An experimental and theoretical study of the structural properties of monoclinic bismuth oxide (alfa-Bi2O3) under high pressures is here reported. Both synthetic and mineral bismite powder samples have been compressed up to 45 GPa and their equations of state have been determined with angle-dispersive x-ray diffraction measurements. Experimental results have been also compared to theoretical calculations which suggest the possibility of several phase transitions below 10 GPa. However, experiments reveal only a pressure-induced amorphisation between 15 and 25 GPa, depending on sample quality and deviatoric stresses. The amorphous phase has been followed up to 45 GPa and its nature discussed.
@article{arxiv.1402.2200,
title = {Structural study of alfa-Bi2O3 under pressure},
author = {A. L. J. Pereira and D. Errandonea and A. Beltrán and L. Gracia and O. Gomis and J. A. Sans and B. Garcia-Domene and A. Miquel-Veyrat and F. J. Manjón and A. Muñoz and C. Popescu},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1402.2200},
year = {2014}
}