High-pressure Raman scattering of MgMoO4

In this paper, we present results of high-pressure Raman scattering studies in β-MgMoO4 from atmospheric to 8.5 GPa. The experiments were carried out using methanol–ethanol as pressure medium. By analyzing the pressure dependence of the Raman data (change in the number of lattice modes, splitting of bands and wavenumber discontinuities) we were able to observe a phase transition undergone by the β-MgMoO4 at 1.4 GPa, which is only completed at ∼5 GPa. The transition was observed to be irreversible and the modifications in the Raman spectra were attributed to the changes in coordination of Mo ions from tetrahedral to octahedral. The transition possibly changes the original C2/m symmetry to C2/m or to P2/c. Implication on the phase transition for similar molybdate structures, such as α-MnMoO4, is also highlighted.