Experimental and theoretical study of α–Eu2(MoO4)3 under compression. (26th October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Guzmán-Afonso, C; León-Luis, S F; Sans, J A; González-Silgo, C; Rodríguez-Hernández, P; Radescu, S; Muñoz, A; López-Solano, J; Errandonea, D; Manjón, F J; Rodríguez-Mendoza, U R; Lavín, V
• Is Part Of: Journal of physics. Volume 27:Number 46(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-10-26
• Subjects: high pressure -- x-ray diffraction -- Raman scaterring -- photoluminescence -- rare earth trimolybdates -- α-phase; Condensed matter -- Periodicals; Matière condensée -- Périodiques; Vaste stoffen; Vloeistoffen; Natuurkunde; Electronic journals; Computer network resources; 530.4105
• DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/27/46/465401
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0953-8984

Abstract

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 -phase and tritungstates with α -phase.