High Pressure Behaviors and a Novel High-Pressure Phase of Cuprous Oxide Cu2O

In the present study, we extensively explored the phase stabilities and elastic behaviors of Cu2O with elevated pressures up to 29.3 GPa based on single-crystal X-ray diffraction measurements. The structural sequence of Cu2O is different than previously determined. Specifically, we have established that Cu2O under pressure, displays a cubic-tetragonal-monoclinic phase transition sequence, and a novel monoclinic high-pressure phase assigned to the P1a1 or P12/a1 space group was firstly observed. The monoclinic phase Cu2O exhibits anisotropic compression with axial compressibility beta(b) > beta(c) > beta(a) in a ratio of 1.00:1.64:1.45. The obtained isothermal bulk modulus of cubic and monoclinic phase Cu2O are 125(2) and 41(6) GPa, respectively, and the K-T0' is fixed at 4. Our results provide new insights into the phase stability and elastic properties of copper oxides and chalcogenides at extreme conditions.

Automated summary

The study reveals the structural sequence of Cu2O under high pressure as cubic-tetragonal-monoclinic, with a novel monoclinic high-pressure phase observed for the first time. The monoclinic phase of Cu2O exhibits anisotropic compression, and its elastic properties differ significantly from the cubic phase.