High-pressure behavior of FeOCl

Maxim Bykov, Elena Bykova, Sander van Smaalen, Leonid Dubrovinsky, Catherine McCammon, Vitali Prakapenka, and Hanns-Peter Liermann
Phys. Rev. B 88, 014110 – Published 22 July 2013

Abstract

A pressure-induced phase transition of FeOCl is discovered to occur at Pc=15±1 GPa. It is preceded by extremely anisotropic lattice compression, which is explained by a gradual collapse of the van der Waals gap between the chlorine atoms on the borders of the slabs of this layered compound. Single-crystal x-ray diffraction in a diamond anvil cell is used to show that the high-pressure phase can be described as a fourfold superstructure with monoclinic lattice distortion, described by a 4a×1b×2c supercell with space group B21/m (b unique). The high-pressure crystal structures have been used to uncover the mechanism of the phase transition, as the formation of alternating regions of increased packing density of chlorine atoms within a single layer and regions of interpenetrating layers. Raman and Mössbauer spectroscopies indicate that the phase transition is not related to electronic effects or magnetic order.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 28 November 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.88.014110

©2013 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Maxim Bykov1, Elena Bykova2,3, Sander van Smaalen1,*, Leonid Dubrovinsky3, Catherine McCammon3, Vitali Prakapenka4, and Hanns-Peter Liermann5

  • 1Laboratory of Crystallography, University of Bayreuth, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany
  • 2Material Physics and Technology at Extreme Conditions, Laboratory of Crystallography, University of Bayreuth, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany
  • 3Bayerisches Geoinstitut, Universität Bayreuth, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany
  • 4Center for Advanced Radiation Sources, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
  • 5Photon Sciences, FS-PE, Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY), 22607 Hamburg, Germany

  • *smash@uni-bayreuth.de

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 88, Iss. 1 — 1 July 2013

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review B

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×