Raman scattering of perovskite SmScO3 and NdScO3 single crystals

TL;DR

This study uses Raman scattering to analyze the phonon modes and structural features of SmScO3 and NdScO3 single crystals, revealing their vibrational properties and fluorescence behavior relevant for structural investigations.

Contribution

It provides detailed Raman spectra and phonon mode assignments for SmScO3 and NdScO3, establishing a basis for using Raman scattering in RE-scandate structural analysis.

Findings

Raman spectra reveal phonon modes and fluorescence signals.

Phonon frequencies scale with orthorhombic distortion.

Fluorescence intensity varies with excitation wavelength.

Abstract

We report an investigation of perovskite-type SmScO3 and NdScO3 single crystals by Raman scattering in various scattering configurations and at different wavelengths. The reported Raman spectra, together with the phonon mode assignment, set the basis for the use of Raman scattering for the structural investigation of RE-scandates. Further to the phonon signature, a fluorescence signal is observed for both scandates and is particularly intense for NdScO3 when using a 488 or 514 nm excitation line. A comparison of Raman spectra of RE-scandates with literature Raman data on orthorhombic perovskites shows that the frequency of particular modes scales with the orthorhombic distortion in terms of the rotation (or tilt) angle of the ScO6 octahedra