Structural and vibrational behavior of cubic Cu1.80(3)Se cuprous selenide, berzelianite, under compression

Abstract

We have performed an experimental study of the crystal structure and lattice dynamics of cubic Cu1.80(3)Se at ambient temperature and high pressures. Two reversible phase transitions were found at 2.9 and 8.7 GPa. The indexation of the angle-dispersive synchrotron x-ray diffraction patterns suggests a large orthorhombic cell and a monoclinic cell for the high-pressure phases. Raman measurements provide additional information on the local structure. The compressibility of the three ambient temperature phases has been determined and compared to that of other sulphides and selenides.