Abstract
X-ray diffraction of SnO2 (cassiterite) at high pressures and temperatures demonstrates the existence of four phase transitions to 117 GPa. The observed sequence of phases for SnO2 is rutile-type (P 42 mnm) → CaCl2 -type (Pnnm) →pyrite-type (Pa 3̄) → ZrO2 orthorhombic phase I (Pbca) →cotunnite-type (Pnam). Our observations of the first three phases are generally in agreement with earlier studies. The orthorhombic phase I and cotunnite-type structure (orthorhombic phase II) were observed in SnO2 for the first time. The Pbca phase is found at 50-74 GPa during room-temperature compression. The cotunnite-type structure was synthesized when SnO2 was compressed to 74 GPa and heated at 1200 K. The cotunnite-type form was observed during compression between 54-117 GPa with additional laser heating carried out at 91 and 111 GPa. Fitting the pressure-volume data for the high-pressure phases to the second-order Birch-Murnaghan equation of state yields a bulk modulus of 259(26) GPa for the Pbca phase and 417(7) GPa for the cotunnite-type phase.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Article number | 014105 |
| Journal | Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics |
| Volume | 73 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2006 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Condensed Matter Physics