A first principles lattice dynamics and Raman spectra of the ferroelastic rutile to CaCl2 phase transition in SnO2 at high pressure

A first principles calculation of the lattice dynamical properties of rutile SnO₂ has been performed using density functional perturbation theory at ambient and high‐pressure conditions to understand the pressure‐induced phase transition. The calculated zone centre phonon modes at ambient and high pressures have been compared with Raman scattering and infrared measurements. Full phonon dispersion curves and phonon densities of states and Raman intensities at high pressures are calculated and given for the first time in literature. The ferroelastic transition from the rutile to the CaCl₂‐type structure was confirmed. It is clearly illustrated that the first transition is associated with macroscopic shear instability which arises from the strong coupling between elastic constants and softening of Raman active B_1g mode. The observed pressure of phase transition in experimental measurements was reproduced more accurately than in previous calculations, and the difference between observed and calculated transition pressure is only of the order of 2%. The mode Grüneisen parameter is quantitatively as well as qualitatively different from the earlier reported values. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pressure induced phase transformations and band structure of different high pressure phases in tellurium

We report here high-pressure x-ray diffraction (XRD) studies on tellurium (Te) at room temperature up to 40 GPa in the diamond anvil cell (DAC). The XRD measurements clearly indicate a sequence of pressure-induced phase transitions with increasing pressure. The data obtained in the pressure range 1 bar to 40 GPa fit five different crystalline phases out of Te: hexagonal Te (I) → monoclinic Te(II) → orthorhombic Te (III) → Β-Po-type Te(IV) → body-centered-cubic Te(V) at 4, 6.2, 11 and 27 GPa, respectively. The volume changes across these transitions are 10%, 1.5%, 0.3% and 0.5%, respectively. Self consistent electronic band structure calculations both for ambient and high pressure phases have been carried out using the tight binding linear muffin tin orbital (TB-LMTO) method within the atomic-sphere approximation (ASA). Reported here apart from the energy band calculations are the density of states (DOS), Fermi energy (E _f) at various high-pressure phases. Our calculations show that the ambient pressure hexagonal phase has a band gap of 0.42 eV whereas high-pressure phases are found to be metallic. We also found that the pressure induced semiconducting to metallic transition occurs at about 4 GPa which corresponds to the hexagonal phase to monoclinic phase transition. Equation of state and bulk modulus of different high-pressure phases have also been discussed.     

Structural study of ND4I at high pressures and low temperatures

Abstract

Structure, positional, and thermal parameters of ND₄I were studied at high pressures up to 90 kbar and low temperatures down to 10 K using time-of-flight neutron diffraction. The phase transition from a disordered CsCI-type cubic phase ND₄I(II) into a recently discovered high pressure phase ND₄I(V) was observed at P = 80(5) kbar. Surprisingly, the structure of the high pressure phase V was found to bear a strong resemblance to that of the ambient pressure, low-temperature phase III - tetragonal structure with an antiparallel ordering of ammonium ions, space group P4/nmm. The critical value of the deuterium positional parameter corresponding to the II-V transition is close to the one for the phase transition between the disordered and ordered CsCl-type cubic phases II and IV in other ammonium halides.     

High pressure structural phase transitions of TiO_2 nanomaterials

Recently, the high pressure study on the TiO_2 nanomaterials has attracted considerable attention due to the typical crystal structure and the fascinating properties of TiO_2 with nanoscale sizes. In this paper, we briefly review the recent progress in the high pressure phase transitions of TiO_2 nanomaterials. We discuss the size effects and morphology effects on the high pressure phase transitions of TiO_2 nanomaterials with different particle sizes, morphologies, and microstructures. Several typical pressure-induced structural phase transitions in TiO_2 nanomaterials are presented, including size-dependent phase transition selectivity in nanoparticles, morphology-tuned phase transition in nanowires, nanosheets,and nanoporous materials, and pressure-induced amorphization(PIA) and polyamorphism in ultrafine nanoparticles and TiO_2-B nanoribbons. Various TiO_2 nanostructural materials with high pressure structures are prepared successfully by high pressure treatment of the corresponding crystal nanomaterials, such as amorphous TiO_2 nanoribbons, α-PbO_2-type TiO_2 nanowires, nanosheets, and nanoporous materials. These studies suggest that the high pressure phase transitions of TiO_2 nanomaterials depend on the nanosize, morphology, interface energy, and microstructure. The diversity of high pressure behaviors of TiO_2 nanomaterials provides a new insight into the properties of nanomaterials, and paves a way for preparing new nanomaterials with novel high pressure structures and properties for various applications.     

High Pressure X-Ray Absorption and Diffraction Study of InAs

We have performed X-ray absorption (XAS) and diffraction (XRD) measurements at high pressure on samples of powdered InAs, up to 50 and 80 GPa, respectively. In the lower pressure range, our data are consistent with the following structural sequence: Zincblende M NaCl M Cmcm . The first order transition from the semiconducting Zincblende phase to the metallic NaCl phase is clearly seen by the shift in the absorption onset at the As K-edge and the strong modifications of the extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) due to the changes in the local structure from a 4-fold to a 6-fold coordinated environment. XAS shows the high pressure phase to be locally site-ordered. The diffraction data, analized by Rietveld fitting, gives a volume discontinuity of j V/V 0 ～0.18 for the first order transition. There is no apparent volume discontinuity associated to the NaCl M Cmcm transition.     

Structural study of ND4Br at high pressure

Abstract

A structure of ND₄Br has been studied at pressures up to 9 GPa by means of time-of-flight neutron diffraction. A phase transition to the high pressure phase V was observed at P=8·2(5)GPa. It was found that the phase V has a tetragonal structure with an antiparallel ordering of ammonium ions, space group P4/nmm which is in strong resemblance with low temperature modification ND₄Br(III). Deuterium positional parameter as a function of pressure was obtained.     

Electrical properties of (PBS)0·59TiS2 crystals at high pressures up to 20GPa

Abstract

The measurements of thermoelectric power S and resistance p at high pressure synthetic diamond anvils cell were performed for (PbS)0·59TiS2 and TiS2 crystals. The phase transition was found at P?;2GPa accompanied by descend of ρ and |S| for (PbS)o·59TiS2. This transition is connected with structural change of PbS fragment from pseudocubic cell to orthorombic one and as consequence, with change of the electron concentration in Tis2-layers. From the electronic structure calculations for TiS2, the semiconductor-metal transition occurs at pressure P ≥ 4 GPa. Experimentally at this pressure range the decrease of ρ(P) was observed for (PbS)0·59TiS2 crystals.     

Transition temperature reduction for CdS nanoparticles under high pressure

The structure transition of nanoparticles has a significant effect on their practical applications. In this study, the transition temperature of CdS nanoparticles with the size of 3–5 nm from sphalerite to wurtzite structure is significantly reduced to 150 °C under a high pressure of 1 GPa, much lower than that 300–400 °C for CdS nanoparticles and 600 °C for bulk CdS under room pressure. The lower transition temperature leads to an ultrafine grain size d = 5 nm for the formed wurtzite phase as compared with that d = 33 nm yielded under room pressure with a similar transition volume fraction of ~80%. The underlying physical mechanism is discussed.     

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.     

Application of SH surface acoustic waves for measuring the viscosity of liquids in function of pressure and temperature

Viscosity measurements were carried out on triolein at pressures from atmospheric up to 650 MPa and in the temperature range from 10 °C to 40 °C using ultrasonic measuring setup. Bleustein–Gulyaev SH surface acoustic waves waveguides were used as viscosity sensors. Additionally, pressure changes occurring during phase transition have been measured over the same temperature range. Application of ultrasonic SH surface acoustic waves in the liquid viscosity measurements at high pressure has many advantages. It enables viscosity measurement during phase transitions and in the high-pressure range where the classical viscosity measurement methods cannot operate. Measurements of phase transition kinetics and viscosity of liquids at high pressures and various temperatures (isotherms) is a novelty. The knowledge of changes in viscosity in function of pressure and temperature can help to obtain a deeper insight into thermodynamic properties of liquids.     

Structural and elastic properties of KBr at high pressure and high temperature

To study phase transition and elastic properties at high pressures and high temperatures, we have developed a realistic interaction potential model (RIPZ_pe) including temperature effects. This model is completely suitable for explaining the inter-atomic interaction involved at high temperature and high pressure as it includes the three-body interaction (TBI) and zero point energy effects. The phase transition of KBr crystal at high pressure and high temperatures including the TBI is done for the first time. We have estimated the phase transition pressures, volume collapses and elastic behaviour at various high pressure and high temperatures by RIPZ_pe approach and the results found are well suited with available experimental data.     

InSe的高压电输运性质研究

高压下对InSe样品进行原位电阻率和霍尔效应测量. 电阻率测量结果显示, 样品在5–6 GPa区间呈现金属特性, 在12 GPa 的压力下发生由斜六方体层状结构到立方岩盐矿的结构相变, 且具有金属特性. 霍尔效应测量结果显示, 样品在6.6 GPa由p型半导体转变成n型半导体, 电阻率随着压力的升高而逐渐下降是由于载流子浓度升高引起的. 关键词： InSe 高压 电阻率 霍尔效应     

Physical and mechanical properties of C60 under high pressures and high temperatures

The physical and mechanical properties of a C₆₀ fullerene sample have been investigated under high pressure–high temperature conditions using a designer Diamond Anvil Cell. Electrical resistance measurements show evidence of C₆₀ cage collapse at 20 GPa, which leads to the formation of an insulating phase at higher pressure. Energy dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDXD) data indicated that the characteristic fcc reflections gradually decrease in intensity and eventually disappear above 28 GPa. A C₆₀ sample was laser-heated at a pressure of 35 GPa to a temperature of 1910±100 K and, subsequently, decompressed to ambient conditions. The photoluminescence spectra and the Raman spectrum of the pressure–temperature-treated sample were measured at a low temperature of 80 K. Raman peak at 1322.3 cm^?1 with full-width half-maximum of 2.9 cm^?1 was observed from the sample, which is attributed to the hexagonal diamond phase in the sample. The room temperature photoluminescence spectra showed a symmetric emission band centered in the red spectral range with a peak at 690 nm. The structural analysis of the pressure–temperature-processed C₆₀ sample using EDXD method showed strong internal structure orientation and a phase close to hexagonal diamond. Mechanical properties such as hardness and Young’s modulus were measured by nanoindentation technique and the values were found to be 90±7 and 1215±50 GPa, respectively and these values are characteristic of sp³-bonded carbon materials.     

Phase transitions at high pressure in tetracyanoethylene

We report in situ x-ray diffraction studies in tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) at high pressure using diamond anvil cell (DAC) at Elettra synchrotron source, Trieste, Italy. Experiments were performed with both the polymorphic phases (monoclinic and cubic) of TCNE as the starting phase. While starting with monoclinic (the high temperature stable) TCNE, it was found that the Bragg peaks get broadened with increase of pressure and above 5 GPa only few broad peaks remained to be observed. On release of pressure from 6.4 GPa, when the sample started turning black, the diffraction pattern at ambient pressure corresponds to cubic, the other crystalline phase of TCNE. Results reconfirm the monoclinic to cubic transition at high pressure but via an intermediate ‘disordered’ phase. This settles a number of conflicting issues. TCNE represents only system, which undergoes transition from one crystalline to another crystalline phase via a ‘disordered’ metastable phase at high pressure. When the starting phase was cubic (the low temperature stable) no apparent phase transition was observed up to 10.8 GPa.     

常温高压条件下硬石膏相变的原位拉曼光谱研究

硬石膏（CaSO₄）是地球上分布最广的硫酸盐矿物之一,为研究硬石膏向高压硬石膏转变的压力条件和相变机理、确定硬石膏拉曼光谱压标的适用范围,实验结合水热金刚石压腔和激光拉曼光谱实验技术,研究了常温高压条件下硬石膏的相变过程以及硬石膏和高压硬石膏的拉曼光谱特征。实验结果显示,常温条件下硬石膏向高压硬石膏发生相变的压力在2.3 GPa左右,但是该相变压力在增压和降压过程中存在较大差异,表明硬石膏与高压硬石膏的转变过程存在明显滞后性,证实了该相变过程属于重建型相变。由于重建型相变的控制因素除了温度和压力之外,还包括相变的速率以及矿物结构的亚稳定性等,从而很好地解释了不同实验者获得的硬石膏与高压硬石膏的相变压力之间存在的巨大差异。与硬石膏相比,高压硬石膏的拉曼光谱特征表现为SO₄对称伸缩振动（ν₁）从1 128.28 cm-1突然下降至1 024.39 cm-1,同时对称弯曲振动（ν₂）分裂为441,459和494 cm-1三个峰,反对称伸缩振动（ν₃）分裂为1 136,1 148,1 158和1 173 cm-1四个峰,反对称弯曲振动（ν₄）也分裂为598,616,646和671 cm-1四个峰,可以作为判定硬石膏进入高压相态的有效标志。与硬石膏相比,高压硬石膏SO₄振动产生的拉曼峰数量更多、强度更低,表明影响SO₄振动的原子更多、分布更加复杂,这与高压硬石膏晶体结构（独居石结构,单斜晶系）的对称性比硬石膏（斜方晶系）更低相吻合。在硬石膏结构稳定的压力范围内（常压至2.3 GPa）,硬石膏SO₄拉曼振动中除了ν_2,416的振动频率变化不显著以外,其余振动均随着压力的升高以稳定的速率向高波数方向移动,同时谱峰的强度、形态和半高宽没有明显改变,从而保证了不同压力下硬石膏的拉曼峰具有一致的拟合误差和压力标定精度。同时,还通过方解石ν_{1,1 085}拉曼峰随压力的变化速率、方解石向CaCO₃-Ⅱ以及CaCO₃-Ⅱ向CaCO₃-Ⅲ的相变压力对硬石膏压力标定结果进行检验,确定了硬石膏压标的可靠性。     

高温高压下钼的结构稳定性研究

以钼为代表的一系列过渡金属,在高温高压的相变及结构稳定性研究是实验和理论研究的热点.钼在常温常压下是bcc结构,但是在高温高压下可能的相结构一直未能确定.本文首先预测了几种高压下的结构,并计算了其自由能及力学性质.针对可能的hcp结构,我们通过新近发展的自洽晶格动力学方法,充分考虑声子间相互作用,成功获得了hcp结构高温高压声子色散曲线,结果表明hcp相在热力学及动力学上都是能够稳定存在的结构,是一种可能的高压相.     

Phase transition and high pressure behavior of Zirconium and Niobium carbides

We have predicted the phase transition pressure (P _T )and high pressure behavior of Zirconium and Niobium carbide (ZrC, NbC). The high pressure structural phase transitions in ZrC and NbC has been studied by using a two body inter-ionic potential model, which includes the Coulomb screening effect, due to the semi-metallic nature of these compounds. These transition metal carbides have been found to undergo NaCl (B1) to CsCl (B2)-type structural phase transition, at high pressure like other binary systems. We predict such structural transformation in ZrC and NbC at a pressure of 98GPa and 85GPa respectively. We have also predicted second order elastic constant and bulk modulus. The present theoretical work has been compared with the corresponding experimental data and prediction of LAPW and GGA and LDA theories.      

Phase transition of cadmium fluoride under high pressure

We investigated the high pressure phases of CdF₂ by a joint theoretical and experimental study. The structural and electronic properties of CdF₂ were extensively explored to high pressure by ab initio calculations based on the density functional theory. A structural phase transition from the fluorite-type  (Fm-3m, Z=4) structure to the cotunnite-type (Pnma, Z=4) structure was estimated below 8 GPa, and this phase transition was examined by the high pressure experiments up to 35 GPa at room temperature. Both high pressure angle dispersive X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy experiments provided convincing evidence to verify the phase transition. Our work makes clear pressure-induced phase transitions and structural information of CdF₂ under high pressure.