In-situ high-pressure Raman scattering studies in PbWO4 up to 48 GPa

•The HP structural sequence of PbWO4 is studied up to 48 GPa.•Phase transitions and amorphization are found at 6.8, 15.5, 21.2, and 47.7 GPa.•Raman-active modes and their pressure dependences are reported and discussed.

The effect of pressure on the Raman spectrum of PbWO4 has been investigated up to 48 GPa in a diamond-anvil cell using neon as pressure-transmitting medium. Changes are detected in the Raman spectrum at 6.8 GPa as a consequence of a structural phase transition from the tetragonal scheelite structure to the monoclinic PbWO4-III structure. Additional changes are detected in the Raman spectra at 15.5 and 21.2 GPa. They are proposed to be the consequence of two additional phase transitions to the previously unknown crystalline phases IV and V. Additionally, at 47.7 GPa all Raman modes disappear, which could be caused by a pressure-induced amorphization. All structural changes are reversible, being the scheelite phase recovered at ambient pressure. However, the two most intense modes of the PbWO4-III phase are still present after full decompression, indicating that this phase coexists as a minority metastable phase with the scheelite phase after pressure release. The wavenumber of the Raman modes and their pressure dependencies are reported for the four crystalline phases. The present reported results are compared with previous studies.

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