Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Pressure-induced phase transformation and fluorescent properties of ErF3 were investigated here using in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction and photoluminescence up to 32.1 GPa at room temperature. Results showed that ErF3 underwent a reversible pressure-induced phase transition from the β-YF3-type to the fluocerite LaF3-type at 9.8 GPa. The bulk moduli B0 for low- and high-pressure phases were determined to be 130 and 208 GPa, respectively. Photoluminescencent studies showed that new emission lines belonging to the transition of 2H11/2→4I15/2, 4S3/2→4I15/2, and 4F9/2→4I15/2 appeared during phase transition, suggesting pressure-induced electronic band splitting. Remarkably, significant pressure-induced enhancement of photoluminescence was observed, which was attributed to lattice distortion of the material under high pressure.