Structural transformations in a single‐crystal Rb2NaYF6: Raman scattering study

This paper reports Raman spectroscopy investigation of phase transitions in Rb₂NaYF₆ crystal. The experimental spectra were compared with the calculated one. The spectra were obtained in temperature range from 8 to 300 K. The Raman spectra shows anomalous temperature‐dependent behavior at T₁ = 154 and T₂ = 122 K. Soft mode restoration has been found, which allows us to attribute first transition at 154 K to displacive type. Detailed analysis temperature dependencies of the line positions and widths have been performed. We found no effects of possible lattice disorder anywhere, except narrow (about 20 K) range above the T₁ temperature. The Raman spectra of Rb₂NaYF₆ crystal have been obtained and analyzed under hydrostatic pressure up to 4.33 GPa (at T = 295 K). The high pressure experiment up to 4.33 GPa did not disclose any effects associated with phase transitions. The lattice vibration spectra were calculated up to 10 GPa. The calculation has been demonstrated that the Rb₂NaYF₆ does not undergo high pressure phase transition. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural aspects of the antiferroelectric-paraelectric phase transition in double perovskite Pb2MgWO6 at high pressures and temperatures

The crystal structure of antiferroelectric Pb₂MgWO₆ has been studied using neutron diffraction at high pressures to 5.4 GPa at room temperature and energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction at high pressures to 4 GPa in the temperature range 300–400 K. At normal conditions, in Pb₂MgWO₆, there is an antiferroelectric phase with the crystal structure described by the orthorhombic symmetry with space group Pnma. At temperature T = 313 K and normal pressure or at room temperature and pressure P ～ 0.9 GPa, the crystal under-goes a structural phase transition to the cubic phase with space group $Fm\bar 3m$ (paraelectric phase). The temperature and pressure dependences of the lattice parameters, unit cell volume, and interatomic bond lengths have been obtained, and the thermal expansion coefficients and the bulk moduli have been calculated for the antiferroelectric and paraelectric phases of Pb₂MgWO₆.     

Raman spectroscopic study of the phase transitions induced by hydrostatic pressure in a Rb2KScF6 crystal

The Raman spectra of Rb₂KScF₆ elpasolite crystals are studied in the pressure range up to 7 GPa. A phase transition is revealed at a pressure of approximately 1 GPa. Analysis of the changes in the spectral parameters shows that the phase transition is accompanied by a doubling of the volume of the primitive cell in the initial cubic phase. Judging from the character of the variations in the pressure dependences of the frequency of the observed vibrations, there can exist another transition to the phase with a lower symmetry at a pressure of approximately 2.1 GPa.     

Ferroelastic phase transition in elpasolite Tl2KInF6

A new elpasolite Tl₂KInF₆ has been synthesized. This compound undergoes at 228 K a ferroelastic phase transition from a room-temperature Fm3m variety to a monoclinic variety. X-ray, optical, calorimetric and DTA studies under hydrostatic pressure have been performed and compared with other elpasolite-type fluorides.     

Spectroscopic investigation of pressure-induced phase transitions in TCNQ complex salts

In most of the TCNQ complex salts, conduction electrons are localized on specific TCNQ sites, so that these salts show nonmetalic behavior. The caesium salt, Cs₂(TCNQ)₃, is one of the 2:3 complex salts. In the crystal, TCNQ molecules form trimeric units, which consist of two TCNQ radical anion sandwiching a neutral TCNQ along the column. The rubidium salt, Rb₂(TCNQ)₃, also has a similar crystal structure to Cs₂(TCNQ)₃. We measured infrared absorption (IR) and Raman spectra for these salts under high pressure by using a diamond anvil cell. In the case of IR spectra, Cs₂(TCNQ)₃ showed a spectral change probably due to a pressure-induced phase transition. Similar feature was not clearly observed in the Rb₂(TCNQ)₃. On the other hand, the Raman spectra, Cs₂(TCNQ)₃ showed two phase transition at 2.5 and 4.1 GPa in the compression stage. The change from localization phase to delocalization phase occurred at latter transition with large hysteresis. Similar phase transition occurred at 3.2 GPa in the Rb₂(TCNQ)₃. The reason for the difference in transition pressure is that the ion radius of Rb⁺ is smaller than that of Cs⁺, because a small ion radius of the counter ion probably favors the charge localization-delocalization transition of the TCNQ column.     

Pressure-induced superconductivity and structural transitions in Ba(Fe<Subscript>0.9</Subscript>Ru<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>As<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Electrical transport and structural characterizations of isoelectronically substituted Ba(Fe_0.9Ru_0.1)₂As₂ have been performed as a function of pressure up to ～ 30 GPa and temperature down to ～ 10 K using designer diamond anvil cell. Similar to undoped members of the AFe₂As₂ (A = Ca, Sr, Ba) family, Ba(Fe_0.9Ru_0.1)₂As₂ shows anomalous a-lattice parameter expansion with increasing pressure and a concurrent ThCr₂Si₂ type isostructural (I4/mmm) phase transition from tetragonal (T) phase to a collapsed tetragonal (cT) phase occurring between 12 and 17 GPa where the a is maximum. Above 17 GPa, the material remains in the cT phase up to 30 GPa at 200 K. The resistance measurements show evidence of pressure-induced zero resistance that may be indicative of high-temperature superconductivity for pressures above 3.9 GPa. The onset of the resistive transition temperature decreases gradually with increasing pressure before completely disappearing for pressures above ～ 10.6 GPa near the T-cT transition. We have determined the crystal structure of the high-T _c phase of Ru-doped BaFe₂As₂ to remain as tetragonal (I4/mmm) by analyzing the X-ray diffraction pattern obtained at 10 K and 9.7 ± 0.7 GPa, as opposed to inferring the structural transition from electrical resistance measurement, as in a previous report [S.K. Kim, M.S. Torikachvili, E. Colombier, A. Thaler, S.L. Bud’ko, P.C. Canfield, Phys. Rev. B 84, 134525 (2011)].     

Structural stability of tin clathrates under high pressure

High pressure Raman scattering experiments have been performed for Rb₈Sn₄₄□₂ in order to investigate the pressure induced phase transition. At pressures of 6.0 and 7.5 GPa, Raman spectrum was drastically changed, indicating the phase transitions. The irreversibility of the spectral change and the disappearance of Raman peak observed at 7.5 GPa strongly suggest the occurrence of irreversible amorphization.     

Structural studies of the P-T phase diagram of sodium niobate

The crystal structure of sodium niobate (NaNbO₃) has been investigated by energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction at high pressures (up to 4.3 GPa) in the temperature range 300–1050 K. At normal conditions, NaNbO₃ has an orthorhombic structure with Pbcm symmetry (antiferroelectric P phase). Upon heating, sodium niobate undergoes a series of consecutive transitions between structural modulated phases P-R-S-T(1)-T(2)-U; these transitions manifest themselves as anomalies in the temperature dependences of the positions and widths of diffraction peaks. Application of high pressure leads to a decrease in the temperatures of the structural transitions to the R, S, T(1), T(2), and U phases with different baric coefficients. A phase diagram for sodium niobate has been build in the pressure range 0–4.3 GPa and the temperature range 300–1050 K. The dependences of the unit-cell parameters and volume on pressure and temperature have been obtained. The bulk modulus and the volume coefficients of thermal expansion have been calculated for different structural modulated phases of sodium niobate. A phase transition (presumably, from the antiferroelectric orthorhombic P phase to the ferroelectric rhombohedral N phase) has been observed at high pressure (P = 1.6 GPa) and room temperature.     

Raman scattering study of temperature and hydrostatic pressure phase transitions in Rb2KTiOF5 crystal

Raman spectra of Rb₂KTiOF₅ crystal were obtained and analyzed in the temperature range from 77 to 297 K and under hydrostatic pressure up to 4.2 GPa (at T = 295 K). The experimental results were compared with quantum‐chemical simulation of TiOF₅ pseudo‐octahedron. To interpret effects of lattice ordering, phonon spectra of several ordered phases of Rb₂KTiOF₅ were calculated within ab initio generalized Gordon–Kim model, and ordering of TiOF₅ molecular groups were simulated within Monte Carlo approach. The spectra exhibited orientation disordering in the cubic phase under ambient conditions. Cooling below the phase transition temperature (215 K) leads to partial ordering of the structure. The isotropic perovskite‐like phase was found to undergo first‐order transition into a low‐symmetry anisotropic phase at about 1 GPa. Further compression up to 4.1 GPa did not show any effects associated with phase transitions. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural and magnetic phase transitions occurring in Pr0.7Sr0.3MnO3 manganite at high pressures

The crystal and magnetic structures and the vibrational spectra of Pr_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ manganite are studied within the pressure range up to 25 GPa by methods of X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Neutron diffraction studies have been performed at pressures up to 4.5 GPa. The magnetic phase transition from the ferromagnetic phase (T _C = 273 K) to the A-type antiferromagnetic phase (T _N = 153 K) is found at P ≈ 2 GPa. This transition is characterized by a broad pressure range corresponding to the phase separation. The Raman spectra of Pr_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ measured under high pressures significantly differ from the corresponding spectra of the isostructural doped A_{1 ? x} A′ _x MnO₃ manganites, (where A is a rare-earth ion and A′ is an alkaline-earth ion) with the smaller average ionic radius 〈r _A〉 of A and A′ cations. Namely, the former spectra do not include clearly pronounced stretching phonon modes. At P ～ 7 GPa, there appears the structural phase transition from the orthorhombic phase with the Pnma space group to the orthorhombic high-pressure phase with the Imma symmetry. In the vicinity of the phase transition, anomalies in the pressure dependences of the lattice parameters, unit cell volume, and phonon frequencies corresponding to the characteristic lattice vibration modes are observed.     

High-pressure phases and pressure-induced phase transition of MoN6 and ReN6

Transition metal nitrides have been widely used in many scientific and technical areas because of their unique physical and mechanical properties. We report two new nitrogen-rich transition metal nitrides, MoN₆ and ReN₆, by crystal structure searching technique. Under high pressure, MoN₆ will undergo phase transition (from R-3m to Pm-3 phase) at 54 GPa, and ReN₆ always keep the R-3m phase in the pressure range from 50 to 100 GPa. There are benzene-like six-membered “N6” rings with nitrogen single bonds in the R-3m phase structures, indicating that MoN₆ and ReN₆ are expected to be the high-energy-density materials.     

A study on the formation and stability of quasicrystal in Al4Mn and Al6Cr

Abstract

The condition of the formation of quasicrystal in Al₄Mn and Al₆Cr under high static pressure has been investigated for the first time. I-phase and T-phase have been observed in electron diffraction experiment. The structures of Al₄Mn quenched at about 100 K/s are different under various pressure from 0.95GPa to 4.45GPa. The phase transition from I- and T-phase to crystal phase has also been investigated.     

High pressure effect on the crystal and magnetic structure of Pr0.1Sr0.9MnO3 manganite

The crystal and magnetic structure of Pr_0.1Sr_0.9MnO₃ manganite has been studied by the neutron diffraction at high pressures up to 5 GPa in the temperature range 10?C295 K. At normal pressure and decreasing temperature the appearance of the C-type (T _N = 220 K) and G-type (T _N = 180 K) antiferromagnetic states occurs, which is accompanied by a structural phase transition from the cubic structure (Pm $ \bar 3 $ m space group) to the tetragonal structure (I4/mcm space group). It is shown that the temperature of the transition to the C-type antiferromagnetic phase increases with pressure with the pressure coefficient dT _N/dP = 4.0(5) K/GPa and the temperature of the transition to the G-type antiferromagnetic phase weakly depends on pressure.     

Transport and magnetic properties of a Zn<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>Cd<Subscript>0.9</Subscript>GeAs<Subscript>2</Subscript> + 10 wt % MnAs composite with magnetic clusters at high pressure

The temperature (T = 77–420 K) dependences of the electrical resistivity and the magnetization, the magnetic-field (H ≤ 5 kOe) and pressure (P ≤ 7 GPa) dependences of the resistivity, the Hall coefficient, and the magnetization have been measured in the Zn_0.1Cd_0.9GeAs₂ + 10 wt % MnAs composite with the Curie temperature T _C = 310 K. The magnetoresistive effect has been observed at high hydrostatic pressure to 7 GPa. At nearly room temperature, the pressure dependence of the magnetization demonstrated a transition from the ferromagnetic to paramagnetic state at P ~ 3.2 GPa that was accompanied by the semiconductor–metal phase transition.     

Lattice dynamics and statistical mechanics of the Fm3m → I4/m structural phase transition in Rb2KInF6

The static and dynamic properties of cubic Rb₂KInF₆ crystals with elpasolite structure are calculated using a nonempirical method. Calculations are performed within a microscopic ionic-crystal model taking into account the deformation and polarization of ions. The deformation parameters of ions are determined by minimizing the total energy of the crystal. The calculated equilibrium lattice parameters agree satisfactorily with the experimental data. It is found that in the cubic phase there are vibrational modes that are unstable everywhere in the Brillouin zone. The eigenvectors of the unstablest mode at the center of the Brillouin zone of the cubic phase are associated with the displacements of F ions and correspond to rotations of InF₆ octahedra. Condensation of this mode leads to a tetragonal distortion of the structure. In order to describe the Fm3m → I4/m phase transition, an effective Hamiltonian is constructed under the assumption that the soft mode whose eigenvector corresponds to octahedron rotation is local and coupled with homogeneous elastic strains. The parameters of the effective Hamiltonian are determined using the calculated crystal energy for the distorted structures due to soft-mode condensation. The thermodynamic properties of the system with this model Hamiltonian are investigated using the Monte Carlo method. The phase transition temperature is calculated to be 550 K, which is twice its experimental value (283 K). The tetragonal phase remains stable down to T=0 K; the effective Hamiltonian used in this paper thus fails to describe the second phase transition (to the monoclinic phase). Thus, the transition to the tetragonal phase occurs for the most part through octahedron rotations; however, additional degrees of freedom, first of all, the displacements of Rb ions, should be included into the effective Hamiltonian in order to describe the transition to the monoclinic phase.     

Structural and magnetic phase transitions in Pr<Subscript>0.7</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>0.3</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> at high pressures

The crystal structure and Raman spectra of Pr_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃ manganite at high pressures of up to 30 GPa and the magnetic structure at pressures of up to 1 GPa have been studied. A structural phase transition from the orthorhombic phase of the Pnma symmetry to the high-pressure orthorhombic phase of the Imma symmetry has been observed at P ∼ 15 GPa and room temperature. Anomalies of the pressure dependences of the bending and stretching vibrational modes have been observed in the region of the phase transition. A magnetic phase transition from the initial ferromagnetic ground state (T _C = 120 K) to the A-type antiferromagnetic state (T _N = 140 K) takes place at a relatively low pressure of P = 1 GPa in the low-temperature region. The structural mechanisms of the change of the character of the magnetic ordering have been discussed.     

Pressure dependence of the Raman spectra of indium sulphide

Raman spectra of InS single crystals have been studied at different hydrostatic pressures up to 1.2 GPa. Mode-Grüneisen parameters have been obtained for Raman-active normal modes. It is shown that the variations observed in Raman spectra with growing pressure can be interpreted from the standpoint of the structural phase transition D¹²_2h → D¹⁷_4h in InS as the hydrostatic pressure continues to increase. The transition pressure has been evaluated at (7 ± 1) GPa.     

Decoupling of the order-disorder and displacive contributions to the phase transition in NH4H(ClH2CCOO)2

The effects of hydrostatic pressure and substitution of Rb⁺for the ammonium cations on the ferroelectric phase transition temperature in NH₄H(ClH₂CCOO)₂ have been studied by electric permittivity measurements. The transition temperature (T_c) decreases with increasing pressure up to 800 MPa and the pressure coefficient dT_c/dp=−1.4×10⁻² [K/MPa] has been experimentally determined. The substitution of Rb⁺ for the ammonium cations has been shown to considerably lower the ferroelectric phase transition temperature T_c. In mixed crystals, additional electric permittivity anomaly has been clearly evidenced. The results are discussed assuming a model, which combines polarizability effects, related to the heavy ion units, with the pseudo-spin tunnelling.     

Infrared absorption investigation of the role of octahedral groups upon the phase transition in the Rb2KMoO3F3 crystal

The infrared absorption spectra of the oxyfluoride Rb₂KMoO₃F₃ have been measured in the frequency range corresponding to stretching vibrations of the Mo-O anion octahedron with the purpose of clarifying their role in the phase transition. A semi-empirical calculation of two possible configurations of quasioctahedral MoO₃F₃ groups has been performed. The results of the investigations have demonstrated that some octahedra in the crystal structure change the local symmetry from C _3v to C _2v due to the phase transition (T = 197 K).     

Terahertz Cyclotron Photoconductivity in a Highly Unbalanced Two-Dimensional Electron–Hole System

The magnetic properties of the α-Fe₂O₃ hematite at a high hydrostatic pressure have been studied by synchrotron Mössbauer spectroscopy (nuclear forward scattering (NFS)) on iron nuclei. Time-domain NFS spectra of hematite have been measured in a diamond anvil cell in the pressure range of 0–72 GPa and the temperature range of 36–300 K in order to study the magnetic properties at a phase transition near a critical pressure of ~50 GPa. In addition, Raman spectra at room temperature have been studied in the pressure range of 0–77 GPa. Neon has been used as a pressure-transmitting medium. The appearance of an intermediate electronic state has been revealed at a pressure of ~48 GPa. This state is probably related to the spin crossover in Fe³⁺ ions at their transition from the high-spin state (HS, S = 5/2) to a low-spin one (LS, S = 1/2). It has been found that the transient pressure range of the HS–LS crossover is extended from 48 to 55 GPa and is almost independent of the temperature. This surprising result differs fundamentally from other cases of the spin crossover in Fe³⁺ ions observed in other crystals based on iron oxides. The transition region of spin crossover appears because of thermal fluctuations between HS and LS states in the critical pressure range and is significantly narrowed at cooling because of the suppression of thermal excitations. The magnetic P–T phase diagram of α-Fe₂O₃ at high pressures and low temperatures in the spin crossover region has been constructed according to the results of measurements.