Pressure effects on the structural and electronic properties of ABX4 scintillating crystals

Studies at high pressures and temperatures are helpful for understanding the physical properties of the solid state, including such classes of materials as, metals, semiconductors, superconductors, or minerals. In particular, the phase behaviour of ABX(4) scintillating materials is a challenging problem with many implications for other fields including technological applications and Earth and planetary sciences. A great progress has been done in the last years in the study of the pressure-effects on the structural and electronic properties of these compounds. In particular, the high-pressure structural sequence followed by these compounds seems now to be better understood thanks to recent experimental and theoretical studies. Here, we will review studies on the phase behaviour of different ABX4 scintillating materials. In particular, we will focus on discussing the results obtained by different groups for the scheelite-structured orthotungstates, which have been extensively studied up to 50 GPa. We will also describe different experimental techniques for obtaining reliable data at simultaneously high pressure and high temperature. Drawbacks and advantages of the different techniques are discussed along with recent developments involving synchrotron X-ray diffraction, Raman scattering, and ab initio calculations. Differences and similarities of the phase behaviour of these materials will be discussed, on the light of Fukunaga and Yamaoka's and Bastide's diagrams, aiming to improve the actual understanding of their high-pressure behaviour. Possible technological and geophysical implications of the reviewed results will be also commented. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.