Title: Coexistence of pressure-induced structural phases in bulk black phosphorus: a combined x-ray diffraction and Raman study up to 18 GPa,
Abstract: We report a study of the structural phase transitions induced by pressure in
bulk black phosphorus by using both synchrotron x-ray diffraction for pressures
up to 12.2 GPa and Raman spectroscopy up to 18.2 GPa. Very recently black
phosphorus attracted large attention because of the unique properties of
fewlayers samples (phosphorene), but some basic questions are still open in the
case of the bulk system. As concerning the presence of a Raman spectrum above
10 GPa, which should not be observed in an elemental simple cubic system, we
propose a new explanation by attributing a key role to the non-hydrostatic
conditions occurring in Raman experiments. Finally, a combined analysis of
Raman and XRD data allowed us to obtain quantitative information on presence
and extent of coexistences between different structural phases from ~5 up to
~15 GPa. This information can have an important role in theoretical studies on
pressure-induced structural and electronic phase transitions in black
phosphorus.