Pressure-induced structural phase transition and suppression of Jahn-Teller distortion in the quadruple perovskite structure

TL;DR

This study uses high-pressure X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy to reveal a structural phase transition in LaMn7O12 at 34 GPa, suppressing Jahn-Teller distortion and indicating potential for an electronic insulator-metal transition.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed analysis of pressure-induced structural changes and Jahn-Teller suppression in LaMn7O12, highlighting the possibility of a lattice-independent electronic transition.

Findings

First-order transition from monoclinic to cubic symmetry at 34 GPa

Suppression of Jahn-Teller distortion in high-pressure phase

Evidence of electron-phonon interaction onset above 20 GPa

Abstract

By means of in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy under hydrostatic pressure, we investigate the structural stability of the quadruple perovskite LaMn7O12. At 34 GPa, the data unveil a first-order structural phase transition from monoclinic I2/m to cubic Im-3 symmetry characterized by a pronounced contraction of the unit cell and by a significant modifications in the Raman phonon modes. The phase transition is also marked by the suppression of Jahn-Teller distortion which is present in the ambient monoclinic phase. In addition, above 20 GPa pressure, a sudden and simultaneous broadening is observed in several Raman modes which suggests the onset of a sizable electron-phonon interaction and incipient charge mobility. Considering that LaMn7O12 is paramagnetic insulator at ambient, and Jahn-Teller distortion is frozen in the high-pressure Im-3 phase, we argue that this phase could be a potential candidate to host a purely electronic insulator-metal transition with no participation of the lattice