High-pressure behavior and equations of state of the cobaltates YBaCo{sub 4}O{sub 7}, YBaCo{sub 4}O{sub 7+{delta}}, YBaCoZn{sub 3}O{sub 7} and BaCoO{sub 3-x}
The compressibilities of the cobaltates YBaCo{sub 4}O{sub 7}, YBaCo{sub 4}O{sub 7+{delta}}, YBaCoZn{sub 3}O{sub 7} and BaCoO{sub 3-x} were investigated by in situ powder X-ray diffraction experiments up to 30 GPa using diamond anvil cells. Pressure-induced phase transitions and amorphization were observed in all the samples. The onset of the pressure-induced phase transition and the onset of the amorphization were observed at {approx}11.7 and 12.2 GPa (YBaCo{sub 4}O{sub 7}), at {approx}14.2 and 16.1 GPa (YBaCo{sub 4}O{sub 7+{delta}}), and at {approx}16.7 and 18.7 GPa (YBaCoZn{sub 3}O{sub 7}), respectively. An attempt to laser anneal at high-pressure failed as it led to a decomposition of the YBaCo{sub 4}O{sub 7} phase into a mixture of phases. Fits of second- and third-order Birch-Murnaghan equations-of-state to the p-V data result in B{sub 0}=109(3) GPa for YBaCo{sub 4}O{sub 7}; B{sub 0}=186(4) GPa and B Prime =1.5 for YBaCo{sub 4}O{sub 7+{delta}}; and B{sub 0}=117(1) GPa for YBaCoZn{sub 3}O{sub 7}. The high-pressure behavior of the studied compounds was compared with isostructural compounds and it is shown that the oxygen-content has a very large effect on the high-pressure behavior of this class of materials. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Compressibilities were investigated by in situ DAC powder X-ray diffraction experiments. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Pressure-induced phase transitions were observed in all the samples. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer High-pressure phases were very sensitive to small amounts of stresses and strains. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Due to the metastability of the compounds, laser annealing leads to decomposition. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Oxygen-content has a very large effect on the high pressure behavior in these materials.