In situ study on the structural transition in YBO3 through Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy is a powerful tool to judge the fundamental building units contained in crystal structure. In this work, it was used to investigate the basic structural groups involved in the low temperature (LT) and high temperature (HT) phase YBO3. The characteristic Raman vibrational bands of the LT and HT phases YBO3 were identified respectively. The characteristic vibrational peaks of the LT phase YBO3 locate around 410 cm−1 and 500 cm−1, both of them are attributed to the ring bending modes of B3O9 group. The strong characteristic vibrational band of the HT phase YBO3, arising from the symmetric stretching mode of BO3 group, locates around 940 cm−1. A structural phase transition with a large thermal hysteresis was found. During the phase transition process, the B–O bonds of the BO4 groups break and the B3O9 rings cleave into the BO3 plane conjugated groups.

High temperature Raman spectroscopy has been used to investigate the conformational transition of YBO3. From the LT to HT phase, the B3O9 rings break into the isolated BO3 triangles.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► High temperature Raman spectroscopy was used to study the conformational transition of YBO3.
► The characteristic Raman bands of the HT phase YBO3 were identified.
► A structural phase transition with a large thermal hysteresis was found.