Structural stability and phase transition of Bi2Te3 under high pressure and low temperature

Structural stability and phase transition of topological insulator Bi2Te3 were studied via angle-dispersive synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction under high pressure and low temperature condition. The results manifest that the R-3m phase (phase I) is stable at 8 K over the pressure range up to 10 GPa and phase transition occurs between 8 K and 45 K at 8 GPa. According to the Birch-Murnaghan equation of state, the bulk modulus at ambient pressure B0 was estimated to be 45 ± 3 GPa with the assumption of B0′ = 4. The structural robustness of phase I at 8 K suggests that the superconductivity below 10 GPa is related to phase I. Topological properties of superconducting Bi2Te3 phase under pressure were discussed.