Tantalum doping in HfO₂: orthorhombic phase formation at ambient conditions and change in path of pressure-induced structural evolution

ABSTRACT

A systematic study of orthorhombic phase formation at ambient conditions beyond a critical concentration of dopant Tantalum (Ta) in HfO${}_2$ is reported. The effect on the path of structural evolution due to Ta doping in HfO${}_2$ was also investigated. Studies on Ta-doped HfO${}_2$ samples and their path of structural evolution under compression have significant implications for materials undergoing β-decay. The effect of continual doping due to β-decay from geophysical point of view is discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Structural phase transformation
• high pressure
• X-ray diffraction
• synchrotron radiation
• crystal structure

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).