Structural, electronic and vibrational properties of tetragonal zirconia under pressure: A density functional theory study

Abstract

We present the results of a plane wave based density functional study of the structure and properties of tetragonal zirconia in the range of pressures from 0 to 50GPa. We predict a transition to a fluorite-type cubic structure at 37GPa which is likely to be of a soft mode origin and is accompanied by a power law decrease of the frequency of the Raman-active A1g mode. A detailed study of the pressure effect on phonon modes is given, including theoretical Raman spectra and their pressure dependence. Our results provide a consistent picture of the pressure-induced phase transition in tetragonal zirconia. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.