Pressure-induced disordering in α-SrZrF6: Implications for the role of the countercation in glassy SrZrF6

Abstract
Reversible pressure‐induced changes in the Raman and x‐ray scattering of α‐SrZrF6 are reported. Above a pressure of ∼10.0 GPa there is a precipitous decline in the Raman intensity; this is a phenomenon associated with the formation of an amorphous state. Energy dispersive x‐ray diffraction (EDXD) measurements show that the amorphization is not complete—some residual ordering persists. The results suggest that glassy SrZrF6, prepared at ambient pressure, (1) contains kinked chains of ZrF8 dodecahedra and (2) the medium range order of the glass is determined by the way ZrF8 units are arranged around the strontium countercation.