High pressure Raman spectroscopic study of spinel MgCr2O4

An in situ Raman spectroscopic study was conducted to investigate the pressure induced phase transformation of MgCr₂O₄ spinel up to pressures of 76.4 GPa. Results indicate that MgCr₂O₄ spinel undergoes a phase transformation to the CaFe₂O₄ (or CaTi₂O₄) structure at 14.2 GPa, and this transition is complete at 30.1 GPa. The coexistence of two phases over a wide range of pressure implies a sluggish transition mechanism. No evidence was observed to support the pressure-induced dissociation of MgCr₂O₄ at 5.7-18.8 GPa, predicted by the theoretical simulation. This high pressure MgCr₂O₄ polymorphism remains stable upon release of pressure, but at ambient conditions, it transforms to the spinel phase.     

High pressure Raman spectroscopy of spinel-type ferrite ZnFe2O4

An in-situ Raman spectroscopic study was conducted to explore the pressure induced phase transformation of spinel-type ferrite ZnFe₂O₄. Results indicate that ferrite ZnFe₂O₄ initially transforms to an orthorhombic structure phase (CaFe₂O₄-polymorph) at a pressure of 24.6 GPa. Such a phase transformation is complete at 34.2 GPa, and continuously remains stable to the peak pressure of 61.9 GPa. The coexistence of the two phases over a wide range of pressure implies a sluggish mechanism upon the spinel-to-orthorhombic phase transition. Upon release of pressure, the high pressure ZnFe₂O₄ polymorph is quenchable at ambient conditions.     

High pressure structural investigations on hexagonal YInO3

Hexagonal (space group P6₃cm) form of YInO₃ has been investigated under high pressure using synchrotron-based angle-dispersive X-ray diffraction and Raman scattering methods. Our experimental investigations suggest that it undergoes the phase transition to a new phase in the pressure range 12–15?GPa, while the ambient hexagonal phase is found to coexist with the new phase up to 29?GPa. DFT based calculations within the LDA approach on the hexagonal phase of YInO₃ showed that the unit cell volume matches well with the experimentally obtained volume at ambient pressure. As the pressure increases, theoretically obtained values of unit cell volume of the hexagonal phase were found to be significantly lower than that of experimentally obtained values. This discrepancy has been corrected using LDA?+?U_In(4d) (Hubbard interaction parameter between Indium 4d electrons) method. We have proposed the high pressure phase of YInO₃ to be orthorhombic with space group Pnma.     

Vibrational studies of hexagonal bronze systems: phonon calculation and high pressure induced phase transformation

Hexagonal bronzes and valence‐balanced hexatungstates (VBHT) have attracted great attention for presenting rich polymorphism and displaying superconductor or ferroelectric properties. In the present work, structural and vibrational properties of RbBi_1/3W_8/3O₉ (RBW) crystal (VBHT type) were investigated by high‐pressure Raman scattering experiments. The results suggest the existence of a reversible pressure‐induced structural phase transition at about 4 GPa. This transformation is most likely related to rotations of octahedral units along the c‐axis with no abrupt changes of apical O W O bonds length. In order to get further understanding of RBW vibrational properties, we performed phonon calculations, by using classical lattice dynamics, in the related hexagonal structure of the K_0.26WO₆ system. These calculations revealed that most of vibrational properties of K_0.26WO₆ are governed by tubular ‘like’ vibrations of the hexagonal cavity, which resemble similar vibrations of tubular nanostructures. The pressure dependence of Raman modes is understood in terms of calculated phonon eigenvectors at ambient pressure. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fe3O4/β-CD的高压电学性质研究

 高压下的电学性质测量是获得材料物理性质的有效手段。利用集成在金刚石对顶砧上的薄膜微电路,测量了高压下Fe₃O₄/β-CD（β-糊精）的电导率,并分析了电导率随压力的变化关系。在0～39.9 GPa范围内,Fe₃O₄/β-CD的电导率随压力的增加而逐渐增大,并呈半导体的特征;而在17.0 GPa处其电导率发生突变,表明样品发生了高压相变。在卸压过程中,电导率随压力的变化呈线性关系,并且卸压后样品的电导率不能回到最初的状态,推测这是一个不可逆的高压结构相变。     

High pressure luminescence study of Sm3+: K–Ba–Al fluorophosphate glass

The luminescence spectra and decay curves for the ⁴G_5/2 level of Sm³⁺ ions in 55.95P₂O₅+14K₂O+6KF+14.95BaO+9Al₂O₃+0.1Sm₂O₃ glass, referred to as PKFBASm01, have been studied as a function of pressure up to 40.5 GPa at room temperature. With the increase in pressure, a continuous red shift of the ⁴G_5/2→⁶H_{9/2, 7/2, 5/2} transitions and a progressive increase in the magnitude of the crystal-field splittings for these transitions are observed. The decay curves for the ⁴G_5/2 level of the Sm³⁺ ions in PKFBASm01 glass are found to exhibit single exponential behavior at ambient pressure and become non-exponential at higher pressures, accompanied by shortening of lifetimes. A generalized Yokoto–Tanimoto model has been used to explain the pressure-induced non-exponential nature of the decay curves.     

SrB4O7:Sm2+: an optical sensor reflecting non-hydrostatic pressure at high-temperature and/or high pressure in a diamond anvil cell

A systematic investigation on the fluorescent spectra of SrB₄O₇:Sm²⁺ was performed in detail at high-temperature up to 623?K and/or high pressure up to 23.2?GPa with different pressure-transmitting media (PTMs), respectively. Combined with experiment data of previous research, the change of the ⁷D₀–⁵F₀ line (0–0 line) full width at half maximum (FWHM) of SrB₄O₇:Sm²⁺ under different pressure environments was specifically discussed. The results indicate that the FWHM of 0–0 line is sensitive to the non-hydrostatic pressure environment in 2-propanol, and methanol and ethanol mixture (ME) PTMs at ambient temperature. The first-order and the second-order derivation of the temperature dependence of 0–0 line FWHM at ambient pressure are 1.48(±0.21)?×?10^?4?nm/K and 9.63(±0.63)?×?10^?7?nm²/K² below 623?K. The 0–0 line FWHM is also sensitive to the non-hydrostatic pressure environment in ME at high-temperature and high pressure simultaneous, the non-hydrostatic transition pressures are 9.6?GPa at 323?K, 11.0?GPa at 373?K, 14.4?GPa at 423?K, respectively. SrB₄O₇:Sm²⁺ is recommended as an optical sensor to reflect the change of pressure environment in liquid media at high-temperature and/or high pressure.     

Pressure‐induced anomalous phase transformation in nano‐crystalline dysprosium sesquioxide

The phase transformation in nano‐crystalline dysprosium sesquioxide (Dy₂O₃) under high pressures is investigated using in situ Raman spectroscopy. The material at ambient was found to be cubic in structure using X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy, while atomic force microscope (AFM) showed the nano‐crystalline nature of the material which was further confirmed using XRD. Under ambient conditions the Raman spectrum showed a predominant cubic phase peak at 374 cm⁻¹, identified as F_g mode. With increase in the applied pressure this band steadily shifts to higher wavenumbers. However, around a pressure of about 14.6 GPa, another broad band is seen to be developing around 530 cm⁻¹ which splits into two distinct peaks as the pressure is further increased. In addition, the cubic phase peak also starts losing intensity significantly, and above a pressure of 17.81 GPa this peak almost completely disappears and is replaced by two strong peaks at about 517 and 553 cm⁻¹. These peaks have been identified as occurring due to the development of hexagonal phase at the expense of cubic phase. Further increase in pressure up to about 25.5 GPa does not lead to any new peaks apart from slight shifting of the hexagonal phase peaks to higher wavenumbers. With release of the applied pressure, these peaks shift to lower wavenumbers and lose their doublet nature. However, the starting cubic phase is not recovered at total release but rather ends up in monoclinic structure. The factors contributing to this anomalous phase evolution would be discussed in detail. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The impact of the third O2 addition reaction network on ignition delay times of neo-pentane

We studied the oxidation of neo-pentane by combining experiments, theoretical calculations, and mechanistic developments to elucidate the impact of the 3rd O₂ addition reaction network on ignition delay time predictions. The experiments are based on photoionization mass spectrometry in jet-stirred and time-resolved flow reactors allowing for sensitive detection of the keto-hydroperoxide (KHP) and keto-dihydroperoxide (KDHP) intermediates. With neo-pentane exhibiting a unique symmetric molecular structure, which consequently results only in single KHP and KDHP isomers, theoretical calculations of ionization and fragment appearance energies and of absolute photoionization cross sections enabled the unambiguous identification and quantification of the KHP intermediate. Its temperature and time-resolved profiles together with calculated and experimentally observed KHP-to-KDHP signal ratios were compared to simulation results based on a newly developed mechanism that describes the 3rd O₂ addition reaction network. A satisfactory agreement has been observed between the experimental data points and the simulation results, thus adding confidence to the model's overall performance. Finally, this mechanism was used to predict ignition delay times reported previously in shock tube and rapid compression machine experiments (J. Bugler et al., Combust. Flame 163 (2016) 138–156). While the model accurately reproduces the experimental data, simulations with and without the 3rd O₂ addition reaction network included reveal only a negligible effect on the predicted ignition delay times at 10 and 20 atm. According to model calculations, low temperatures and high pressures promote the importance of the 3rd O₂ addition reactions.     

Hexagonal to cubic phase transition in YH3 under high pressure

X-ray diffraction studies on bulk yttrium trihydride, in a diamond anvil cell, have been carried out up to 25 GPa. Pressure induced hexagonal-to-cubic phase transformation in YH₃ has been found at pressure of about 8 GPa. The lattice parameter of the new cubic phase was determined as equal to 5.28 Å. This finding confirms the theoretical predictions based on first principle calculations of such a transformation. Equations of state have been determined for both the hexagonal hcp and cubic fcc YH₃ phases. As compared to the pure yttrium metal, bulk modulus for YH₃ is about four times bigger. The similarity of this transition to that observed in the other 4-f trivalent hydrides has been discussed.     

Structural and elastic properties of Ce2O3 under pressure from LDA+U method

We investigate the structural and elastic properties of hexagonal Ce₂O₃ under pressure using LDA+U scheme in the frame of density functional theory (DFT). The obtained lattice constants and bulk modulus agree well with the available experimental and other theoretical data. The pressure dependences of normalized lattice parameters a/a ₀ and c/c ₀, ratio c/a, and normalized primitive volume V/V ₀ of Ce₂O₃ are obtained. Moreover, the pressure dependences of elastic properties and three anisotropies of elastic waves of Ce₂O₃ are investigated for the first time. We find that the negative value of C ₄₄ is indicative of the structural instability of the hexagonal structure Ce₂O₃ at zero temperature and 30 GPa. Finally, the density of states (DOS) of Ce₂O₃ under pressure is investigated.     

Optical spectrum and local lattice structure for ruby

We perform ab initio calculations using a pseudo-potential plane-wave method based on density functional theory, within the local density approximation and generalized gradient approximation, in order to determine and predict the pressure dependence of structural and elastic properties of spinel compounds: MgAl₂O₄, MgGa₂O₄ and MgIn₂O₄. The results are in agreement with the available experimental data and other theoretical calculations.     

Effect of pressure on luminescence properties of Sm3+ ions in potassium niobate tellurite glass

Emission spectra and decay properties of the ⁴G_5/2 level of Sm³⁺ ions in TeO₂+K₂O+Nb₂O₅ glass have been measured as a function of pressure upto 14.6 GPa at room temperature. A progressive red shift in the barycentres of ⁴G_5/2→⁶H_J (J=9/2, 7/2 and 5/2) emission bands and increase in splitting of these bands have been observed with increasing pressure. The luminescence decay profile of the ⁴G_5/2 level at ambient condition shows a nearly single exponential nature and with increase in pressure it becomes gradually non-exponential associated with a decrease in lifetime. The non-exponential decay curves are well-fitted to the Inokuti–Hirayama model for S=6, indicating that the interaction for cross-relaxation energy transfer between Sm³⁺ ions is of dipole–dipole type. The results obtained after release of pressure reveal that there is a small hysteresis.     

In situ Raman spectroscopy of phase transformation in CrOx-Y2O3 system at elevated temperatures

A CrO_x-Y₂O₃ sample was prepared by a deposition-precipitation method and phase transformation of the sample under N₂ and air atmospheres was characterized by in situ Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. It was found that when the CrO_x-Y₂O₃ sample was heated, CrO₃ transformed to YCrO₄ and then to YCrO₃ and Cr₂O₃. Also, the transformation started from the surface region of the sample and then extended to the bulk, due to the fact that the phase transformation was detected by Raman spectroscopy at lower temperature compared to that by XRD. In addition, both atmosphere and temperature had influence on the phase transformation in the surface region, while the phase transformation in the bulk was merely dependent on the temperature. It was also found that low oxidation state Cr(III) species on the surface could be re-oxidized to high oxidation state Cr(V) or Cr(VI) species when the thermal treated sample was exposed to ambient air.     

New polymorphs of alumina: Part II μ and λ alumina

Abstract

We had reported observation of polymorphs of alumina having rare earth sesquioxide type structures in xerogel γ alumina (XGA) at high pressures and temperatures (High Pressure Research, 1998). In this paper we report observation of two additional phases at somewhat different pressures and temperatures. The XGA quenched from 5.2 GPa and 1450°C showed, besides α Al₂O₃, a new hexagonal metastable polymorph μAl₂O₃. Over a period of 10 to 12 weeks μ A1₂O₃ transforms to a stable hexagonal phase λ Al₂O₃. The cell parameters of λ Al₂O₃ are comparable with those of k Al₂O₃ found by Saalfield on dehydration of gibbsite A1₂O₃3H₂O in air at 800°C. The XGA containing 1 wt% of Cr₂O₃ yielded similar results at 4.56GPa and 1100°C. Further the XGA containing Cr showed complete transformation to n Al₂O₃ at 5.2 GPa and 1520°C.     

Identification of homogeneous chemical kinetic regimes of methane-air ignition

Sensitivity analysis results for ignition delay time (IDT) may be very different depending on the initial temperature, pressure and equivalence ratio φ, but similar in some regions of these variables. This phenomenon was investigated systematically by carrying out ignition simulations and local sensitivity calculations of methane−air mixtures using the Aramco-II-2016 mechanism at 14,417 combinations of initial temperature (changed between 500 and 3000 K), initial pressure (0.05−500 atm) and φ (0.05−8.0) values. The cluster analysis of the sensitivity vectors identified five large kinetically homogeneous regions. Each region has well defined borders in the (T, p φ) space and can be characterized by different sets of important reactions. The related kinetic scheme is very different in each region. Regions 1 and 2 are dominated by catalytic cycles based on species CH₃O₂/CH₃O₂H and HO₂/H₂O₂/CH₃O, respectively. In regions 3, 4, and 5 the H atoms are converted to CH₃ in an identical chain branching sequence, but the back conversion is via three different routes. Literature experimental data on the IDTs of methane−air mixtures were sorted according to these five regions. Regions 1 to 5 contain 214, 328, 3, 0, and 237 experimental data points, respectively. In regions 1, 2 and 5 the data points are well reproduced by the Aramco-II-2016 mechanism, but little or no experimental information is available about kinetic regions 3 and 4. Further experimental exploration of the ignition of methane−air mixtures may aim the study of these regions. A similar approach can be used for the characterization of other combustion systems and sorting the related experimental data.     

In situ X-ray observation of phase transformation in Fe2O3 at high pressures and high temperatures

A laser-heated sample in a diamond anvil cell and synchrotron X-ray radiation was used to carry out structural characterization of the phase transformation of Fe₂O₃ at high pressures (30-96 GPa) and high temperature. The Rh₂O₃(II) (or orthorhombic perovskite) structure transforms to a new phase, which exhibits X-ray diffraction data that are indicative of a CaIrO₃-type structure. The CaIrO₃-type structure exhibited an orthorhombic symmetry (space group: Cmcm) that was stable at temperatures of 1200-2800 K and pressure of 96 GPa (the highest pressure used). Unambiguous assignment of such a structure requires experimental evidence for the presence of two Fe species. Based on the equation of state of gold, the phase boundary of the CaIrO₃-type phase transformation was P (GPa)=59+0.0022×(T−1200) (K).     

Spectroscopic properties of Sm3+ ions in lead fluorophosphate glasses

The Sm³⁺-doped lead fluorophosphate glasses of composition 44P₂O₅–17K₂O–9Al₂O₃–(24?x)PbF₂–6Na₂O–xSm₂O₃, where x=0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mol%, have been prepared by conventional melt quenching technique and are characterized through differential thermal analysis, Raman, absorption and emission spectra and decay rate measurements. Free-ion Hamiltonian model for energy level analysis and Judd–Ofelt theory for spectral intensities have been used to analyze the spectroscopic properties of Sm³⁺ ions in lead fluorophosphate glasses. The decay rates for the ⁴G_5/2 level of Sm³⁺ ions have been measured and are found to be single exponential at lower concentration (≤0.1 mol% Sm₂O₃) and turn into non-exponential at higher concentrations (≥0.5 mol% Sm₂O₃) due to energy transfer through cross-relaxation. The experimental lifetimes for ⁴G_5/2 level of Sm³⁺ ions are found to decrease from 2.54 to 0.92 ms when the concentration increased from 0.01 to 2.0 mol% Sm₂O₃ due to energy transfer. In order to know the nature of the energy transfer mechanism, the non-exponential decay rates are well fitted to Inokuti–Hirayama model for S=6, which indicates that the energy transfer process is of dipole–dipole type.     

First principles study of structural,magnetic and electronic properties of half-metallic CrO<Subscript>2</Subscript> under pressure

A first-principles tight-binding linear muffin tin orbital (TB-LMTO) method within the local-density approximation is used to calculate the total energy, lattice parameter, bulk modulus, magnetic moment, density of states and energy band structures of half-metallic CrO₂ at ambient as well as at high pressure. The magnetic and structural stabilities are determined from the total energy calculations. From the present study we predict a magnetic transition from ferromagnetic (FM) state to a non-magnetic (NM) state at 65 GPa, which is of second order in nature. We also observe from our calculations that CrO₂ is more stable in tetragonal phase (rutile-type) at ambient conditions and undergoes a transition to an orthorhombic structure (CaCl₂-type) at 9.6 GPa, which is in good agreement with the experimental results. We predict a second structural phase transition from CaCl₂- to fluorite-type structure at 89.6 GPa with a volume collapse of 7.3%, which is yet to be confirmed experimentally. Interestingly, CrO₂ shows half metallicity under ambient conditions. After the first structural phase transition from tetragonal to orthorhombic, half metallicity has been retained in CrO₂ and it vanishes at a pressure of 41.6 GPa. Ferromagnetism is quenched at a pressure of 65 GPa.     

Structure changes in vacancy-rich titanium monoxide at high pressures and high temperatures

Abstract

Powdered samples of TiO_0.82, TiO_1.04 and TiO_1.25 having the cubic rocksalt-type structure with high concentration of vacancies randomly distributed were held at combined conditions of high pressure, ranging from 1 GPa to 8 GPa, and high temperature, ranging from 973 K to 1173 K, and structural changes occurring were investigated by synchrotron radiation diffraction at the conditions and by conventional X-ray diffraction after the samples were brought back to ambient condition. Pressure has been shown to suppress formation of ordered arrangements of vacancies in all the samples and lead to precipitation of a hexagonal δ-Ti₃O₂ in TiO_0.82 and TiO_1.04 and precipitation of a corundum-type Ti₂O₃ in TiO_1.25. Irreversible change in the lattice parameter of the remaining rocksalt-type structure has been observed which is due to partial annihilation of vacancies under pressure.