title: Pressure-induced transformations in PrVO4 and SmVO4 and isolation of high-pressure metastable phases.
abstract: Zircon-type PrVO4 and SmVO4 have been studied by high-pressure Raman spectroscopy up to 17 GPa. The occurrence of phase transitions has been detected when compression exceeds 6 GPa. The transformations are not reversible. Raman spectra of the high-pressure phases show similarities with those expected for a monazite-type phase in PrVO4 and a scheelite-type phase in SmVO4.The high-pressure phases have been also synthesized using a large-volume press and recovered at ambient conditions. X-ray diffraction measurements of the metastable products recovered after decompression confirms the monazite (PrVO4) and scheelite (SmVO4) structures of the high-pressure phases. Based upon optical properties of the reported new polymorphs, novel applications for rare-earth vanadates are proposed, including photocatalytic hydrogen production.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Física Aplicada-ICMUV, Universidad de Valencia, MALTA Consolider Team, Edificio de Investigación, C/Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain. daniel.errandonea@uv.es
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Errandonea
authors.forename: S Nagabhusan
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Achary
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pellicer-Porres
authors.forename: Avesh K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Tyagi