Raman spectra and phase transition of the phenothiazine crystal

Polarized Raman spectra of single crystals of phenothiazine which undergoes a phase transition around 250 K and is ferroelastic in the low-temperature phase were measured in the lattice-vibrational region for temperatures ranging from 89 to 300 K. The spectra of the high- and low-temperature phases obey the selection rules required for the orthorhombic and monoclinic structures, respectively. Anomalous temperature dependences are observed in the frequency, intensity and linewidth of a band appearing in the lowest-frequency region. This band is attributed mainly to a librational motion of the molecule, and is important in the evaluation of this phase transition. A gradual change of the molecular orientation is inferred to occur over a wide temperature interval in the low-temperature phase along the vibrational coordinate of the above libration. Another strong, low-frequency band, which is characteristic of the phenothiazine spectra, is suggested to arise from mixing between intramolecular and lattice vibrations. This mode is considered to play some role in the phase transition too. The interaction between the low-frequency optical modes and the acoustic modes is briefly discussed in connection with the ferroelasticity of the low-temperature phase. The transition temperature depends on the quality of the specimen; the correct transition temperature is found to be 248.8 K and slightly lower than the previously reported value.