On the formation of photoinduced high pressure phases in sulfur below 10 GPa

Abstract

We investigate the phase transformations in sulfur for pressures up to 10 GPa by time resolved Raman spectroscopy. The transition to the photosensitive phase p-S is stimulated by the blue laser line between 3 and 9 GPa. The kinetics of this transition as derived from the time evolution of the intensities of characteristic Raman excitations shows the typical features of an activated first order phase transition. This transformation proceeds via a disordered (amorphous) intermediate state.

Above 9 GPa a further phase change to S, is kinetically characterized and follows similar rules i.e. the integral intensities of selected S, Raman lines exhibit a sigmoidal time dependence. In both high pressure phases a broad Raman excitation between 800 and 1000 cm^?1 is observed.     

Phase transitions of sulfur at high pressure: Influence of temperature and pressure environment

Abstract

Phase transitions of orthorhombic sulfur were investigated above 10 GPa by Raman spectroscopy using red light excitation. Transitions into several phases that have been reported in previous studies using green light excitation, are confirmed. The phase behaviour is observed to depend strongly on the preparation method. In the presence of a pressure transmitting medium (methanol/ethanol, 4:1), a sequence of phases α-S₈ → [intermediate phase (“ip”) + S₆] → [S₆ + high pressure-low temperature phase (“hplt”)] is described and characterized. Without the use of a pressure transmitting medium, the phase sequence α-S₈ → [“ip” + “hplt”] + “hplt” is observed. In addition, contributions of amorphous sulfur are detected around 10 GPa, i.e. at pressures below the transformation of α-S₈ into the above-mentioned phases. Characteristic Raman spectra of the different phases are extracted and documented over a wide pressure range.     

High pressure raman study of PbMoO4

Abstract

Raman spectra of PbMoO₄ have been measured up to 31 GPa in a diamond anvil cell (DAC). Two new phases were found at 10 and 16 GPa pressures at room temperature.     

Decomposition of binary sulphate KHSO4 at high pressure

Abstract

Pressure induced decomposition (PID) is known to occur only at elevated temperatures. Here we report its first occurrence at ambient temperature in a binary sulphate, KHSO₄ at 4kbar. Raman spectroscopy is used for identifying the decomposition products as K₃H(SO_{2 4}) and H₂SO₄ from their characteristic spectra. One of the decomposition products being a liquid is argued to be the reason for the occurrence of the phenomenon at ambient temperature. Other possible decomposition routes are also examined.     

High pressure studies of sodium and silver halides

Abstract

We have investigated the structural phase transitions in sodium and silver halides theoretically under high compressions by means of first-principles self-consistent total-energy calculations within the local-density approximation using the full-potential linear-muffin-tin-orbital (FPLMTO) method. Our results confirm the recent high pressure experimental observations of crystallographic phase transformations in sodium halides (Leger et al. (1998) J. Phys.: Condens. Matter, 10, 4201) and silver halides (Hull and Keen (1999) Phys. Rev., B59, 750. The calculated transition pressures agree with the experimental data.     

Elemental sulfur under high hydrostatic pressure. An up-to-date Raman study

We report a high pressure Raman study of orthorhombic elemental sulfur from ambient pressure to ～ 25 GPa. Using a near infrared laser and low laser intensity on the scattering volume, we achieve off-resonant conditions up to larger pressures in comparison with previous studies. Raman spectra were recorded over the full spectral range including external (librational, translational) and internal (bond bending and bond stretching) modes. Drastic changes are observed as regards the peak frequencies, relative intensities and band splitting of degenerate modes. The main outcome of the present study is the observation of a “structural” transition at ～ 16 GPa manifested as slope changes of certain frequencies and sudden relative intensities changes. The present findings are discussed in the context of previous pressure Raman studies and comparison with existing X-ray diffraction as well as ab initio molecular dynamics results is attempted.     

High pressure impedance spectroscopy of SrF2 nanocrystals

The charge transport behavior of strontium fluoride nanocrystals has been investigated by in situ impedance measurement up to 41?GPa. It was found that the parameters changed discontinuously at each phase transition. The charge carriers in SrF₂ nanocrystals include both F^? ions and electrons. Pressure makes the electronic transport more difficult. The defects at grains dominate the electronic transport process. Pressure could make the charge–discharge processes in the Fm3m and Pnma phases more difficult.     

High pressure physics research at BARC

Abstract

High pressure physics research at BARC spans a period of more than two decades and covers the area of both static and dynamic pressures on the one hand and both theoretical and experimental aspects on the other. The experimental facilities available include Diamond Anvil Cells for X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy and a light gas gun. Phase transformations investigated in metallic systems includethose in Cd-Hg, transition metals, rare earths and actinides and these investigations have been supported by detailed band structure calculations and studies of the mechanismof phase transformations. Extensive equation of state studies over a wide range of pressures include a new model for the intermediate pressure range between 0.5 and 10 TPa and interpretation of experimental shock Hugoniots.     

High pressure raman study of Y-124

In this work, a micro-Raman study under high hydrostatic pressure (up to ～5.5 GPa) has been carried on YBa₂Cu₄O₈ and Y(Ba, Sr)₂Cu₄O₈ single crystals at room temperature. In both samples, seven strong modes, of A_g symmetry, and one weak, of B_3g symmetry, have been observed and examined in connection with previously published results concerning YBa₂Cu₄O₈. With the Sr substitution for Ba, the ambient pressure measurements show an upward shift in energy for all modes, except those that involve vibrations of the plane and apex oxygen atoms. With increasing hydrostatic pressure all phonons shift to higher energies. Anomalous nonlinear pressure behaviour has been observed for three phonons, which is correlated with the pressure dependence of T _c of these compounds.     

High pressure raman study of Bi-2212

The hydrostatic pressure dependence of the Raman spectra of Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈ single crystals has been investigated. The energy of the A _g and B _1g modes was found to increase with pressure in agreement with previously reported measurements, except the strong mode at ～465 cm^?1, which softens with pressure, while another peak at ～458 cm^?1 appears more pronounced at low temperatures and high pressures. The energy of both modes does not seem to change with increasing pressure, up to ～5 GPa, although the average energy of the wide band has been found to soften, which is in disagreement with previously published results. Based on the modifications observed in some phonons at ～1.8 GPa, which correlate with the reduction of T _c and the deformations of the CuO₅ pyramids, we attribute the mode at ～465 cm^?1 to the vibrations of the apex oxygen atoms. All modes due to the oxygen atoms were found to be strongly anharmonic.     

Behavior of decomposed ammonia borane at high pressure

High pressure behavior of ammonia borane after thermal decomposition was studied by Raman spectroscopy at high pressure up to 10 GPa using diamond anvil cell (DAC). The ammonia borane was decomposed at around 140 °C under the pressure at ∼0.7 GPa. Raman spectra show the hydrogen was desorbed within 1 h. The hydrogen was sealed in DAC well and cooled down to room temperature. Applying higher pressure up to ∼10 GPa indicates interactions between the products and loss of dihydrogen bonding. No rehydrogenation was detected in the pressure range investigated.     

High pressure study of the 2D polymeric phase of C60 by means of raman spectroscopy

Abstract

The effect of high hydrostatic pressure, up to 12GPa, on the intramolecular phonon frequencies and the material stability of the two-dimensional tetragonal Cm polymer has been studied by means of Raman spectroscopy in the spectral range of the radial intramolecular modes (200-800cm^?1). A number of new Raman modes appear in the spectrum for pressures ～ 1.4 and ～ 5.0 GPa. The pressure coefficients for the majority of the phonon modes exhibit changes to lower values at P=4.0 GPa, which may be related to a structural modification of the 2D polymer to a more isotropic phase. The peculiarities observed in the Raman spectra are reversible and the material is stable in the pressure region investigated.     

High pressure behavior of nano-crystalline CeO2 up to 35 GPa: a Raman investigation

The present paper reports the results of in situ Raman studies carried out on nano-crystalline CeO₂ up to a pressure of 35 GPa at room temperature. The material was characterized at ambient conditions using X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy and was found to have a cubic structure. We observed the Raman peak at ambient at 465 cm^?1, which is characteristic of the cubic structure of the material. The sample was pressurized using a diamond anvil cell using ruby fluorescence as the pressure monitor, and the phase evolution was tracked by Raman spectroscopy. With an increase in the applied pressure, the cubic band was seen to steadily shift to higher wavenumbers. However, we observed the appearance of a number of new peaks around a pressure of about 34.7 GPa. CeO₂ was found to undergo a phase transition to an orthorhombic α -PbCl₂-type structure at this pressure. With the release of the applied pressure, the observed peaks steadily shift to lower wavenumbers. On decompression, the high pressure phase existed down to a total release of pressure.     

High pressure phase transitions in organic solids I:α → β transition in resorcinol

An experimental program has been started to study polymorphic phase transitions under pressure in organic solids using the Be gasketing technique developed by us. This allows us to obtain x-ray diffraction patterns of low symmetry organic solids with high resolution, employing CuK _α radiation. The first organic solid studied is α-resorcinol. At 0.5 GPa, it transforms to its high temperature and denser modification, β-resorcinol. The transformation mechanism is discussed with the help of molecular packing calculations.     

A high pressure raman study of ThO2 to 40 GPa and pressure-induced phase transition from fluorite structure

The pressure dependence of the first-order Raman peak and two second-order Raman features of ThO₂ crystallizing in the fluorite-type structure is investigated using a diamond anvil cell, up to 40GPa. A phase transition from the fluorite phase is observed near 30 GPa as evidenced by the appearance of seven new Raman peaks. The high pressure phases of ThO₂ and CeO₂ exhibit similar Raman features and from this it is believed that the two structures are the same, and have the PbCl₂-type structure. The pressure dependence dω/dP of the observed phonons and their mode Grüneisen parameters are similar to the isostructural CeO₂. The observed second-order Raman features are also identified from the calculated phonon dispersion curves for ThO₂.     

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.     

Phonon dispersion and Raman spectra of wurtzite InAs under pressure

The authors have systematically studied the vibrational properties of wurtzite InAs at high pressure within the Density Functional Theory scheme. It is found that pressure significantly affects the phonon dispersion curves and Raman spectra. We observed an indication of phase transition for WZ-InAs at about 10 GPa. The elastic constants calculation show mechanical stability for WZ-InAs. The calculated values of structural parameters are in good agreement with available data. There is a quadratic increase in optical modes with pressure while the LO–TO splitting and effective charge decrease linearly with pressure.     

Vibrational properties of Cs4W11O35 and Rb4W11O35 systems: high pressure and polarized Raman spectra

Cs₄ W₁₁O₃₅ (CW) and Rb₄ W₁₁O₃₅ (RW) belong to the class of hexagonal bronzes whose structure originates from the K_xWO₃ superconductor hexatungstate. Charge‐imbalanced tungsten bronzes are dielectric materials with rich polymorphism, ferroelectric properties and second‐harmonic generation. In this work, we report the polarized Raman spectra results for both CW and RW, as well as results of high‐pressure Raman scattering experiments (0.0–11.0 GPa) for the Cs₄ W₁₁O₃₅ system, in which we have observed two structural phase transitions at ∼4 and 7.5 GPa. We discuss these transformations and polarized Raman spectra on the basis of lattice dynamics calculation in the related system KNbW₂O₉. Polarized Raman spectra provide strong indication that the highest wavenumber modes observed in these systems originate from tungsten or oxygen vacancies. The observation of a soft‐like mode indicates that the observed phase transitions exhibit a displacive‐type behavior, thus further indicating that these transformations are likely related to reorientations of the octahedral units. The soft mode nature is discussed as well. PACS: 77.80.Bh; 78.30.Hv; 78.30.‐j. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Identity of molecular and macroscopic pressure on carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Raman spectroscopy was used to compare the structural effects on single-walled carbon nanotubes of pressures due to the cohesive energy of liquid media with the effects of an externally applied macroscopic pressure. Results were very similar, showing that the interpretation of the cohesive energy density as an internal pressure is physically realistic.     

常温及常压至1.2GPa条件下异辛烷的拉曼光谱研究

利用碳化硅压腔在室温(25℃)下,研究了异辛烷(2,2,4-三甲基戊烷)在常压至1.2GPa条件下的拉曼光谱特征。研究结果表明,异辛烷CH2和CH3的碳氢伸缩振动的拉曼位移随着压力的增大均呈线性向高频方向移动,其拉曼位移与压力的函数关系为:ν2 873=0.002 8P+2 873.3;ν2 905=0.004 8P+2 905.4;ν2 935=0.002 7P+2 935.0;ν2 960=0.012P+2 960.9。在1.0GPa附近,异辛烷的拉曼位移出现突变,与显微镜下观察发生的异辛烷液-固相变一致。结合异辛烷在常压下的熔点数据,获得了异辛烷的液-固两相相图,并根据克拉贝龙方程获得了液-固相转变过程中的摩尔体积变化量ΔVm=4.46×10-6 m3.mol-1和熵变ΔS=-30.32J.K-1.mol-1。