Effect of pressure on La2(WO4)3 with a modulated scheelite-type structure

We have studied the effect of pressure on the structural and vibrational properties of lanthanum tritungstate La2(WO4)3. This compound crystallizes under ambient conditions in the modulated scheelite-type structure known as the α phase. We have performed x-ray diffraction and Raman scattering measur...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Sabalisck, Nanci Prado, López-Solano, Javier, Guzmán-Afonso, Candelaria, Santamaría-Pérez, David, González-Silgo, Cristina, Mujica, Andrés, Muñoz, A., Rodríguez-Hernández, P., Radescu, S., Vendrell, Xavier, Mestres i Vila, Ma. Lourdes, Sans, J. A., Manjón, F. J.
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2014
País:España
Institución:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repositorio:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:2445/57144
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/57144
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Terres rares
Difracció de raigs X
Espectroscòpia Raman
Propietats òptiques
Ferromagnetisme
Rare earths
X-rays diffraction
Raman spectroscopy
Optical properties
Ferromagnetism
Descripción
Sumario:We have studied the effect of pressure on the structural and vibrational properties of lanthanum tritungstate La2(WO4)3. This compound crystallizes under ambient conditions in the modulated scheelite-type structure known as the α phase. We have performed x-ray diffraction and Raman scattering measurements up to a pressure of 20 GPa, as well as ab initio calculations within the framework of the density functional theory. Up to 5 GPa, the three methods provide a similar picture of the evolution under pressure of α-La2(WO4)3. At 5 GPa, we begin to observe some structural changes, and above 6 GPa we find that the x-ray patterns cannot be indexed as a single phase. However, we find that a mixture of two phases with C2/c symmetry accounts for all diffraction peaks. Our ab initio study confirms the existence of several C2/c structures, which are very close in energy in this compression range. According to our measurements, a state with medium-range order appears at pressures above 9 and 11 GPa, from x-ray diffraction and Raman experiments, respectively. Based upon our theoretical calculations we propose several high-pressure candidates with high cationic coordinations at these pressures. The compound evolves into a partially amorphous phase at pressures above 20 GPa.