Pressure-induced zircon-type to scheelite-type phase transitions in YbPO4 and LuPO4

The tetragonal orthophosphates, YbPO4 and LuPO4, were studied by in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) at pressures up to 52 and 43 GPa, respectively. A reversible phase transition from the zircon structure-type to the scheelite structure-type was found at ∼22 GPa for YbPO4 and 19 GPa for LuPO4. Coinciding with the transition from the zircon structure-type to the scheelite structure-type, there is a ∼10% reduction in volume and a significant increase in the bulk modulus for both compounds.