Pressure effects on the vibrational properties of α-Bi2O3: an experimental and theoretical study

We report an experimental and theoretical high-pressure study of the vibrational properties of synthetic monoclinic bismuth oxide (alpha-Bi2O3), also known as mineral bismite. The comparison of Raman scattering measurements and theoretical lattice-dynamics ab initio calculations is key to understanding the complex vibrational properties of bismite. On one hand, calculations help in the symmetry assignment of phonons and to discover the phonon interactions taking place in this low-symmetry compound, which shows considerable phonon anticrossings; and, on the other hand, measurements help to validate the accuracy of first-principles calculations relating to this compound. We have also studied the pressure-induced amorphization (PIA) of synthetic bismite occurring around 20 GPa and showed that it is reversible below 25 GPa. Furthermore, a partial temperature-induced recrystallization (TIR) of the amorphous sample can be observed above 20 GPa upon heating to 200 C, thus evidencing that PIA at room temperature occurs because of the inability of the a phase to undergo a phase transition to a high-pressure phase. Raman scattering measurements of the TIR sample at room temperature during pressure release have been performed. The interpretation of these results in the light of ab initio calculations of the candidate phases at high pressures has allowed us to tentatively attribute the TIR phase to the recently found high-pressure hexagonal HPC phase and to discuss its lattice dynamics.