanding of the solid structures this compound forms in planetary contexts.

Institute for Chemical Physical Processes National Research Council of Italy Viale F Stagno d'Alcontres 37 98158 Messina Italy

Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences Královopolská 135 61265 Brno Czechia

Regional Center of Advanced Technologies and Materials The Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute Palacky University Olomouc Slechtitelu 27 77900 Olomouc Czechia

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