Crystal structure of Rb$_{4}$C$_{60}$ under pressure

ORAL

Abstract

We show that Rb$_{4}$C$_{60}$ transforms from its orientationally disordered tetragonal structure at ambient pressure to an orthorhombic phase in the neighborhood of 0.4 GPa. Lattice parameters, interfullerene distances, and closest Rb-C distances evolve continuously up to 2.2 GPa. Rietveld refinements establish that the high pressure phase is isostructural to Cs$_{4}$C$_{60}$. The previously observed conducting phase at 0.8 GPa is therefore structurally distinct from the ambient pressure insulator.

*Work at the NSLS and APS was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, under Contracts DE-AC02-98CH10886 and W-31-109-Eng-38.

Authors

  • Ashfia Huq

    • Spallation Neutron Source, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory
  • Peter W. Stephens

    • SUNY Stonybrook
    • State University of New York at Stony Brook
    • Stony Brook University