Pressure-induced multiple structural phase transitions on multiferroic CaMn7O12

Abstract

CaMn₇O₁₂ (CMO) is an outstanding multiferroic material known for its significant magnetically-induced electric polarization. Its strong magnetoelectric (ME) effect, i.e., electric polarization controlled via magnetic fields or vice versa, makes this material suitable for a variety of technological applications. In this study, we employed synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction to explore polycrystalline CMO's pressure-induced structural phase transitions (SPTs). Our results indicate that CMO undergoes two distinct pressure-induced SPTs: the first transition occurs at pressures above 7.0 GPa, changing from a rhombohedral to an orthorhombic structure, and the second occurs around 13.0 GPa, transforming into a monoclinic structure. These findings differ from the pressure-induced behavior of CMO single crystals and highlight CMO as one of the rare quadruple perovskites exhibiting multiple pressure-induced non-isostructural phase transitions. This study expands the understanding of phase stability behavior in multiferroic materials under high-pressure conditions.