Pressure-induced phase transformation of In2Se3

Abstract

In2Se3 has potential as a phase-change material for memory applications. Understanding its phase diagram is important to achieve controlled switching between phases. Using x-ray diffraction and a diamond-anvil cell, the pressure-dependent structural properties of In2Se3 powder were studied at room temperature. α-In2Se3 transforms into the β phase at 0.7 GPa, an order of magnitude lower than phase-transition critical pressures in typical semiconductors. The β phase persists upon decompression to ambient pressure. Raman spectroscopy experiments confirm this result. The bulk moduli are reported and the c/a ratio for the β phase is shown to have a highly nonlinear dependence on pressure.