0000000000055783
AUTHOR
Alberto Otero-de-la-roza
Interplay between local structure, vibrational and electronic properties on CuO under pressure
The electronic and local structural properties of CuO under pressure have been investigated by means of X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) at Cu K edge and ab initio calculations, up to 17 GPa. The crystal structure of CuO consists of Cu motifs within CuO4 square planar units and two elongated apical Cu-O bonds. The CuO4 square planar units are stable in the studied pressure range, with Cu-O distances that are approximately constant up to 5 GPa, and then decrease slightly up to 17 GPa. In contrast, the elongated Cu-O apical distances decrease continuously with pressure in the studied range. An anomalous increase of the mean square relative displacement (EXAFS Debye-Waller, s2) of the elong…
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…
Crystal structure of BaCa(CO3)2 alstonite carbonate and its phase stability upon compression
Authors thank the financial support from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MICINN) and the Agencia Estatal de Investigación under projects MALTA Consolider Ingenio 2010 network (MAT2015-71070- REDC) and PGC2018-097520-A-I00 (cofinanced by EU FEDER funds) and from the Generalitat Valenciana under project PROMETEO/2018/123. D.S.-P. and A.O.R. acknowledge the financial support of the Spanish MINECO for RyC-2014-15643 and RyC-2016-20301 Ramón y Cajal grants, respectively. C.P. acknowledges the financial support from the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (MINECO project FIS2017-83295-P). Authors also thank Dr. Nicolescu and the Mineralogy and Meteoritic…
Compressibility and phase stability of iron-rich ankerite
ABSTRACT: The structure of the naturally occurring, iron-rich mineral Ca₁․₀₈(₆)Mg₀.₂₄(₂)Fe₀.₆₄(₄)Mn₀.₆₄(₄)(CO₃)₂ ankerite was studied in a joint experimental and computational study. Synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction measurements up to 20 GPa were complemented by density functional theory calculations. The rhombohedral ankerite structure is stable under compression up to 12 GPa. A third-order Birch-Murnaghan equation of state yields V₀ = 328.2(3) ų, bulk modulus B₀ = 89(4) GPa, and its first-pressure derivative B'₀ = 5.3(8)-values which are in good agreement with those obtained in our calculations for an ideal CaFe(CO₃)₂ ankerite composition. At 12 GPa, the iron-rich ankerite structure …
Phase Stability of Natural Ni0.75Mg0.22Ca0.03CO3 Gaspeite Mineral at High Pressure and Temperature
[EN] Divalent metal carbonates play an important role in Earth's carbon cycle, but the effect of chemical substitution is still poorly known. In this work, we have studied the structural and vibrational properties of natural mineral gaspeite (Ni0.75Mg0.22Ca0.03CO3) under high pressure and temperature using in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy in diamond-anvil cells. These experiments have been complemented by ab initio simulations. Synchrotron high-pressure XRD measurements at room temperature using He as the pressure transmitting medium have shown that the calcite-type structure is stable up to 23.3 GPa. A bulk modulus at zero pressure of B-0 = 105(2) GPa with B-0' …
Experimental and Theoretical Study of SbPO 4 under Compression
SbPO4 is a complex monoclinic layered material characterized by a strong activity of the non-bonding lone electron pair (LEP) of Sb. The strong cation LEP leads to the formation of layers piled up along the a-axis and linked by weak Sb-O electrostatic interactions. In fact, Sb is 4-fold coordination with O similar to what occurs with the P-O coordination, despite the large difference of ionic radii and electronegativity between both elements. Here we report a joint experimental and theoretical study of the structural and vibrational properties of SbPO4 at high pressure. We show that SbPO4 is not only one of the most compressible phosphates but also one of the most compressible compounds of …
Pressure and Temperature Effects on Low-Density Mg3Ca(CO3)4 Huntite Carbonate
Pressure (P)–volume (V)–temperature (T) relations of huntite [Mg3Ca(CO3)4] have been determined in situ up to 5 GPa and 500 °C using a resistive-heated diamond-anvil cell and synchrotron X-ray diff...
Transition path to a dense efficient-packed post-delafossite phase. Crystal structure and evolution of the chemical bonding
We are thankful for the financial support received from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and the Agencia Estatal de Investigación under national projects PGC2018-094417-B-I00 (co-financed by EU FEDER funds), MAT2016-75586-C4-1-P/2-P, FIS2017-83295-P, PID2019-106383GB-C41/C42 and RED2018- 102612-T (MALTA Consolider), and from Generalitat Valenciana under project PROMETEO/2018/123. D.S-P, A.O.R, and J.A.S acknowledge financial support of the Spanish MINECO for the RyC-2014-15643, RyC-2016-20301, and RyC-2015-17482 Ramón y Cajal Grants, respectively.