Experimental and theoretical investigation of the stability of the monoclinicBaWO4-II phase at high pressure and high temperature

In this work we report high-pressure (HP) and high-temperature (HT) ex situ and in situ experiments in ${\text{BaWO}}_{4}$. Starting from powder samples of ${\text{BaWO}}_{4}$, scheelite structure $(I{4}_{1}/a)$, we reached conditions of 2.5--5.5 GPa and 400--1100 K using a Paris-Edinburgh press. The quenched samples were characterized by x-ray diffraction and Raman measurements at ambient conditions. Depending upon the final $P\text{\ensuremath{-}}T$ conditions we found either the scheelite or the monoclinic ${\text{BaWO}}_{4}$-II $(P{2}_{1}/n)$ structure. We also performed HP-HT in situ Raman measurements in a single crystal of ${\text{BaWO}}_{4}$ using a resistive-heated diamond-anvil ce…

Pressure-dependent modifications in the optical and electronic properties of Fe(IO3)3: the role of Fe 3d and I 5p lone–pair electrons

We have determined by means of optical-absorption experiments that Fe(IO3)3 is an indirect band-gap material with a band-gap energy of 2.1 eV. This makes this compound the iodate with the smallest band gap. We also found that under compression the band-gap energy has an unusual non-linear pressure dependence, which is followed by an abrupt and discontinuous decrease of the band gap at 24 GPa. The observed behavior is explained by means of density-functional calculations, which show that the behavior of the band gap is governed by the combined influence of Fe 4d and I 5p lone pair electrons. In addition, the abrupt decrease of the band-gap energy at 24 GPa is a consequence of a first-order s…

Structural and elastic properties of defect chalcopyrite HgGa2S4 under high pressure

In this work, we focus on the study of the structural and elastic properties of mercury digallium sulfide (HgGa2S4) at high pressures. This compound belongs to the family of AB(2)X(4) ordered-vacancy compounds and exhibits a tetragonal defect chalcopyrite structure. X-ray diffraction measurements at room temperature have been performed under compression up to 15.1 GPa in a diamond anvil cell. Our measurements have been complemented and compared with ab initio total energy calculations. The axial compressibility and the equation of state of the low-pressure phase of HgGa2S4 have been experimentally and theoretically determined and compared to other related ordered-vacancy compounds. The pres…

Lattice dynamics of CuAlO2 under high pressure fromab initio calculations

The density functional perturbation theory is employed to study the vibrational properties of CuAlO 2 under pressure. The calculations are preformed using the pseudopotential wave method and the local density approximation for the exchange-correlation (XC) potential. The d electrons of Cu are treated as valence states. We present the phonon dispersion curves. Our results are in good agreement with the available experimental Raman scattering experiments. Ab initio calculations show the presence of a dynamical instability, possibly related with the experimentally observed phase transition.

Effect of High Pressure on the Crystal Structure and Vibrational Properties of Olivine-Type LiNiPO4

In this work, we present an experimental and theoretical study of the effects of high pressure and high temperature on the structural properties of olivine-type LiNiPO4. This compound is part of an interesting class of materials primarily studied for their potential use as electrodes in lithium-ion batteries. We found that the original olivine structure (α-phase) is stable up to ∼40 GPa. Above this pressure, the onset of a new phase is observed, as put in evidence by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) experiments. The structural refinement shows that the new phase (known as β-phase) belongs to space group Cmcm. At room temperature, the two phases coexist at least up to 50 GPa. A complete conversio…

Gold(i) sulfide: Unusual bonding and an unexpected computational challenge in a simple solid

We report the experimental high-pressure crystal structure and equation of state of gold(I) sulfide (Au2S) determined using diamond-anvil cell synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Our data shows that Au2S has a simple cubic structure with six atoms in the unit cell (four Au in linear, and two S in tetrahedral, coordination), no internal degrees of freedom, and relatively low bulk modulus. Despite its structural simplicity, Au2S displays very unusual chemical bonding. The very similar and relatively high electronegativities of Au and S rule out any significant metallic or ionic character. Using a simple valence bond (Lewis) model, we argue that the Au2S crystal possesses two different types of cov…

Nonlinear pressure dependence of the direct band gap in adamantine ordered-vacancy compounds

A strong nonlinear pressure dependence of the optical absorption edge has been measured in defect chalcopyrites CdGa{sub 2}Se{sub 4} and HgGa{sub 2}Se{sub 4}. The behavior is due to the nonlinear pressure dependence of the direct band-gap energy in these compounds as confirmed by ab initio calculations. Our calculations for CdGa{sub 2}Se{sub 4}, HgGa{sub 2}Se{sub 4} and monoclinic {beta}-Ga{sub 2}Se{sub 3} provide evidence that the nonlinear pressure dependence of the direct band-gap energy is a general feature of adamantine ordered-vacancy compounds irrespective of their composition and crystalline structure. The nonlinear behavior is due to a conduction band anticrossing at the {Gamma} po…

High-pressure structural and lattice dynamical study ofHgWO4

We have synthesized monoclinic mercury tungstate $({\text{HgWO}}_{4})$ and characterized its structural and vibrational properties at room conditions. Additionally, we report the structural and lattice dynamical behavior of ${\text{HgWO}}_{4}$ under high pressure studied by means of x-ray diffraction and Raman-scattering measurements up to 16 GPa and 25 GPa, respectively. The pressure dependence of the structural parameters and Raman-active first-order phonons of monoclinic $C2/c$ ${\text{HgWO}}_{4}$ are discussed in the light of our theoretical first-principles total-energy and lattice dynamics calculations. Our measurements show that the monoclinic phase of ${\text{HgWO}}_{4}$ is stable u…

High-pressure study of ScVO4by Raman scattering andab initiocalculations

We report results of experimental and theoretical lattice-dynamics studies on scandium orthovanadate up to 35 GPa. Raman-active modes of the low-pressure zircon phase are measured up to 8.2 GPa, where the onset of an irreversible zircon-to-scheelite phase transition is detected. Raman-active modes in the scheelite structure are observed up to 16.5 GPa. Beyond 18.2 GPa we detected a gradual splitting of the ${E}_{g}$ modes of the scheelite phase, indicating the onset of a second phase transition. Raman symmetries, frequencies, and pressure coefficients in the three phases of ScVO${}_{4}$ are discussed in the light of ab initio lattice-dynamics calculations that support the experimental resul…

High-Pressure Raman Study of Fe(IO3)3: Soft-Mode Behavior Driven by Coordination Changes of Iodine Atoms

[EN] We report high-pressure Raman spectroscopy studies of Fe(IO3)(3) up to nearly 21 GPa that have been interpreted with the help of density functional theory calculations, which include the calculation of phonon dispersion curves and elastic constants at different pressures. Zero-pressure Raman-active mode frequencies and their pressure dependences have been determined. Modes have been assigned and correlated to atomic movements with the help of calculations. Interestingly, in the high-frequency region, there are several modes that soften under compression. These modes have been identified as internal vibrations of the IO3 coordination polyhedron. Their unusual behavior is a consequence o…

Exploring the high-pressure behavior of the three known polymorphs of BiPO4: Discovery of a new polymorph

We have studied the structural behavior of bismuth phosphate under compression. We performed x-ray powder diffraction measurements up to 31.5 GPa and ab initio calculations. Experiments were carried out on different polymorphs: trigonal (phase I) and monoclinic (phases II and III). Phases I and III, at low pressure (P < 0.2-0.8 GPa), transform into phase II, which has a monazite-type structure. At room temperature, this polymorph is stable up to 31.5 GPa. Calculations support these findings and predict the occurrence of an additional transition from the monoclinic monazite-type to a tetragonal scheelite-type structure (phase IV). This transition was experimentally found after the simultaneo…

High pressure phase transitions in NdVO4

Raman-scattering measurements on NdVO4 suggest a pressure-induced zircon to monazite phase transition beyond 5.9 GPa. The monazite phase undergoes a second phase transition to a yet unknown phase at 18.1 GPa. Lattice-dynamics calculations well support the experimental findings and predict a possible orthorhombic structure for the post-monazite structure of NdVO4.

Phase behaviour of Ag2CrO4 under compression: Structural, vibrational, and optical properties

We have performed an experimental study of the crystal structure, lattice dynamics, and optical properties of silver chromate (Ag2CrO4) at ambient temperature and high pressures. In particular, the crystal structure, Raman-active phonons, and electronic band gap have been accurately determined. When the initial orthorhombic Pnma Ag2CrO4 structure (phase I) is compressed up to 4.5 GPa, a previously undetected phase (phase II) has been observed with a 0.95% volume collapse. The structure of phase II can be indexed to a similar orthorhombic cell as phase I, and the transition can be considered to be an isostructural transition. This collapse is mainly due to the drastic contraction of the a ax…

Tuning the band gap of PbCrO4 through high-pressure: Evidence of wide-to-narrow semiconductor transitions

The electronic transport properties and optical properties of lead(II) chromate (PbCrO4) have been studied at high pressure by means of resistivity, Hall-effect, and optical-absorption measurements. Band-structure first-principle calculations have been also performed. We found that the low-pressure phase is a direct band-gap semiconductor (Eg = 2.3 eV) that shows a high resistivity. At 3.5 GPa, associated to a structural phase transition, a band-gap collapse takes place, becoming Eg = 1.8 eV. At the same pressure the resistivity suddenly decreases due to an increase of the carrier concentration. In the HP phase, PbCrO4 behaves as an n-type semiconductor, with a donor level probably associat…

Electronic structure of CuAlO2 and CuScO2 delafossites under pressure

The electronic structure of CuAlO 2 and CuScO 2 delafossites is investigated by means of optical absorption measurements under pressure and ab initio band structure calculations. Measurements are carried out on CuAlO 2 monocrystals and pulsed laser deposited CuAlO 2 and CuScO 2 thin films up to 20 GPa. CuAlO 2 is an indirect semiconductor that is stable in the pressure range explored here. The pressure coefficients of the indirect and direct gaps are found to be 15 meV/GPa and 2 meV/GPa respectively. CuScO 2 is a direct semiconductor and the pressure coefficient of the excitonic peak energy is -5.5 meV/GPa. Two reversible phase transitions are observed in CuScO 2 . At 13 GPa the delafossite…

High pressure theoretical and experimental analysis of the bandgap of BaMoO4, PbMoO4, and CdMoO4

We have investigated the origin of the bandgap of BaMoO4, PbMoO4, and CdMoO4 crystals on the basis of optical absorption spectroscopy experiments and ab initio electronic band structure, density of states, and electronic localization function calculations under high pressure. Our study provides an accurate determination of the bandgaps Eg and their pressure derivatives d E g / dP for BaMoO4 (4.43 eV, −4.4 meV/GPa), PbMoO4 (3.45 eV, −53.8 meV/GPa), and CdMoO4 (3.71 eV, −3.3 meV/GPa). The absorption edges were fitted with the Urbach exponential model which we demonstrate to be the most appropriate for thick crystals with direct bandgaps. So far, the narrowing of the bandgap of distinct PbMoO4…

Monazite-type SrCrO4 under compression

We report a high-pressure study of monoclinic monazite-type SrCrO4 up to 26 GPa. Therein we combined x-ray diffraction, Raman and optical-absorption measurements with ab initio calculations, to find a pressure-induced structural phase transition of SrCrO4 near 8-9 GPa. Evidence of a second phase transition was observed at 10-13 GPa. The crystal structures of the high-pressure phases were assigned to the tetragonal scheelite-type and monoclinic AgMnO4-type structures. Both transitions produce drastic changes in the electronic band gap and phonon spectrum of SrCrO4. We determined the pressure evolution of the band gap for the low-pressure and high-pressure phases as well as the frequencies an…

Exploring the Chemical Reactivity between Carbon Dioxide and Three Transition Metals (Au, Pt, and Re) at High-Pressure, High-Temperature Conditions

The role of carbon dioxide, CO2, as oxidizing agent at high pressures and temperatures is evaluated by studying its chemical reactivity with three transition metals: Au, Pt, and Re. We report systematic X-ray diffraction measurements up to 48 GPa and 2400 K using synchrotron radiation and laser-heating diamond-anvil cells. No evidence of reaction was found in Au and Pt samples in this pressure–temperature range. In the Re + CO2 system, however, a strongly–driven redox reaction occurs at P > 8 GPa and T > 1500 K, and orthorhombic β-ReO2 is formed. This rhenium oxide phase is stable at least up to 48 GPa and 2400 K and was recovered at ambient conditions. Raman spectroscopy data confirm graph…

High-pressure x-ray diffraction andab initiostudy ofNi2Mo3N,Pd2Mo3N,Pt2Mo3N,Co3Mo3N, andFe3Mo3N: Two families of ultra-incompressible bimetallic interstitial nitrides

We have studied by means of high-pressure x-ray diffraction the structural stability of ${\text{Ni}}_{2}{\text{Mo}}_{3}\text{N}$, ${\text{Co}}_{3}{\text{Mo}}_{3}\text{N}$, and ${\text{Fe}}_{3}{\text{Mo}}_{3}\text{N}$. We also report ab initio computing modeling of the high-pressure properties of these compounds, ${\text{Pd}}_{2}{\text{Mo}}_{3}\text{N}$ and ${\text{Pt}}_{2}{\text{Mo}}_{3}\text{N}$. We have found that the nitrides remain stable in the ambient-pressure cubic structure at least up to 50 GPa and determined their equation of state. All of them have a bulk modulus larger than 300 GPa. Single-crystal elastic constants have been calculated in order to quantify the stiffness of the i…

High-pressure behavior ofCaMoO4

We report a high-pressure study of tetragonal scheelite-type $\mathrm{CaMo}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ up to 29 GPa. In order to characterize its high-pressure behavior, we have combined Raman and optical-absorption measurements with density functional theory calculations. We have found evidence of a pressure-induced phase transition near 15 GPa. Experiments and calculations agree in assigning the high-pressure phase to a monoclinic fergusonite-type structure. The reported results are consistent with previous powder x-ray-diffraction experiments, but are in contradiction with the conclusions obtained from earlier Raman measurements, which support the existence of more than one phase transition in the…

Lattice dynamics study of scheelite tungstates under high pressure I.BaWO4

Room-temperature Raman scattering has been measured in lead tungstate up to 17 GPa. We report the pressure dependence of all the Raman modes of the tetragonal scheelite phase PbWO4-I or stolzite, space group I41 /a, which is stable at ambient conditions. Upon compression the Raman spectrum undergoes significant changes around 6.2 GPa due to the onset of a partial structural phase transition to the monoclinic PbWO4-III phase space group P21 /n. Further changes in the spectrum occur at 7.9 GPa, related to a scheelite-to-fergusonite transition. This transition is observed due to the sluggishness and kinetic hindrance of the I → III transition. Consequently, we found the coexistence of the sche…

Lattice dynamics study of nanocrystalline yttrium gallium garnet at high pressure

This work reports an experimental and theoretical lattice dynamics study of nanocrystalline Y3Ga5O12 (YGG) garnet at high pressures. Raman scattering measurements in nanocrystalline Tm3+-doped YGG garnet performed up to 29 GPa have been compared to lattice dynamics ab initio calculations for bulk garnet carried out up to 89 GPa. Good agreement between the theoretical vibrational modes of bulk crystal and the experimental modes measured in the nanocrystals is found. The contribution of GaO4 tetrahedra and GaO6 octahedra to the different phonon modes of YGG is discussed on the basis of the calculated total and partial phonon density of states. Symmetries, frequencies, and pressure coefficient…

Structural and Vibrational Properties of Corundum-type In2O3 Nanocrystals under Compression

[EN] This work reports the structural and vibrational properties of nanocrystals of corundum-type In2O3 (rh-In2O3) at high pressures by using angle-dispersive x-ray diffraction and Raman scattering measurements up to 30 GPa. The equation of state and the pressure dependence of the Raman-active modes of the corundum phase in nanocrystals are in good agreement with previous studies on bulk material and theoretical simulations on bulk rh-In2O3. Nanocrystalline rh-In2O3 showed stability under compression at least up to 20 GPa, unlike bulk rh-In2O3 which gradually transforms to the orthorhombic Pbca (Rh2O3-III-type) structure above 12 14 GPa. The different stability range found in nanocrystallin…

Crystal Chemistry of CdIn2S4, MgIn2S4, and MnIn2S4 Thiospinels under High Pressure

We report X-ray diffraction measurements in CdIn2S4, MgIn2S4, and MnIn2S4 thiospinels at room temperature and high pressures. The pressure dependences of the structural parameters have been determined and compared to those from theoretical calculations. It is found that the three thiospinels have similar bulk moduli (B-0) between 75 and 80 GPa (B-0' similar to 3). The degree of inversion of these thiospinels has also been determined. The three thiospinels undergo a phase transition toward a defect LiTiO2-type structure above 9.5, 8.3, and 6.8 GPa in CdIn2S4, MgIn2S4, and MnIn2S4, respectively. Interestingly, the low- and high-pressure phases belong to the same symmetry group (Fd-3m), the tr…

High-pressure structural behaviour of HoVO4: combined XRD experiments and ab initio calculations.

We report a high-pressure experimental and theoretical investigation of the structural properties of zircon-type HoVO4. Angle-dispersive x-ray diffraction measurements were carried out under quasi-hydrostatic and partial non-hydrostatic conditions up to 28 and 23.7 GPa, respectively. In the first case, an irreversible phase transition is found at 8.2 GPa. In the second case, the onset of the transition is detected at 4.5 GPa, a second (reversible) transition is found at 20.4 GPa, and a partial decomposition of HoVO4 was observed. The structures of the different phases have been assigned and their equations of state (EOS) determined. Experimental results have also been compared to theoretica…

Theoretical and experimental study of CaWO4 and SrWO4 under pressure

Abstract In this paper, we combine a theoretical study of the structural phases of CaWO 4 and SrWO 4 under high pressure along with the results of angle-dispersive X-ray diffraction (ADXRD) and X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) measurements of both tungstates up to approximately 20 GPa. The theoretical study was performed within the ab initio framework of the density functional theory (DFT) using a plane-wave basis set and the pseudopotential scheme, with the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) for the exchange and correlation contribution to the energy. Under normal conditions, CaWO 4 and SrWO 4 crystallize in the scheelite structure. Our results show that in a hydrostatic …

ScVO4 under non-hydrostatic compression:a new metastable polymorph

Ustedes se ocupan e ver si se puede hacer de acceso público. Podria buscra el preprint al ser algo reciente. Se estudia el comportamiento bajo alta presión del vanadato de scandio, ScVO4, bajo compresión no hidrostática. El estudio se realiza mediante difracción de rayos X en polvo usando radiación sincrotrón. Se detecta una transición no reversible desde la fase zircon a la fase fergusonita alrededor de 6 GPa con una discontinuidad en el volumen de un 10%. La fase fergusonota se puede recuperar como metaestable confirmandose mediante XRD. Las simulaciones ab intio confirman los resultados experimentales. Las propiedades ópticas y la propiedades vibracionales de la fase fergusonita son disc…

Lattice dynamics ofYVO4at high pressures

We report an experimental and theoretical lattice-dynamics study of yttrium orthovanadate $({\text{YVO}}_{4})$ up to 33 GPa together with a theoretical study of its structural stability under pressure. Raman-active modes of the zircon phase are observed up to 7.5 GPa, where the onset of an irreversible zircon-to-scheelite phase transition is detected, and Raman-active modes in the scheelite structure are observed up to 20 GPa, where a reversible second-order phase transition occurs. Our ab initio total-energy calculations support that the second-order phase transition in ${\text{YVO}}_{4}$ is from the scheelite to the monoclinic M-fergusonite structure. The M-fergusonite structure remains u…

High-pressure structural and vibrational properties of monazite-type BiPO4, LaPO4, CePO4, and PrPO4

[EN] Monazite-type BiPO4, LaPO4, CePO4, and PrPO4 have been studied under high pressure by ab initio simulations and Raman spectroscopy measurements in the pressure range of stability of the monazite structure. A good agreement between experimental and theoretical Raman-active mode frequencies and pressure coefficients has been found which has allowed us to discuss the nature of the Raman-active modes. Besides, calculations have provided us with information on how the crystal structure is modified by pressure. This information has allowed us to determine the equation of state and the isothermal compressibility tensor of the four studied compounds. In addition, the information obtained on th…

An Ultrahigh CO2-Loaded Silicalite-1 Zeolite: Structural Stability and Physical Properties at High Pressures and Temperatures

[EN] We report the formation of an ultrahigh CO2-loaded pure-SiO2, silicalite-1 structure at high pressure (0.7 GPa) from the interaction of empty zeolite and fluid CO, medium. The CO2-filled structure was characterized in situ by means of synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction. Rietveld refinements and Fourier recycling allowed the location of 16 guest carbon dioxide molecules per unit cell within the straight and sinusoidal channels of the porous framework to be analyzed. The complete filling of pores by CO, molecules favors structural stability under compression, avoiding pressure-induced amorphization below 20 GPa, and significantly reduces the compressibility of the system compared to th…

High-pressure transition to the post-barite phase in BaCrO4hashemite

A recent high-pressure study on barium chromate BaCrO${}_{4}$ reported a phase transition but the structure of the high-pressure phase structure could not be identified. This high-pressure phase was suggested to have a monoclinic structure different from other high-pressure forms of $AB$O${}_{4}$-type compounds. In this work, we have carried out x-ray diffraction measurements up to 46 GPa using He as the quasihydrostatic pressure medium and density-functional theory calculations. Our studies allow us to identify the high-pressure phase as the $P$2${}_{1}$2${}_{1}$2${}_{1}$ post-barite-type phase, recently reported for BaSO${}_{4}$. The equations of state of both, the low- and the high-press…

Giant conductivity enhancement: Pressure-induced semiconductor-metal phase transition in Cd0.90Zn0.1Te

Element doping and pressure compression may change material properties for improved performance in applications. We report pressure-induced metallization in the semiconductor $\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{d}}_{0.90}\mathrm{Z}{\mathrm{n}}_{0.1}\mathrm{Te}$. Transport measurements showed an overall resistivity drop of 11 orders of magnitude under compression up to 12 GPa, which is indicative of a metallization transition. X-ray diffraction measurements revealed that the sample underwent a structural transition from a cubic-$F4\overline{3}m$ phase (zinc blende) to a cubic-$Fm\overline{3}m$ phase (rock salt) at about 5.5 GPa, followed by another transition to an orthorhombic $Cmcm$ structure at 13 GPa. A…

Lattice and electronic contributions to the refractive index of CuWO4

We report an investigation of the refractive index dispersion and anisotropy in CuWO4 by means of interference measurements in two extinction directions from mid infrared to the visible region of the energy spectrum. The analysis of the refractive index dispersion yields ϵ(∞) = 4.5(1) for light polarization parallel to the c-axis and ϵ(∞) = 5.3(1) with respect to the other extinction axis. In addition, we report reflectance measurements carried out from the far infrared to the near ultraviolet to study the lattice and electronic contributions to the refractive index of CuWO4. We have determined the wavenumbers of nine infrared active lattice modes and compared them with previous ab initio c…

Experimental and Theoretical Study of Bi2O2Se Under Compression

[EN] We report a joint experimental and theoretical study of the structural, vibrational, elastic, optical, and electronic properties of the layered high-mobility semiconductor Bi2O2Se at high pressure. A good agreement between experiments and ab initio calculations is observed for the equation of state, the pressure coefficients of the Raman-active modes and the bandgap of the material. In particular, a detailed description of the vibrational properties is provided. Unlike other Sillen-type compounds which undergo a tetragonal to collapsed tetragonal pressure-induced phase transition at relatively low pressures, Bi2O2Se shows a remarkable structural stability up to 30 GPa; however, our res…

InBO3 and ScBO3 at high pressures: an ab initio study of elastic and thermodynamic properties

We have theoretically investigated the elastic properties of calcite-type orthoborates ABO(3) (A= Sc and In) at high pressure by means of ab initio total-energy calculations. From the elastic stiffness coefficients, we have obtained the elastic moduli (B, G and E), Poisson's ratio (nu), B/G ratio, universal elastic anisotropy index (A(U)), Vickers hardness, and sound wave velocities for both orthoborates. Our simulations show that both borates are more resistive to volume compression than to shear deformation (B > G). Both compounds are ductile and become more ductile, with an increasing elastic anisotropy, as pressure increases. We have also calculated some thermodynamic properties, like D…

Putting the Squeeze on Lead Chromate Nanorods.

We have studied by means of X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy the high-pressure behavior of PbCrO4 nanorods. We have found that these nanorods follow a distinctive structural sequence that differs from that of bulk PbCrO4. In particular, a phase transition from a monoclinic monazite-type PbCrO4 to a novel monoclinic AgMnO4-type polymorph has been discovered at 8.5 GPa. The crystal structure, Raman-active phonons, and compressibility of this novel high-pressure phase are reported for the first time. The experimental findings are supported by ab initio calculations that provide information not only on structural and vibrational properties of AgMnO4-type PbCrO4 but also on the electroni…

High-pressure structural and elastic properties of Tl2O3

The structural properties of Thallium (III) oxide (Tl2O3) have been studied both experimentally and theoretically under compression at room temperature. X-ray powder diffraction measurements up to 37.7 GPa have been complemented with ab initio total-energy calculations. The equation of state of Tl2O3 has been determined and compared to related compounds. It has been found experimentally that Tl2O3 remains in its initial cubic bixbyite-type structure up to 22.0 GPa. At this pressure, the onset of amorphization is observed, being the sample fully amorphous at 25.2 GPa. The sample retains the amorphous state after pressure release. To understand the pressure-induced amorphization process, we h…

Structural and vibrational study of Bi2Se3under high pressure

The structural and vibrational properties of bismuth selenide (Bi${}_{2}$Se${}_{3}$) have been studied by means of x-ray diffraction and Raman scattering measurements up to 20 and 30 GPa, respectively. The measurements have been complemented with ab initio total-energy and lattice dynamics calculations. Our experimental results evidence a phase transition from the low-pressure rhombohedral ($R$-3$m$) phase (\ensuremath{\alpha}-Bi${}_{2}$Se${}_{3}$) with sixfold coordination for Bi to a monoclinic $C$2/$m$ structure (\ensuremath{\beta}-Bi${}_{2}$Se${}_{3}$) with sevenfold coordination for Bi above 10 GPa. The equation of state and the pressure dependence of the lattice parameters and volume …

Combined Raman scattering andab initioinvestigation of pressure-induced structural phase transitions in the scintillatorZnWO4

The room-temperature Raman scattering was measured in ${\text{ZnWO}}_{4}$ up to 45 GPa. We report the pressure dependence of all the Raman-active phonons of the low-pressure wolframite phase. As pressure increases additional Raman peaks appear at 30.6 GPa due to the onset of a reversible structural phase transition to a distorted monoclinic $\ensuremath{\beta}$-fergusonite-type phase. The low-pressure and high-pressure phases coexist from 30.6 to 36.5 GPa. In addition to the Raman measurements we also report ab initio total-energy and lattice-dynamics calculations for the two phases. These calculations helped us to determine the crystalline structure of the high-pressure phase and to assign…

High-pressure studies of topological insulators Bi2Se3, Bi2Te3, and Sb2Te3

Bi2Se3, Bi2Te3, and Sb2Te3 are narrow bandgap semiconductors with tetradymite crystal structure (R-3m) which have been extensively studied along with their alloys due to their promising operation as thermoelectric materials in the temperature range between 300 and 500¿K. Studies on these layered semiconductors have increased tremendously in the last years since they have been recently predicted and demonstrated to behave as 3D topological insulators. In particular, a number of high-pressure studies have been done in the recent years in these materials. In this work we summarize the main results of the high-pressure studies performed in this family of semiconductors to date. In particular, w…

Experimental and theoretical study on the optical properties of LaVO4 crystals under pressure

We report optical absorption and luminescence measurements in pure and trivalent neodymium (Nd3+) doped LaVO4 crystals up to 25 GPa. Nd3+ luminescence has been employed as a tool to follow the structural changes in the crystal. We also present band-structure and crystal-field calculations that provide the theoretical framework to accurately explain the observed experimental results. In particular, both optical absorption and luminescence measurements evidence that a phase transition takes place close to 12 GPa. They also provide information on the pressure dependence of the band-gap as well as the emission lines under compression. We found drastic changes in the optical properties of LaVO4 …

Pressure-Driven Symmetry-Preserving Phase Transitions in Co(IO3)2

[EN] High-pressure synchrotron X-ray diffraction studies of cobalt iodate, Co(IO3)(2), reveal a counterintuitive pressure-induced expansion along certain crystallographic directions. High-pressure Raman and infrared spectroscopy, combined with density-functional theory calculations, reveal that with increasing pressure, it becomes energetically favorable for certain I-O bonds to increase in length over the full range of pressure studied up to 28 GPa. This phenomenon is driven by the high-pressure behavior of iodate ion lone electron pairs. Two pressure-induced isosymmetric monoclinic-monoclinic phase transitions are observed at around 3.0 and 9.0 GPa, which are characterized by increasing o…

Phase transition systematics in BiVO4 by means of high-pressure–high-temperature Raman experiments

We report here high-pressure--high-temperature Raman experiments performed on ${\text{BiVO}}_{4}$. We characterized the fergusonite and scheelite phases (powder and single crystal samples) and the zircon polymorph (nanopowder). The experimental results are supported by ab initio calculations, which, in addition, provide the vibrational patterns. The temperature and pressure behavior of the fergusonite lattice modes reflects the distortions associated with the ferroelastic instability. The linear coefficients of the zircon phase are in sharp contrast to the behavior observed in the fergusonite phase. The boundary of the fergusonite-to-scheelite second-order phase transition is given by ${T}_…

High-pressure structural phase transitions in CuWO4

We study the effects of pressure on the structural, vibrational, and magnetic behavior of cuproscheelite. We performed powder x-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy experiments up to 27 GPa as well as ab initio total-energy and lattice-dynamics calculations. Experiments provide evidence that a structural phase transition takes place at 10 GPa from the low-pressure triclinic phase (P-1) to a monoclinic wolframite-type structure (P2/c). Calculations confirmed this finding and indicate that the phase transformation involves a change in the magnetic order. In addition, the equation of state for the triclinic phase is determined: V0 = 132.8(2) A3, B0 = 139 (6) GPa and = 4. Furthermore, experim…

Optical properties of wurtzite and rock-salt ZnO under pressure

Abstract This paper reports on the pressure dependence of the optical absorption edge of ZnO in the wurtzite and rock-salt phase, up to 14 GPa. Both vapor-phase monocrystals and pulsed-laser-deposition thin films have been investigated. In both types of samples the wurtzite to rock-salt transition is observed at 9.7±0.2 GPa. The absorption tail of the fundamental gap, as measured in monocrystals, exhibits a pressure coefficient of 24.5±2 meV/GPa. The evolution under pressure of the full absorption edge of the wurtzite phase is studied with thin film samples, yielding a slightly lower pressure coefficient (23.0±0.5 meV/GPa for the A–B exciton). Rock-salt ZnO is shown to be an indirect semico…

High-pressure vibrational and optical study of Bi2Te3

We report an experimental and theoretical lattice dynamics study of bismuth telluride (Bi2Te 3 )u p to 23 GPa together with an experimental and theoretical study of the optical absorption and reflection up to 10 GPa. The indirect bandgap of the low-pressure rhombohedral (R-3m) phase (α-Bi2Te 3) was observed to decrease with pressure at a rate of − 6m eV/GPa. In regard to lattice dynamics, Raman-active modes of α-Bi2Te 3 were observed up to 7.4 GPa. The pressure dependence of their frequency and width provides evidence of the presence of an electronic-topological transition around 4.0 GPa. Above 7.4 GPa a phase transition is detected to the C2/m structure. On further increasing pressure two …

High-pressure phase transitions and compressibility of wolframite-type tungstates

This paper reports an investigation on the phase diagram and compressibility of wolframite-type tungstates by means of x-ray powder diffraction and absorption in a diamond-anvil cell and ab initio calculations. The diffraction experiments show that monoclinic wolframite-type MgWO4 suffers at least two phase transitions, the first one being to a triclinic polymorph with a structure similar to that of CuWO4 and FeMoO4-II. The onset of each transition is detected at 17.1 and 31 GPa. In ZnWO4 the onset of the monoclinic-triclinic transition has been also found at 15.1 GPa. These findings are supported by density-functional theory calculations, which predict the occurrence of additional transiti…

High-pressure theoretical and experimental study of HgWO4

HgWO 4 at ambient pressure is characterized using a combination of ab initio calculations, X-ray diffraction and Raman scattering measurements. The effect of low pressure and temperature on the structural stability is analysed. Extending our ab initio study to the range of higher pressures, a sequence of stable phases up to 30GPa is proposed. © 2011 Taylor & Francis.

Structural study of α-Bi2O3 under pressure

An experimental and theoretical study of the structural properties of monoclinic bismuth oxide (alpha-(BiO3)-O-2) under high pressures is here reported. Both synthetic and mineral bismite powder samples have been compressed up to 45 GPa and their equations of state have been determined with angle-dispersive x-ray diffraction measurements. Experimental results have been also compared with theoretical calculations which suggest the possibility of several phase transitions below 10 GPa. However, experiments reveal only a pressure-induced amorphization between 15 and 25 GPa, depending on sample quality and deviatoric stresses. The amorphous phase has been followed up to 45 GPa and its nature di…

Optical and structural study of the pressure-induced phase transition of CdWO$_4$

Physical review / B 95(17), 174105 (2017). doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.95.174105

Trapping of three-dimensional electrons and transition to two-dimensional transport in the three-dimensional topological insulator Bi2Se3under high pressure

This paper reports an experimental and theoretical investigation on the electronic structure of bismuth selenide (Bi2Se3) up to 9 GPa. The optical gap of Bi2Se3 increases from 0.17 eV at ambient pressure to 0.45 eV at 8 GPa. The quenching of the Burstein-Moss effect in degenerate samples and the shift of the free-carrier plasma frequency to lower energies reveal a quick decrease of the bulk three-dimensional (3D) electron concentration under pressure. On increasing pressure the behavior of Hall electron concentration and mobility depends on the sample thickness, consistently with a gradual transition from mainly 3D transport at ambient pressure to mainly two-dimensional (2D) transport at hi…

Pressure-induced amorphization of YVO4:Eu3+ nanoboxes

A structural transformation from the zircon-type structure to an amorphous phase has been found in YVO4:Eu3+ nanoboxes at high pressures above 12.7 GPa by means of x-ray diffraction measurements. However, the pair distribution function of the high-pressure phase shows that the local structure of the amorphous phase is similar to the scheelite-type YVO4. These results are confirmed both by Raman spectroscopy and Eu3+ photoluminescence which detect the phase transition to a scheelite-type structure at 10.1 and 9.1 GPa, respectively. The irreversibility of the phase transition is observed with the three techniques after a maximum pressure in the upstroke of around 20 GPa. The existence of two …

HgGa2 Se4 under high pressure: An optical absorption study

High-pressure optical absorption measurements have been performed in defect chalcopyrite HgGa2Se4 to investigate the influence of pressure on the bandgap energy and its relation with the pressure-induced order–disorder processes that occur in this ordered-vacancy compound. Two different experiments have been carried out in which the sample undergoes either a partial or a total pressure-induced disorder process at 15.4 and 30.8 GPa, respectively. It has been found that the direct bandgap energies of the recovered samples at 1 GPa were around 0.15 and 0.23 eV smaller than that of the original sample, respectively, and that both recovered samples have different pressure coefficients of the dir…

Structural and vibrational study ofZn(IO3)2combining high-pressure experiments and density-functional theory

We report a characterization of the high-pressure behavior of zinc iodate, $\mathrm{Zn}{(\mathrm{I}{\mathrm{O}}_{3})}_{2}$. By the combination of x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and first-principles calculations we have found evidence of two subtle isosymmetric structural phase transitions. We present arguments relating these transitions to a nonlinear behavior of phonons and changes induced by pressure on the coordination sphere of the iodine atoms. This fact is explained as a consequence of the formation of metavalent bonding at high pressure which is favored by the lone-electron pairs of iodine. In addition, the pressure dependence of unit-cell parameters, volume, and bond distanc…

Electronic structure of p-type ultraviolet-transparent conducting CuScO2 films

Abstract We investigate the electronic structure of CuScO 2 thin films grown on sapphire and mica substrates by pulsed laser deposition. X-ray diffraction and microanalysis confirm that the films have the expected delafossite crystal structure and stoichiometric proportions. The electronic structure is investigated by means of X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy. Electronic states in the range 0–1350 eV are identified, making reference to theoretical density-of-states calculations up to 80 eV. Photoelectron spectra near the Fermi energy confirm the p-character of the films. Optical absorption spectroscopy shows that the films are transparent up to 3.7 eV and exhibit an intense …

Stability and nature of the volume collapse of ε-Fe2O3 under extreme conditions

Iron oxides are among the major constituents of the deep Earth’s interior. Among them, the epsilon phase of Fe2O3 is one of the less studied polymorphs and there is a lack of information about its structural, electronic and magnetic transformations at extreme conditions. Here we report the precise determination of its equation of state and a deep analysis of the evolution of the polyhedral units under compression, thanks to the agreement between our experiments and ab-initio simulations. Our results indicate that this material, with remarkable magnetic properties, is stable at pressures up to 27 GPa. Above 27 GPa, a volume collapse has been observed and ascribed to a change of the local env…

Determination of the high-pressure crystal structure ofBaWO4andPbWO4

We report the results of both angle-dispersive x-ray diffraction and x-ray absorption near-edge structure studies in $\mathrm{Ba}\mathrm{W}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ and $\mathrm{Pb}\mathrm{W}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ at pressures of up to $56\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GPa}$ and $24\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GPa}$, respectively. $\mathrm{Ba}\mathrm{W}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ is found to undergo a pressure-driven phase transition at $7.1\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GPa}$ from the tetragonal scheelite structure (which is stable under normal conditions) to the monoclinic fergusonite structure whereas the same transition takes place in $\mathrm{Pb}\mathrm{W}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ at $9\phantom{\rule{0…

Pressure-induced phase transition and bandgap collapse in the wide-bandgap semiconductor InTaO4

A pressure-induced phase transition, associated with an increase of the coordination number of In and Ta, is detected beyond 13 GPa in InTaO4 by combining synchrotron x-ray diffraction and Raman measurements in a diamond-anvil cell with ab initio calculations. High-pressure optical-absorption measurements were also carried out. The high-pressure phase has a monoclinic structure that shares the same space group with the low-pressure phase (P2/c). The structure of the high-pressure phase can be considered as a slight distortion of an orthorhombic structure described by space group Pcna. The phase transition occurs together with a unit-cell volume collapse and an electronic band-gap collapse o…

Structural evolution of theCuGaO2delafossite under high pressure

We have performed pseudopotential calculations and x-ray-diffraction and x-ray-absorption measurements on the ${\mathrm{CuGaO}}_{2}$ delafossite under high pressure. We have completely characterized the structural behavior of the low pressure phase. We have found out that the a axis is more compressible than the c axis, and as a consequence the oxygen octahedra defined by the gallium environment tend to become more regular under high pressure. We have determined the internal parameter describing the oxygen position inside the unit cell, and seen that it is nearly constant when pressure is applied. We have observed an irreversible phase transition affecting the copper environment but not the…

Synthesis and High-Pressure Study of Corundum-Type In2O3

This work reports the high-pressure and high-temperature (HP-HT) synthesis of pure rhombohedral (corundum-type) phase of indium oxide (In2O3) from its most stable polymorph, cubic bixbyite-type In2O3, using a multianvil press. Structural and vibrational properties of corundum-type In2O3 (rh-In2O3) have been characterized by means of angle-dispersive powder X-ray diffraction and Raman scattering measurements at high pressures which have been compared to structural and lattice dynamics ab initio calculations. The equation of state and the pressure dependence of the Raman-active modes of the corundum-type phase are reported and compared to those of corundum (α-Al2O3). It can be concluded that …

High-pressure polymorphs of TbVO4: A Raman and ab initio study

Raman measurements on TbVO4 show the occurrence of three pressure-induced phase transitions. The first one, an irreversible transition from the zircon to the scheelite structure, occurs beyond 6.7 GPa. In addition, two reversible transformations take place at 26.7 and 34.4 GPa. The last transition was never reported before. The experimental findings are supported by structural and lattice-dynamics calculations that helped us to identify the post-scheelite phase as a monoclinic fergusonite structure. According to the calculations, the third transition involves a symmetry increase. An orthorhombic structure is proposed for the phase found above 34.4 GPa. The results have been compared with pr…

Phase transitions in wolframite-typeCdWO4at high pressure studied by Raman spectroscopy and density-functional theory

Room-temperature Raman scattering was measured in ${\text{CdWO}}_{4}$ up to 43 GPa. We report the pressure dependence of all the Raman-active phonons of the low-pressure wolframite phase. As pressure increases changes in the Raman spectra are detected at 20 and 35 GPa due to the onset of reversible structural phase transitions. We also report ab initio total-energy and lattice-dynamics calculations for the different phases of ${\text{CdWO}}_{4}$. They helped us determine the crystalline structure of the high-pressure phases. Experimental and theoretical results suggest the coexistence of two structures from 20 to 35 GPa: one with tetragonal symmetry and another with triclinic symmetry. Beyo…

Lattice dynamics of ZnAl2O4 and ZnGa2O4 under high pressure

In this work we present a ¿rst-principles density functional study of the vibrational properties of ZnAl2 O4 and ZnGa2 O4 as function of hydrostatic pressure. Based on our previous structural characterization of these two compounds under pressure, herewith, we report the pressure dependence on both systems of the vibrational modes for the cubic spinel structure, for the CaFe2 O4-type structure (Pnma) in ZnAl2 O4 and for marokite (Pbcm) ZnGa2 O4. Additionally we report a second order phase transition in ZnGa2 O4 from the marokite towards the CaTi2 O4-type structure (Cmcm), for which we also calculate the pressure dependence of the vibrational modes at the ¿ point. Our calculations are comple…

The electronic structure of zircon-type orthovanadates: Effects of high-pressure and cation substitution

The electronic structure of four ternary-metal oxides containing isolated vanadate ions is studied. Zircon-type YVO4, YbVO4, LuVO4, and NdVO4 are investigated by high-pressure optical-absorption measurements up to 20 GPa. First-principles calculations based on density-functional theory were also performed to analyze the electronic band structure as a function of pressure. The electronic structure near the Fermi level originates largely from molecular orbitals of the vanadate ion, but cation substitution influence these electronic states. The studied ortovanadates, with the exception of NdVO4, undergo a zircon-scheelite structural phase transition that causes a collapse of the band-gap energ…

High-pressure lattice-dynamics of NdVO4

High-pressure Raman-scattering measurements and ab initio calculations on NdVO4 have been carried out up to 30 GPa. Our combined experimental and theoretical study confirms that beyond 5.9 GPa NdVO4 undergoes an irreversible zircon to monazite transition. The coexistence of zircon and monazite phases is experimentally observed up to ~8 GPa (which agrees with the theoretical transition pressure), stabilizing the monazite phase as a single phase around 10 GPa. Calculations additionally predict the existence of a second high-pressure phase transition at 12.4 GPa. This reversible phase transition has been experimentally observed beyond 18.1 GPa and remains stable up to 30 GPa. The post-monazite…

High-pressure structural, elastic, and thermodynamic properties of zircon-type HoPO4 and TmPO4

[EN] Zircon-type holmium phosphate (HoPO4) and thulium phosphate (TmPO4) have been studied by single-crystal x-ray diffraction and ab initio calculations. We report on the influence of pressure on the crystal structure, and on the elastic and thermodynamic properties. The equation of state for both compounds is accurately determined. We have also obtained information on the polyhedral compressibility which is used to explain the anisotropic axial compressibility and the bulk compressibility. Both compounds are ductile and more resistive to volume compression than to shear deformation at all pressures. Furthermore, the elastic anisotropy is enhanced upon compression. Finally, the calculation…

Structural and electrical study of the topological insulator SnBi2Te4 at high pressures

We report high-pressure X-ray diffraction and electrical measurements of the topological insulator SnBi2Te4 at room temperature. The pressure dependence of the structural properties of the most stable phase of SnBi2Te4 at ambient conditions (trigonal phase) have been experimentally determined and compared with results of our ab initio calculations. Furthermore, a comparison of SnBi2Te4 with the parent compound Bi2Te3 shows that the central TeSnTe trilayer, which substitutes the Te layer at the center of the TeBiTeBiTe layers of Bi2Te3, plays a minor role in the compression of SnBi2Te4. Similar to Bi2Te3, our resistance measurements and electronic band structure simulations in SnBi2Te4 at hi…

Pressure and temperature dependence of the lattice dynamics ofCuAlO2investigated by Raman scattering experiments andab initiocalculations

We have studied the vibrational properties of $\mathrm{Cu}\mathrm{Al}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ by means of Raman scattering in ambient conditions, at low temperature, and also at high pressure. Results are discussed in the framework of an ab initio calculation. Raman active modes have wave numbers ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{{E}_{g}}=418.1\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ and ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{{A}_{1g}}=767.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.3\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. Polarized measurements with single crystals have confirmed their symmetry. We present and discuss the phonon-dispersion curves. Below $200\phant…

Correspondence: Strongly-driven Re+CO2 redox reaction at high-pressure and high-temperature.

Correspondence: Strongly-driven Re+CO 2 redox reaction at high-pressure and high-temperature

Structural, vibrational and electrical study of compressed BiTeBr

Compresed BiTeBr has been studied from a joint experimental and theoretical perspective. Room-temperature x-ray diffraction, Raman scattering, and transport measurements at high pressures have been performed in this layered semiconductor and interpreted with the help of ab initio calculations. A reversible first-order phase transition has been observed above 6–7 GPa, but changes in structural, vibrational, and electrical properties have also been noted near 2 GPa. Structural and vibrational changes are likely due to the hardening of interlayer forces rather than to a second-order isostructural phase transition while electrical changes are mainly attributed to changes in the electron mobilit…

Theoretical and experimental study of the structural stability ofTbPO4at high pressures

We have performed a theoretical and experimental study of the structural stability of terbium phosphate at high pressures. Theoretical ab initio total-energy and lattice-dynamics calculations together with x-ray diffraction experiments have allowed us to completely characterize a phase transition at {approx}9.8 GPa from the zircon to the monazite structure. Furthermore, total-energy calculations have been performed to check the relative stability of 17 candidate structures at different pressures and allow us to propose the zircon {yields} monazite {yields} scheelite {yields} SrUO{sub 4}-type sequence of stable structures with increasing pressure. In this sequence, sixfold P coordination is …

High-pressure monoclinic–monoclinic transition in fergusonite-type HoNbO4

Abstract In this paper we perform a high-pressure (HP) study of fergusonite-type HoNbO4. Powder x-ray diffraction experiments and ab initio density-functional theory (DFT) simulations provide evidence of a phase transition at 18.9(1.1) GPa from the monoclinic fergusonite-type structure (space group I2/a) to another monoclinic polymorph described by space group P21/c. The phase transition is reversible and the HP structural behavior is different than the one previously observed in related niobates. The HP phase remains stable up to 29 GPa. The observed transition involves a change in the Nb coordination number from 4 to 6, and it is driven by mechanical instabilities. We have determined the …

Electronic structure and optical properties of CdTe rock-salt high pressure phase

This paper reports on optical absorption and reflectance measurements in thin CdTe samples up to 15 GPa. All studied samples become virtually opaque at the pressure transition between the zinc-blende and rock-salt phases (3.9 GPa). As pressure increases up to 10 GPa, a relative transparency region is observed between 1.2 eV and 2.4 eV, whose high energy edge shifts to higher photon energies. Above 10 GPa the transparency region gradually shrinks and disappears at about 11 GPa. The low energy side of the absorption spectrum is attributed to free carrier absorption, as electronic structure calculations show that rock-salt CdTe is a semimetal or a low gap semiconductor. Band filling effects lo…

Bond length compressibility in hard ReB2 investigated by x-ray absorption under high pressure

International audience; This work describes x-ray absorption measurements under high pressure in ReB2 , complemented by ab initio calculations. The EXAFS analysis yields the average Re–B bond compressibility, which turns out to be χReB = 5.6(9) × 10− 4 GPa−1 . Combining this information with previous x-ray diffraction experiments we have characterized the network of covalent bonds responsible for the rigidity of the structure. The main conclusion is that the compression is anisotropic and nonhomogeneous, reflecting bonding differences between Re–B and B–B bonds and also between nonequivalent Re–B bonds. The layer defined by boron atoms tends to become flatter under high pressure. As a conse…

Pressure-induced phase transformation in zircon-type orthovanadate SmVO4from experiment and theory

The compression behavior of zircon-type samarium orthovanadate, SmVO4, has been investigated using synchrotron-based powder x-ray diffraction and ab-initio calculations up to 21 GPa. The results indicate the instability of ambient zircon phase at around 6 GPa, which transforms to a high-density scheelite-type phase. The high-pressure phase remains stable up to 21 GPa, the highest pressure reached in the present investigations. On pressure release, the scheelite phase is recovered. Crystal structure of high-pressure phase and equations of state (EOS) for the zircon- and scheelite-type phases have been determined. Various compressibilities such as bulk, axial and bond, estimated from the expe…

Evolution Over Time of Ventilatory Management and Outcome of Patients With Neurologic Disease

OBJECTIVES: To describe the changes in ventilator management over time in patients with neurologic disease at ICU admission and to estimate factors associated with 28-day hospital mortality. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of three prospective, observational, multicenter studies. SETTING: Cohort studies conducted in 2004, 2010, and 2016. PATIENTS: Adult patients who received mechanical ventilation for more than 12 hours. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Among the 20,929 patients enrolled, we included 4,152 (20%) mechanically ventilated patients due to different neurologic diseases. Hemorrhagic stroke and brain trauma were the most common pathologies associated with the need fo…

Front Cover: High-pressure studies of topological insulators Bi2 Se3 , Bi2 Te3 , and Sb2 Te3 (Phys. Status Solidi B 4/2013)

Pressure effects on the electronic and optical properties ofAWO4wolframites (A =Cd, Mg, Mn, and Zn): The distinctive behavior of multiferroic MnWO4

The electronic band-structure and band-gap dependence on the $d$ character of ${A}^{2+}$ cation in $A$WO${}_{4}$ wolframite-type oxides is investigated for different compounds ($A$ $=$ Mg, Zn, Cd, and Mn) by means of optical-absorption spectroscopy and first-principles density-functional calculations. High pressure is used to tune their properties up to 10 GPa by changing the bonding distances establishing electronic to structural correlations. The effect of unfilled $d$ levels is found to produce changes in the nature of the band gap as well as its pressure dependence without structural changes. Thus, whereas Mg, Zn, and Cd, with empty or filled $d$ electron shells, give rise to direct and…

ChemInform Abstract: Experimental and Theoretical Investigations on Structural and Vibrational Properties of Melilite-Type Sr2ZnGe2O7at High Pressure and Delineation of a High-Pressure Monoclinic Phase.

The title compound is characterized by high-pressure powder XRD and Raman scattering measurements up to 22 GPa, and by DFT calculations.

Polymorphism of praseodymium orthovanadate under high pressure

Zircon-type $\mathrm{PrV}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ has been studied at high pressures and room temperature by means of synchrotron powder x-ray diffraction. At room temperature, we observed the previously known zircon-to-monazite phase transition at 5.5(4) GPa and a second phase transition from monazite to a monoclinic structure at 12.7(8) GPa, which we identified as a $\mathrm{PbW}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$-III-type phase. This conclusion is supported by our ab initio calculations, which also predict a scheelite-type phase to be stable at high pressure. Motivated by this finding, we subjected zircon-type $\mathrm{PrV}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ samples to high pressure (7 GPa) and temperature (600, 800, and 1000 \if…

High-pressure polymorphs of gadolinium orthovanadate: X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and ab initio calculations

We present a study of the different high-pressure polymorphs of $\mathrm{GdV}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ and its stability. Powder x-ray diffraction and Raman experiments show a phase transition from a zircon- to a scheelite-type structure taking place at 6.8(4) GPa. Ab initio density functional theory calculations support this conclusion. The equations of state of these two phases are reported. In addition, we studied the pressure evolution of the Raman modes for the zircon and scheelite phases, showing good agreement between calculations and experiments. For the sake of completeness, we performed optical-absorption measurements up to 16 GPa, showing a band-gap collapse at the transition point. Beyo…

Lattice Dynamics Study of HgGa2Se4 at High Pressures

We report on Raman scattering measurements in mercury digallium selenide (HgGa2Se4) up to 25 GPa. We also performed, for the low-pressure defect-chalcopyrite structure, lattice-dynamics ab initio calculations at high pressures which agree with experiments. Measurements evidence that the semiconductor HgGa2Se4 exhibits a pressure-induced phase transition above 19 GPa to a previously undetected structure. This transition is followed by a transformation to a Raman-inactive phase above 23.4 GPa. On downstroke from 25 GPa until 2.5 GPa, a broad Raman spectrum was observed, which has been attributed to a fourth phase, and whose pressure dependence was followed during a second upstroke. Candidate …

High-pressure structural study of the scheelite tungstatesCaWO4andSrWO4

Angle-dispersive x-ray-diffraction and x-ray-absorption near-edge structure measurements have been performed on ${\mathrm{CaWO}}_{4}$ and ${\mathrm{SrWO}}_{4}$ up to pressures of approximately 20 GPa. Both materials display similar behavior in the range of pressures investigated in our experiments. As in the previously reported case of ${\mathrm{CaWO}}_{4}$, under hydrostatic conditions ${\mathrm{SrWO}}_{4}$ undergoes a pressure-induced scheelite-to-fergusonite transition around 10 GPa. Our experimental results are compared to those found in the literature and are further supported by ab initio total-energy calculations, from which we also predict the instability at larger pressures of the …

High-pressure Raman spectroscopy and lattice-dynamics calculations on scintillating MgWO4: Comparison with isomorphic compounds

Research was financed by the Spanish Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia (MEC) under Grants No. MAT2010-21270-C04-01/02/04, and No. CSD-2007-00045. J. R.-F. thanks the MEC for support through the FPI program, as well as the SPP1236 central facility in Frankfurt for its use. F. J. M. acknowledges support from Vicerrectorado de Investigacion y Desarrollo de la Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (UPV) (Grant No. UPV2010-0096). A. M. and P. R.-H. acknowledge the supercomputer time provided by the Red Espanola de Supercomputacion. A. F. appreciates support from the German Research Foundation (Grant No. FR2491/2-1).

Lattice dynamics of zircon-type NdVO4 and scheelite-type PrVO4 under high-pressure

Abstract Zircon-type NdVO4 and scheelite-type PrVO4 have been studied by means of Raman spectroscopy up to approximately 20 GPa. In the first compound, zircon-scheelite and scheelite-fergusonite phase transitions are reported at 6.4(3) and 19.6(4) GPa, respectively. In the case of scheelite-type PrVO4, a reversible phase transition to a PbWO4-III structure is observed at 16.8(5) GPa. In both cases, a scheelite-type structure is recovered in a metastable state at low pressures. The pressure evolution of the Raman modes is also reported. Our experimental findings are supported by ab initio calculations, which allowed us to discuss the role of mechanic and dynamical instabilities in the phase …

Zircon to monazite phase transition in CeVO4: X-ray diffraction and Raman-scattering measurements

X-ray diffraction and Raman-scattering measurements on cerium vanadate have been performed up to 12 and 16 GPa, respectively. Experiments reveal at 5.3 GPa the onset of a pressure-induced irreversible phase transition from the zircon to the monazite structure. Beyond this pressure, diffraction peaks and Raman-active modes of the monazite phase are measured. The zircon-to-monazite transition in CeVO4 is distinctive among the other rare-earth orthovanadates. We also observed softening of external translational T(Eg )a nd internalν2(B2g) bending modes. We attribute it to mechanical instabilities of zircon phase against the pressure-induced distortion. We additionally report lattice-dynamical a…

ChemInform Abstract: Tuning the Band Gap of PbCrO4Through High-Pressure: Evidence of Wide-to-Narrow Semiconductor Transitions.

Commercial polycrystalline and cleaved platelets from natural PbCrO4 are studied in a diamond anvil cell at ≤ 21 GPa.

CCDC 1827597: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

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CSD 2044072: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

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