Pressure-induced disordering and phase transformations in Eu2Zr2O7 pyrochlore

ABSTRACTThe structural properties of pyrochlore Eu2Zr2O7 under high pressure have been studied by using Raman spectroscopy and in situ angle-dispersive X-ray diffraction (ADXRD). The results of Raman spectra indicate that Eu2Zr2O7 undergoes a reversible structural change around 21.2 GPa. The results of Rietveld refinements from in situ ADXRD data indicate that the ordered pyrochlore structure (Fd-3m) transforms to the defect-cotunnite structure (Pnma) at 26.5 GPa. The phase transition is irreversible and the transformation process is mainly induced by the accumulations of anti-site defects of the cation sublattice and Frenkel defects on the anion sublattice. Besides, the bonds should play a more important role than the bonds in the process of the phase transformation.