Abstract
The pressure-induced phase transformations of certain rare earth (RE) orthophosphates have attracted broad interest from geoscience to structural ceramics. Studying these transformations has required in situ Raman spectroscopy or synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD), each of which suffers from poor signal or limited accessibility, respectively. This study exploits the photoluminescence (PL) of Tb3+ ions and the unique sensitivity of PL to the local bonding environment to interrogate the symmetry-reducing xenotime-monazite phase transformation of TbPO4. At pressures consistent with the XRD-based phase transformation onset pressure of 8.7(6) GPa, PL spectra show new peaks emerging as well as trend changes in the centroids and intensity ratios of certain PL bands. Furthermore, PL spectra of recovered samples show transformation is irreversible. Hysteresis in certain PL band intensity ratios also reveals the stress history in TbPO4. This in situ PL approach can be applied to probe pressure-induced transformations and crystal field distortions in other RE-based oxide compounds.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
