Pressure-induced phase transition on layered HgPSe3 revealed by optical, structural and vibrational studies

[EN] The family of transition metal phosphorus trichalcogenides (MPX3, where M is a transition metal and X = S or Se) has recently attracted considerable attention due to their tunable band gaps and synergistic effects among electronic, magnetic, structural, and optical properties. We examine the in...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: de Simoni, Beatriz, Oliva, Robert, Rybak, Milosz, Kopaczek, Jan, Tolloczko, Agata K., Ibanez, Jordi, Dybala, Filip, Scharoch, Pawel, Plutnarova, Iva, Sofer, Zdenek, Botella, Pablo, Errandonea, Daniel, Antonatos, Nikolas, Kudrawiec, Robert, Gomis, O.|||0000-0001-6763-0638
Format: article
Publication Date:2026
Country:España
Institution:Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV)
Repository:RiuNet. Repositorio Institucional de la Universitat Politécnica de Valéncia
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:riunet______::5f8a45f7b4f2849ea0a37485d6d98c9d
Online Access:https://riunet.upv.es/handle/10251/234580
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:X-Ray-Diffraction
Electronic-Structure
Crossover
MOS2
Description
Summary:[EN] The family of transition metal phosphorus trichalcogenides (MPX3, where M is a transition metal and X = S or Se) has recently attracted considerable attention due to their tunable band gaps and synergistic effects among electronic, magnetic, structural, and optical properties. We examine the influence of hydrostatic pressure on the optical, structural and vibrational properties of layered HgPSe3 through spectroscopic and diffraction techniques combined with first-principles calculations. Optical absorption measurements reveal a phase transition at 3.6 GPa, evidenced by a decrease in the band gap energy of approximately 200 meV, resulting in a change in sample color from bright to dark red. The same phase transition was confirmed by structural methods: powder X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. We propose that the compound undergoes a structural transition from its ambient pressure monoclinic phase to a high-pressure triclinic phase. Birch-Murnaghan fits give an experimental bulk modulus of B0 = 29.7 GPa, in very good agreement with the theoretical value of B0 = 28.1 GPa. Experimental pressure coefficients are obtained and compared with theoretical predictions. Our findings unveil a complex interplay between the structural and optical properties of HgPSe3 under pressure, which could be exploited to fabricate novel applications based on the tunable properties of van der Waals materials.