Experimental and theoretical study of α-Eu2(MoO4)3 under compression

DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/27/46/465401

Authors: Candelaria Guzman-afonso (Universidad de La Laguna) , Sergio Leon Luis (Universidad de La Laguna) , Juan Angel Sans Tresserras (Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain) , Maria Cristina Gonzalez Silgo (Universidad de La Laguna) , Placida Rodríguez-hernández (Universidad de La Laguna) , Silvana Radescu (Universidad de La Laguna) , Alfonso Muñoz (Universidad de La Laguna) , Juan Javier Lopez Solano (Universidad de La Laguna) , Daniel Errandonea (Universidad de Valencia) , Francisco Javier Manjon Herrera (Universitat Politècnica de València) , Ulises Ruyman Rodríguez-mendoza (Universidad de La Laguna) , Victor Lavin (Universidad de La Laguna)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Journal Of Physics: Condensed Matter , VOL 27 (46) , PAGES 465401

State: Published (Approved)
Published: November 2015
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 1746

Abstract: The compression process in the α-phase of europium trimolybdate was revised employing several experimental techniques. X-ray diffraction (using synchrotron and laboratory radiation sources), Raman scattering and photoluminescence experiments were performed up to a maximum pressure of 21 GPa. In addition, the crystal structure and Raman mode frequencies have been studied by means of first-principles density functional based methods. Results suggest that the compression process of α-Eu2(MoO4)3 can be described by three stages. Below 8 GPa, the α-phase suffers an isotropic contraction of the crystal structure. Between 8 and 12 GPa, the compound undergoes an anisotropic compression due to distortion and rotation of the MoO4 tetrahedra. At pressures above 12 GPa, the amorphization process starts without any previous occurrence of a crystalline-crystalline phase transition in the whole range of pressure. This behavior clearly differs from the process of compression and amorphization in trimolybdates with β′-phase and tritungstates with α-phase.

Journal Keywords: High Pressure; X-Ray Diffraction; Raman Scaterring; Photoluminescence; Rare Earth Trimolybdates; ?-Phase

Subject Areas: Materials, Physics, Chemistry


Instruments: I15-Extreme Conditions