High-Pressure Study of YVO4Nanoboxes

Abstract

YVO4 nanoboxes doped with Eu ions (4 at%) have been studied by means of X-ray diffraction, Raman and photoluminescence measurements under high pressure. Photoluminescence measurements in nanoboxes provide evidence that Eu ions locate at different symmetry sites in the nanoenvironment than in bulk crystal. On the other hand, Raman scattering measurements under pressure provide evidence that YVO4 nanoboxes undergo a monoclinic distortion of the zircon structure prior to their phase transition towards the scheelite structure at high pressure.