Pressure-induced crystal–amorphous transformation in Y2Mo3O12

Abstract In this work we investigate the vibrational properties of anhydrous and hydrated yttrium molybdate as a function of hydrostatic pressure. An analysis of vibrational modes suggests that the anhydrous material experiences a phase transformation from orthorhombic to a lower symmetry phase (probably monoclinic) about 0.3 GPa, and to a highly disordered phase above 2.4 GPa. The structural transformation to the high-pressure disordered phase is not reversible and suggests the onset of a pressure-induced amorphization process. The vibrational mode dependence on pressure is discussed considering lattice dynamics calculations.