Investigation of in Situ Raman Spectrum and Electrical Conductivity of PbMoO4 at High Pressure

PbMoO4, with high acousto-optic figure of merit, low acoustic loss and nicer acoustic impedance matching, has received much attention because of applications as acousto-optic deflector, modulator, adjustable filter, suface acoustic wave devices and great potential to act as an effective low-temperature scintillator for nuclear instrumental applications. In this study, in situ Raman spectrum of PbMoO4 was measured in a diamond anvil cell (DAC). The electrical conductivity measurement of PbMoO4 was performed at different pressure and temperature. All Raman peaks disappeared at 12.5 GPa, which indicated that the PbMoO4 experienced gradually the crystal to amorphous transition between 10.8 GPa and 12.5 GPa. Upon decompresstion from 26.5 GPa to 9.4 GPa a broad Raman peak occurred at a low frequency,while the peak of 858 cm-1 occured at 2.4 GPa again, thus suggesting that the PbMoO4 crystal was gradually recovered from the amorphous state. Above 10.8 GPa, the electrical conductivity of PbMoO4 increased obviously with increasing temperature and pressure.