Structural and electrical properties of PbMoO₄ under high pressure

High pressure Raman spectra and in situ electrical conductivity measurement of scheelite-structure PbMoO₄ have been conducted using a diamond anvil cell (DAC). The Raman spectra of powdered PbMoO₄ were determined up to 26.5GPa under nonhydrostatic conditions. The results indicate that PbMoO₄ undergoes a transition from crystal to amorphous phase with increasing pressure, and the phase-transition pressure was about 12.5GPa. The electrical conductivity of PbMoO₄ as a function of pressure and temperature was studied using a designed DAC. The experimental results show that the electrical conductivity of PbMoO₄ increases with increasing pressure and temperature. Compared with the electrical conductivity value of PbMoO₄ at 7.4GPa and 430K, it increases by about two orders of magnitude at 26.5GPa and 430K.