A high pressure Raman study of TeO2 to 30 GPa and pressure-induced phase changes

The effect of pressure on the Raman modes in TeO₂ (paratellurite) has been investigated to 30GPa, using the diamond cell and argon as pressure medium. The pressure dependence of the Raman modes indicates four pressure-induced phase transitions near 1 GPa, 4.5 GPa, 11 GPa and 22 GPa. Of these the first is the well studied second-order transition fromD ₄ ⁴ symmetry toD ₂ ⁴ symmetry, driven by a soft acoustic shear mode instability. The remarkable similarity in the Raman spectra of phases I to IV suggest that only subtle changes in the structure are involved in these phase transitions. The totally different Raman spectral features of phase V indicate major structural changes at the 22GPa transition. It is suggested that this high pressure-phase is similar to PbCl₂-type, from high pressure crystal chemical considerations. The need for a high pressure X-ray diffraction study on TeO₂ is emphasized, to unravel the structure of the various high pressure phases in the system.     

The structural and optical properties of ZnO bulk and nanocrystals under high pressure

The elastic properties of high-quality ZnO crystals and nanopowder of grain size of about 65 nm are studied for both wurtzite (low pressure) and rock-salt high pressure phases. The measured values of bulk moduli for wurtzite and rock-salt phases of bulk ZnO crystals are equal to 156±13 and 187±20 GPa, respectively, and considerably larger for ZnO nanocrystals. The phase transition begins at a pressure of about 9 GPa and it is completed at a pressure of about 13.8 GPa for bulk crystals, whereas the values of pressure at which the phase transition occurs are lower for nanocrystals. A carefull Rietveld analysis of the obtained data does not exhibit the presence of any intermediate phases between low pressure wurtzite and high pressure rock-salt phases of ZnO. The phase transition is accompanied by a strong decrease in the near-band-gap photoluminescence intensity. In addition, the pressure coefficient of the near-band-gap luminescence in ZnO nanocrystals exhibits strong deviation from the linearity observed in bulk crystals. An analysis of the results shows that defects present in the nanopowdered sample are responsible for the observed effects.     

Strength and equation of state of molybdenum triboride under 80 GPa pressure,using radial X-ray diffraction

The strength and equation of state of molybdenum triboride have been determined under nonhydrostatic compression up to 80?GPa, using an angle-dispersive radial X-ray diffraction technique in a diamond anvil cell (DAC). The RXD data yield a bulk modulus and its pressure derivative as K_0?=?342(6)?GPa with K₀′?=?2.11(17) at ψ?=?54.7°. Analysis of diffraction data using the strain theory indicates that the ratio of differential stress to shear modulus (t/G) ranges from 0.002 to 0.050 at pressures of 4–80?GPa. Together with theoretical results on the high pressure shear modulus, our results here show that molybdenum triboride sample under uniaxial compression can support a differential stress of ～10?GPa when it started to yield with plastic deformation at ～30?GPa. In addition, we draw a conclusion that MoB₃ is not a superhard material but a hard material.     

Magnetic transition of ferromagnetic material at high pressure using a novel system

A system for the investigation of the magnetic properties of materials under high pressure is fabricated based on diamond anvil cell （DAC） technology. The system is designed with an improved coil arranged around the diamond of a non-magnetic DAC. Using this system, the magnetic transition of ferromagnetic （Fe） sample under increasing pressure can be observed. We successfully obtain the evolution of magnetic properties as a function of applied pressure reaching 26.9 GPa in the Fe sample. A magnetic transition is observed at approximately 13 GPa, which is consistent with the theoretical prediction.     

High pressure x-ray diffraction techniques with synchrotron radiation

This article summarizes the developments of experimental techniques for high pressure x-ray diffraction(XRD) in diamond anvil cells(DACs) using synchrotron radiation. Basic principles and experimental methods for various diffraction geometry are described, including powder diffraction, single crystal diffraction, radial diffraction, as well as coupling with laser heating system. Resolution in d-spacing of different diffraction modes is discussed. More recent progress, such as extended application of single crystal diffraction for measurements of multigrain and electron density distribution, timeresolved diffraction with dynamic DAC and development of modulated heating techniques are briefly introduced. The current status of the high pressure beamline at BSRF(Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility) and some results are also presented.     

Structural phase transition in Bi2Te3 under high pressure

Structural change in Bi₂Te₃ under high pressure up to 16.6 GPa has been studied by powder x-ray diffraction. We observed two times of phase transitions at room temperature at the pressures of 8 and 14 GPa, respectively. According to our preliminary result on electrical resistance, it is reasonable to suppose that superconducting transition with T _c =2.8 K at the pressures of 10.2 GPa is observed in phase II. On the other hand, we found anomalies of the pressure dependences of lattice parameters and volume at around 2 GPa, which probably means the change in electrical structure on the Fermi surface.     

高温高压下方解石相转变的拉曼光谱原位实验研究

用热液金刚石压腔装置结合拉曼光谱技术研究了高温高压下方解石的相变过程及拉曼光谱特征。结果表明:常温条件下,体系压力增至1 666和2 127 MPa时,方解石的拉曼特征峰155cm-1消失,1 087cm-1峰分裂为1 083和1 090cm-1两个谱峰、282cm-1峰突然降至231cm-1,证明其转变为方解石-Ⅱ和方解石-Ⅲ。在起始压力为2 761MPa和低于171℃的升温过程中,方解石-Ⅲ的拉曼散射的各个特征振动峰没有变化。当温度达到171℃,方解石晶体完全变成不透明状,其对称伸缩振动峰1 087cm-1、面内弯曲振动峰713cm-1和晶格振动峰155和282cm-1均发生突变,说明方解石-Ⅲ相变生成一种碳酸钙新相。体系降至常温,该新相一直保持稳定不变,表明高温高压下方解石向碳酸钙新相的转变过程是不可逆的。方解石-Ⅲ与碳酸钙新相之间的相变线方程为P(MPa)=9.09.T(℃)+1 880。碳酸钙新相的对称伸缩振动峰(ν1 087)随压力、温度的变化率分别为dν/dP=5.1(cm-1.GPa-1),dν/dT=-0.055 3(cm-1.℃-1)。     

Phase transitions in PbTe under quasi-hydrostatic pressure up to 50 GPa

PbTe has been investigated using synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) in a diamond anvil cell under quasi-hydrostatic pressures up to 50 GPa. Upon compression to 6.6 GPa, the initial NaCl phase transforms to an intermediate phase, which is confirmed to be an orthorhombic structure with a space group Pnma. At 18.4 GPa, the intermediate Pnma phase undergoes a phase transition to the CsCl structure. The systemic analysis of the crystal structures between the NaCl and intermediate phases indicates that the structure of the Pnma phase could be derived from the distortion of the NaCl structure. The bulk modulus of the CsCl phase is B₀=52(2) GPa with V₀=60.8(4) ų and B′₀=4.0 (fixed), slightly larger than the NaCl phase (B₀=44(1) GPa) and the intermediate phase (B₀=49(3) GPa).     

The dehydration kinetics of gypsum at high pressure and high temperature

An in situ dehydration kinetics study of gypsum under water-saturated condition was performed in the temperature and pressure ranges of 383–423?K and 343–1085?MPa by using a hydrothermal diamond anvil cell and Raman spectroscopy. Kinetic analysis shows that the dehydration rate k increases with pressure, suggesting a negative pressure dependence on dehydration rate. The elevation of temperature can contribute to the dehydration. The n values increase with pressure, indicating that the nucleation process becomes slower relative to the growth process. According to the n values of ～1.0, the dehydration of gypsum is dominated by an instantaneous nucleation and diffusion-controlled growth mechanism. The obtained average activation volume ?V is equal to 5.69?cm³/mol and the calculated activation energy E_a and the pre-exponential factor A are 66.9?kJ/mol and 4.66?×?10⁵?s^?1. The activation energy may be dependent upon grain size, shape, temperature and pressure, and surrounding water.     

Laboratory set-up for X-ray diffraction at high pressures

We describe here a simple set-up for X-ray diffraction under high pressure using a diamond anvil cell employing a sealed tube. The set-up works in angular dispersive geometry and is built using rather common components that are available in a research laboratory. We show that using this set-up one can routinely acquire good-quality data for the determination of structural properties under pressure and the equations of state. Technical details are presented along with examples of experimental results for sodium chloride and LiV₂O₄.     

Behaviors of Zn_2GeO_4 under high pressure and high temperature

The structural stability of Zn_2GeO_4 was investigated by in-situ synchrotron radiation angle dispersive x-ray diffraction. The pressure-induced amorphization is observed up to 10 GPa at room temperature. The high-pressure and hightemperature sintering experiments and the Raman spectrum measurement firstly were performed to suggest that the amorphization is caused by insufficient thermal energy and tilting Zn–O–Ge and Ge–O–Ge bond angles with increasing pressure,respectively. The calculated bulk modulus of Zn_2GeO_4 is 117.8 GPa from the pressure-volume data. In general, insights into the mechanical behavior and structure evolution of Zn_2GeO_4 will shed light on the micro-mechanism of the materials variation under high pressure and high temperature.     

Raman study of datolite CaBSiO4(OH) at simultaneously high pressure and high temperature

Using an in situ method of Raman spectroscopy and resistance‐heated diamond anvil cell, the system datolite CaBSiO₄(OH) – water has been investigated at simultaneously high pressure and temperature (up to Р ~5 GPa and Т ~250 °С). Two polymorphic transitions have been observed: (1) pressure‐induced phase transition or the feature in pressure dependence of Raman band wavenumbers at P = 2 GPа and constant T = 22 °С and (2) heating‐induced phase transition at T ~90 °С and P ~5 GPа. The number of Raman bands is retained at the first transition but changed at the second transition. The first transition is mainly distinguished by the changes in the slopes of pressure dependence of Raman peaks at 2 GPa. The second transition is characterized by several strong changes: the wavenumber jumps of major bands, the merging of strong doublets at 378 and 391 cm⁻¹ (values for ambient conditions), the splitting of the intermediate‐intensity band at 292 cm⁻¹, and the transformation of some low‐wavenumber bands at 160–190 cm⁻¹. No spectral and visual signs of overhydration and amorphization have been observed. No noticeable dissolution of datolite in the water medium occurred at 5 GPa and 250 °С after 3 h, which corresponds to typical conditions of the ‘cold’ zones of slab subduction. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

高压电导研究

高压下物质结构和性质会发生很大的改变，电导对于认识压力的作用效应和寻找新的导电材料具有重要意义．高压电导研究所采用的设备主要有金刚石压腔、超高压大腔体装置(大压机)以及高压电导池三种．金刚石压腔可达550GPa压力；超高压大腔体装置压力一般在30GPa以下，可以提供较大体积的样品；高压电导池主要进行流体的电导研究，压力在400MPa以下，有静止和流动两种类型，流动式高压电导池是近年来才发展起来的，其准确方便．文章对目前高压电导的研究进行简单的介绍和分析．     

高压电导研究

高压下物质结构和性质会发生很大的改变,电导对于认识压力的作用效应和寻找新的导电材料具有重要意义.高压电导研究所采用的设备主要有金刚石压腔、超高压大腔体装置（大压机）以及高压电导池三种.金刚石压腔可达550GPa压力;超高压大腔体装置压力一般在30GPa以下,可以提供较大体积的样品;高压电导池主要进行流体的电导研究,压力在400MPa以下,有静止和流动两种类型,流动式高压电导池是近年来才发展起来的,其准确方便.文章对目前高压电导的研究进行简单的介绍和分析.     

Synthesis of Ge-Sn at high pressure and high temperature in a laser-heated diamond anvil cell

Ge–Sn compound is predicted to be a direct band gap semiconductor with a tunable band gap. However, the bulk synthesis of this material by conventional methods at ambient pressure is unsuccessful due to the poor solubility of Sn in Ge. We report the successful synthesis of Ge–Sn in a laser-heated diamond anvil cell (LHDAC) at ~7.6 GPa &; ~2000 K. In situ Raman spectroscopy of the sample showed, apart from the characteristic Raman modes of Ge TO (Г) and β-Sn TO (Г), two additional Raman modes at ~225 cm^?1 (named Ge–Sn₁) and ~133 cm^?1 (named Ge–Sn₂). When the sample was quenched, the Ge–Sn₁ mode remained stable at ~215 cm^?1, whereas the Ge–Sn₂ mode had diminished in intensity. Comparing the Ge–Sn Raman mode at ~225 cm^?1 with the one observed in thin film studies, we interpret that the observed phonon mode may be formed due to Sn-rich Ge–Sn system. The additional Raman mode seen at ~133 cm^?1 suggested the formation of low symmetry phase under high P–T conditions. The results are compared with Ge–Si binary system.     

Diamond cleavage: importance to high pressure research

The extraordinary properties of diamond make it the number-one choice for anvils in high pressure experiments involving anvil cells. In much of the literature on the properties of diamond the only cleavage mentioned is {111}. However, experience has shown that diamond anvils made with their [001] axis oriented in line with the principal stress axis of the anvil or at a small angle to it often failed with flat faces having {110} orientations; a cleavage plane is reported in some publications. Analysis of the anisotropy of strength and Poisson ratio in diamond has shown that such orientations do, indeed, favor initial failure on {110} cleavage planes. This analysis, in conjunction with stereographic projections of the {111} and {110} cleavage planes, suggests that a 27° tilt of the [001] axis with respect to the linear stress axis by rotation around the [100] or [010] axis should provide significantly greater resistance to failure by cleaving.     

Molecular dynamics simulations of phase transition of n-nonadecane under high pressure

The phase transition behavior of n-nonadecane under high pressure was investigated with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations method. A simplified model with amorphous structure and periodic boundary conditions in constant-temperature, constant-pressure ensemble was used in this study. The results showed that the whirling and molecules motion of n-nonadecane chains were restrained by the high pressure. The simulated phase transition temperature of n-nonadecane under high pressure is higher than that under atmospheric pressure. The order parameter of n-nonadecane decreases with the increase in temperature. The simulations reveal that MD is an effective method to understand the phase transition of alkane-based phase change materials on molecular and atomic scale.     

Phase transition of samarium under high pressure

Abstract

The DAC X-ray power photograph method was employed for studing the phase transition of samarium up to 26.3 GPa. The experimental results show that the dhcp and fcc high pressure phase of Sm appeared at about 4.0 and 12.5 GPa and room temperature respectively. The dhcp phase was kept until 19.6 GPa. A model for Sm-type -? dhcp -? fcc phase transition is provided in this paper.     

The baddeleyite-type high pressure phase of Ca(OH)2

Abstract

A phase transition from Ca(OH)₂ I (portlandite) to Ca(OH)₂ II at high pressure and temperature has been confirmed, using in situ x-ray diffraction in a multianvil high pressure device (DIA). The structure was determined at 9.5 GPa and room temperature from data collected after heating the sample at 300°C at 7.2 GPa in a diamond anvil cell. Both the Le Bail fit and preliminary Rietveld refinement suggest that the new phase, which reverts to Ca(OH), I during pressure release, has a structure related to that of baddeleyite (ZrO₁); it is monoclinic (P2₁/c) with a= 4.887(2), b= 5.834(2), c = 5.587(2), β = 99.74(2)°. The coordination number of Ca increases from six to seven (5 + 2) across the transition. At 500°C, the phase boundary is bracketed at 5.7 ± 0.4 GPa by reversal experiments performed in the DIA.