Revealing pressure-driven structural transitions in the hybrid improper ferroelectric Sr3 Sn2 O7

K. A. Smith, S. P. Ramkumar, N. C. Harms, A. J. Clune, X. Xu, S. W. Cheong, Z. Liu, E. A. Nowadnick, J. L. Musfeldt

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Abstract

We combine diamond anvil cell techniques and synchrotron-based infrared spectroscopy with a detailed symmetry analysis and lattice dynamics calculations to uncover a series of pressure-induced structural phase transitions in the hybrid improper ferroelectric Sr3Sn2O7. The microscopic character of each high-pressure phase is determined by comparing the measured spectrum with the predicted vibrational patterns of several related but distinct candidate space groups. Our analysis reveals a sequence of pressure-induced transitions from A21am↔Pnab↔Acaa↔I4/mmm at room temperature. Remarkably, this space group progression matches the sequence of temperature-dependent structural transitions observed in Sr3Sn2O7 between 77 and 1000 K. Other hybrid improper ferroelectrics display a similar set of temperature transitions, suggesting that pressure and probably strain will be very effective tuning parameters for this entire class of materials.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number064106
JournalPhysical Review B
Volume104
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2021
Externally publishedYes

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© 2021 American Physical Society.

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