Structural, vibrational and electronic properties of α′-GaS under compression

• Published in: Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP 2021-03, Vol.23 (11), p.6841-6862
• Main Authors: Gallego-Parra, S, Vilaplana, R, Gomis, O, Lora da Silva, E, Otero-de-la-Roza, A, Rodríguez-Hernández, P, Muñoz, A, González, J, Sans, J. A, Cuenca-Gotor, V. P, Ibáñez, J, Popescu, C, Manjón, F. J
• Format: Article
• ISSN: 1463-9076; 1463-9084
• DOI: 10.1039/d0cp06417c

We report a joint experimental and theoretical study of the low-pressure phase of α′-Ga 2 S 3 under compression. Theoretical ab initio calculations have been compared to X-ray diffraction and Raman scattering measurements under high pressure carried out up to 17.5 and 16.1 GPa, respectively. In addition, we report Raman scattering measurements of α′-Ga 2 S 3 at high temperature that have allowed us to study its anharmonic properties. To understand better the compression of this compound, we have evaluated the topological properties of the electron density, the electron localization function, and the electronic properties as a function of pressure. As a result, we shed light on the role of the Ga-S bonds, the van der Waals interactions inside the channels of the crystalline structure, and the single and double lone electron pairs of the sulphur atoms in the anisotropic compression of α′-Ga 2 S 3 . We found that the structural channels are responsible for the anisotropic properties of α′-Ga 2 S 3 and the A′(6) phonon, known as the breathing mode and associated with these channels, exhibits the highest anharmonic behaviour. Finally, we report calculations of the electronic band structure of α′-Ga 2 S 3 at different pressures and find a nonlinear pressure behaviour of the direct band gap and a pressure-induced direct-to-indirect band gap crossover that is similar to the behaviour previously reported in other ordered-vacancy compounds, including β-Ga 2 Se 3 . The importance of the single and, more specially, the double lone electron pairs of sulphur in the pressure dependence of the topmost valence band of α′-Ga 2 S 3 is stressed. We report a joint experimental and theoretical study of the low-pressure phase of α′-Ga 2 S 3 under compression. The structural, vibrational, topological and electronic properties have been evaluated to reveal the relevance of the vacancy channels and the single and double lone electron pairs in the pressure behaviour of this system.