Phase Transition and EOS of Cinnabar （α-HgS） at High Pressure and High Temperature

Phase relations and equation of state （EOS） of natural cinnabar （α-HgS） are investigated by high-pressure and high-temperature synchrotron x-ray powder diffraction. The unambiguous cinnabar-rocksalt structure phase boundaries are determined to be PI （GPa）=15.54- 0.014T（℃） and Pupper（GPa）= 23.84- 0.014T（℃） at 300-623K. With K1 fixed at 4, we obtain K0 = 37（4） GPa, （aK/aT）p= -0.025（2） GPaK-1, and α0 = 3.79（20） × 10-5 K-1 for the cinnabar phase of α-HgS. The （aK/aT）p and α0 of cinnabar phase are obtained for the first time. A nearly isotropic compression of cinnabar phase is observed by linear regressions.     

Phase Relations and Pressure-Volume-Temperature Equation of State of Galena

The phase relations and pressure volume dependences of galena （PbS） under high pressure and high temperature are investigated by means of in situ observation using resistance heating in a diamond anvil cell and synchrotron radiation. The phase transition from NaCl type to TII type takes place at approximately 2.4 GPa. A fit to the high temperature third-order Bireh-Murnaghan equation of state yields an isothermal bulk modulus Ko = 37（3） GPa, and its pressure derivative K＇0 = 3.6（3）, the temperature derivative of the bulk modulus （ K/ T）p = -0.022（9） GPaK^-1, and the thermal expansion coeffeient α0 = 2.2（5） × 10^-5 K^-1 for TII-type galena. The linear compressibilities j3 along a, b and c directions of TII type is elastically anisotropic （βa = 3.4 × 10^-3 GPa^-1, βb = 1.4× 10^-4 GPa^-1 and βc = 1.6 × 10^-3 GPa^-1）. We obtain the temperature derivative of the bulk modulus （ K/ T）p and thermal expansion coefficient α0 for TlI-type galena for the first time.     

First-principles study of the structural,elastic, and optical properties for Sr0.5Ca0.5TiO3

A detailed theoretical study of the structural, elastic, and optical properties for Sr0.5Ca0.5TiO3 is carried out by first- principles calculations. The band structure exhibits a direct bandgap of 2.08 eV at the F point in the Brillouin zone. The bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young＇s modulus, and Poisson＇s ratio are derived based on the calculated elastic constants. The bulk modulus B = 153 GPa and shear modulus G = 81GPa are in good agreement with available experimental data. Poisson＇s ratio v = 0.275 suggests that Sr0.sCa0.sTiO3 should be classified as being a ductile material. Using the electronic band structure and density of states, we analyze the interband contribution to the optical properties. The real and imaginary parts of the dielectric function, as well as the optical properties such as the optical absorption coefficient, refractive index, extinction coefficient, and energy-loss spectrum are calculated. The static dielectric constant ε1 （0） and the refractive index n（0） are also investigated.     

In-situ high pressure X-ray diffraction studies of orthoferrite SmFeO_3

The high-pressure behaviors of SmFeO3 are investigated by angle-dispersive synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction under a pressure of up to 40.3 GPa at room temperature. The crystal structure of SmFeO3 remains stable at up to the highest pressure. The different pressure coefficients of the normalized axial compressibility are obtained to be βa = 0.60 × 10-3 GPa-1,βb = 0.79 × 10-3 GPa-1, βc = 1.28 × 10-3 GPa- 1, and the bulk modulus （B0） is determined to be 293（3） GPa by fitting the pressure-volume data using the Birch-Murnaghan equation of state. Furthermore, the larger compressibility of the FeO6 octahedra suggests the evolution of the orthorhombic structure towards higher symmetry configuration at high pressures.     

An in situ high-pressure X-ray diffraction experiment on hydroxyapophyllite

The compression behavior of a natural hydroxyapophyllite is investigated up to about 10.01 GPa at 300 K using in situ angle-dispersive X-ray diffraction and a diamond anvil cell at the High Pressure Experiment Station, Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility (BSRF). Over this pressure range, no phase change or disproportionation is observed. The isothermal equation of state is determined for the first time. The values of zero-pressure volume V0 , isothermal bulk modulus K0 , and K0 refined with a third-order Birch-Murnaghan equation of state are V0 = 1276.3±0.9  3 , K0 = 71±3 GPa, and K0 = 8±1. Furthermore, we confirm that the values of linear compressibility β along the a and c directions of hydroxyapophyllite are elastically anisotropic.     

First-Principles Study of Orthorhombic Perovskites MgSiO3 up to 120 GPa and Its Geophysical Implications

High-pressure behaviour of orthorhombic MgSiO3 perovskite crystal is simulated by using the density functional theory and plane-wave pseudopotentials approach up to 120 GPa pressure at zero temperature. The lattice constants and mass density of the MgSiO3 crystal as functions of pressure are computed, and the corresponding bulk modulus and bulk velocity are evaluated. Our theoretical results agree well with the high-pressure experimental data. A thermodynamic method is introduced to correct the temperature effect on the O-K first-principles results of bulk wave velocity, bulk modulus and mass density in lower mantle PIT range. Taking into account the temperature corrections, the corrected mass density, bulk modulus and bulk wave velocity of MgSiO3-perovskite are estimated from the first-principles results to be 2%, 4%, and 1% lower than the preliminary reference Earth model （PREM） profile, respectively, supporting the possibility of a pure perovskite lower mantle model.     

Effects of temperature and pressure on thermodynamic properties of Cd_(0.25)Zn_(0.75)Se alloy

Thermodynamic properties of Cd_(0.25)Zn_(0.75)Se alloy are studied using quasi harmonic model for pressure range of0 GPa–10 GPa and temperature range 0 K–1000 K. The structural optimization is obtained by self-consistent field calculations and full-potential linearized muffin-tin orbital method with GGA + U as an exchange correlation functional where U = 2.3427 eV is Hubbard potential. The effects of temperature and pressure on bulk modulus, Helmholtz free energy,internal energy, entropy, Debye temperature, Grüneisen parameter, thermal expansion coefficient, and heat capacities of the material are observed and discussed. The bulk modulus, Helmholtz free energy, and Debye temperature are found to be decreased on increasing temperature while there is an increasing behavior with rise of the pressure. Whereas the internal energy has increasing trend with the rise in temperature and it almost remains insensitive to pressure. The entropy of the system increases(decreases) with rise of pressure(temperature).     

Investigations of high-pressure and high-temperature behaviors of the newly-discovered willemite-Ⅱ and post-phenacite silicon nitrides

Using the first-principles method of the plane-wave pseudo-potential, the structural properties of the newly-discovered willemite-Ⅱ Si3N4 （wⅡ phase） and post-phenacite Si3N4 （δ phase） are investigated. The α phase is predicted to undergo a first-order α→wⅡ phase transition at 18.6 GPa and 300 K. Within the quasi-harmonic approximation （QHA）, the α→wⅡ phase boundary is also obtained. When the well-known β→γ transition is suppressed by some kinetic reasons, the β→δ phase transformation could be observed in the phase diagram. Besides, the temperature dependences of the cell volume,thermal expansion coefficient, bulk modulus, specific heat, entropy and Debye temperature of the involved phases are determined from the non-equilibrium free energies. The thermal expansion coefficients of wⅡ-Si3N4 show no negative values in a pressure range of 0-30 GPa, which implies that the wⅡ-Si3N4 is mechanically stable. More importantly, the δ-Si3N4 is found to be a negative thermal expansion material. Further experimental investigations may be required to determine the physical properties of wⅡ- and δ-Si3N4 with higher reliability.     

Raman and X-Ray Investigation of Pyrope Garnet （Mg0.76Fe0.14Ca0.10）3Al2Si3O12 under High Pressure

The compressional behavlour of natural pyrope garnet is investigated by using angle-dlspersive synchrotron radiation x-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy in a diamond anvil cell at room temperature. The pressureinduced phase transition does not occur under given pressure. The equation of state of pyrope garnet is determined under pressure up to 25.3 GPa. The bulk modulus KTO is 199 GPa, with its first pressure derivative K′TO fixed to 4. The Raman spectra of pyrope garnet are studied. A new Raman peak nearly at 743 cm^-1 is observed in a bending vibration of the SiO4 tetrahedra frequency range at pressure of about 28 GPa. We suggest that the new Raman peak results from the lattice distortion of the SiO4 tetrahedra. All the Raman frequencies continuously increase with the increasing pressure. The average pressure derivative of the high frequency modes （650-1000 cm^-1） is larger than that of the low frequency （smaller than 650 cm^-1）. Based on these data, the mode Grǖneisen parameters for pyrope are obtained.     

Electronic Structure and Elastic Properties of Ti3AlC from First-Principles Calculations

We perform a first-principles study on the electronic structure and elastic properties of TiaA1C with an antiperovskite structure. The absence of band gap at the Fermi level and the finite value of the density of states at the Fermi energy reveal the metallic behavior of this compound. The elastic constants of Ti3AlC are derived yielding c11 = 356 GPa, c12 = 55 GPa, c44 = 157 GPa. The bulk modulus B, shear modulus G and Young＇s modulus E are determined to be 156, 151 and 342 GPa, respectively. These properties are compared with those of Ti3AlC2 and Ti2AlC with a layered structure in the Ti-Al-C system and FeaAlC with the same antiperovskite structure.     

Optical and FTIR properties of Se93−XZn2Te5InX chalcogenide glasses

In this work, we report the optical properties of bulk Se_93−XZn₂Te₅In_X (X=0, 2, 4, 6 and 10) chalcogenide glasses. Refractive index, extinction coefficient, real dielectric constant (ε′), imaginary dielectric constant (ε″), absorption coefficient (α) and energy band gap were obtained from analysis of common range (250-1100 nm) UV/Visible transmittance spectrum. Besides, transmission percentages were obtained from FTIR spectra in wave number range 4000-400 cm⁻¹.The concentration dependence structural phenomena have been explained with help of average coordination 〈z〉.     

Structural, Electronic Properties and Chemical Bonding of Borate Li4CaB2O6 under High Pressure： an Ab Initio Investigation

We calculate structural, electronic properties and chemical bonding of borate Li4CaB2O6 under high pressure by means of the local density-functional pseudopotential approach. The equilibrium lattice constants, density of states, Mulliken population, bond lengths, bond angles as well as the pressure dependence of the band gap are presented. Analysis of the simulated high pressure band structure suggests that borate Li4CaB2O6 can be used as the semi-conductor optical material. Based on the Mulliken population analysis, it is found that the electron transfer of the Li atom is very different from that of other atoms in the studied range of high pressures. The charge populations of the Li atom decrease with the pressure up to 60 GPa, then increase with the pressure.     

Structural Stability of CaCuMn6O12 under High Pressure and Low Temperature

In situ high pressure energy-dispersive x-ray synchrotron radiation diffraction and resistance experiments are carried out on CaCuMn6O12. Its crystal structure is stable in the measured pressure range. The equation of state of CaCuMn6O12 is obtained from the V/Vo - P relationship （V and Vo are the volumes at pressure P and at atmosphere）. The bulk modulus Bo is calculated based on the Birch-Murnaghan equation. Low temperature x-ray diffraction shows no phase transition occurring down to 160K.     

Neutron powder diffraction study of the Nd(Ba1−xNdx)2Cu3O7+δ solid solution

The Nd(Ba_1−xNd_x)₂Cu₃O_7+δ solid solution, Nd123ss, has been investigated by neutron powder diffraction and Rietveld analysis. It is confirmed that the crystal structure of its Nd-rich limit, Nd(Ba_0.55Nd_0.45)₂Cu₃O_7.33, is satisfactorily described in the space group Bmmm (a=7.7679(3), b=3.8542(1), and c=22.9590(9) Å). The fourfold superstructure with respect to the orthorhombic cell of YBCO is due to ordering between Ba and Nd atoms in the bridging layer. Differences with previous works concern exclusively the distribution of O atoms in the ‘chain’ layer. Our results give strong indications that ordering also occurs for lower Nd contents.     

A Strength Softening Phase Transition Observed in Shocked （Mg0.92,Fe0.08）SiO3 Perovskite at About 83 GPa

We report the experimental data of Hugoniot longitudinal sound velocity VL for natural （Mg0.92,Fe0.08）SiO3 enstatite sample at about 40-140 GPa, consisting of three new data and five previously reported data but revised by our new Hugoniot equation of state parameters. Three segments, separated by two discontinuities, appear in the VL-PH （shock pressure） plot. Analyses show that the first discontinuity at about 64 GPa, with a sharp increase of VL of about 21%, is judged to be a phase transition from enstatite to Pbnm perovskite （PV）; while the second one at about 83 GPa, with a dramatic decrease of VL of about 23%, is likely caused by a subtle structural change from Pbnm PV to tetragonal PV, accompanied by material strength softening due to melting of oxygen sublattices. This strength softening evidence is obtained first from shock wave experiments, and probably has profound implications for probing into the origin of low seismic velocity anomaly in the Earth＇s lower mantle and thus constraining the geophysical and geochemical models for the Earth＇s lower mantle.     

Effects of excess oxygen content on the hole-carrying CuO2-layers in Tl2(Ba1−xSrx)2Ca2Cu3Oy superconducting oxides

The effects of oxygen doping on the hole-carrying CuO₂-layers in Tl₂(Ba_1−xSr_x)₂Ca₂Cu₃O_y were studied by combined chemical and valence analysis, T_c measurements and neutron diffraction. The highest T_c is characterized by an optimal excess oxygen content, Δy, dichotomizing the under- and over-doped regions for each Sr concentration. While the average Tl valence is close to 3.0 and independent of Δy, the average Cu valence shows a linear dependence with Δy. An increase of the flatness of the CuO₂ plane, characterized by the O(2)-Cu(2)-O(2) bond angle of ∼176°, was observed at the optimal Δy.     

Textural changes during CO2 activation of chars: A fractal approach

In this paper two series of active carbons obtained at different flow rates of the activating agent, CO₂, are characterized in order to establish the different mechanisms of pore development during the activation step. This study complements previous works on textural development during the different steps in the process of obtaining active carbons: coal oxidation, coal pyrolysis and char gasification. As the characteristics of the original and intermediate materials are of capital importance in the pore development of active carbons, the properties of the active carbons, precursor chars and coals were considered and analyzed together. Mercury porosimetry and helium picnometry were used to determine classical textural parameters as well as to perform a more detailed study of the pore volume generation during the different conditions of the activation step. Data obtained from the mercury porosimetry determinations was also employed for fractal determinations according to the methodologies proposed by Friesen and Mikula, Zhang and Li and the procedure of Neimark. Average surface fractal dimensions as well as fractal profiles and local surface fractal dimensions were calculated. The use of different flow rates during the activation step produces changes not only in the ordinary textural parameters but also in the fractal characteristics of the active carbons. Activation at higher flow rates leads to smoother fractal profiles and also to lower values of the average surface fractal dimensions of the active carbons.     

First-principles study of the pressure-induced phase transition in CaTiO3

An investigation into the phase stabilities of CaTiO₃ under high pressure was conducted using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. We have identified three candidate structures of CaTiO₃, Pbnm, Pm3m and Cmcm, respectively. Our results demonstrate that a phase transition from orthorhombic (Pbnm) to cubic (Pm3m) is impossible for CaTiO₃ under high pressure at ambient temperature, and further predict that Pbnm-CaTiO₃ will transform to post-perovskite phase (Cmcm) at enough temperature and pressure.