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Title: High-pressure Structural Stability of Multiferroic Hexagonal RMnO3 (R=Y Ho Lu)

Journal Article · · Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics

Structural changes in RMnO{sub 3} (R = Y, Ho, Lu) under high pressure were examined by synchrotron x-ray diffraction methods at room temperature. Compression occurs more readily in the ab plane than along the c axis. With increased pressure, a pressure-induced hexagonal to orthorhombic phase transition was observed starting at {approx}22 GPa for Lu(Y)MnO{sub 3}. When the pressure is increased to 35 GPa, a small volume fraction of Lu(Y)MnO{sub 3} is converted to the orthorhombic phase and the orthorhombic phase is maintained on pressure release. High-pressure infrared absorption spectroscopy and Mn K-edge near-edge x-ray absorption spectroscopy confirm that the hexagonal P6{sub 3}cm structure is stable below {approx}20 GPa and the environment around the Mn ion is not changed. Shifts in the unoccupied p-band density of states with pressure are observed in the Mn K-edge spectra. A schematic pressure-temperature phase diagram is given for the small ion RMnO{sub 3} system.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE SC OFFICE OF SCIENCE (SC)
DOE Contract Number:
DE-AC02-98CH10886
OSTI ID:
1042122
Report Number(s):
BNL-97800-2012-JA; TRN: US1202747
Journal Information:
Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, Vol. 83, Issue 22; ISSN 1098-0121
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English