Pressure-induced amorphization of La{sub 1/3}TaO{sub 3}

La{sub 1/3}TaO{sub 3}, an A-site cation deficient perovskite, has been studied under pressure by synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. It undergoes irreversible pressure induced amorphization at P=18.5 GPa. An almost linear unit cell volume decrease vs. pressure is observed from ambient pressure up to the phase transition. The Raman spectroscopy also shows amorphization at the same pressure, with positive shifts of all modes as a function of pressure. The pressure dependence of the E{sub g} and A{sub 1g} Raman modes arising from the octahedral oxygen network is discussed. - Graphical abstract: La{sub 1/3}Tao{sub 3} exhibits linear pressure–volume relation until irreversible pressure induced amorphization at 18.5 Gpa. - Highlights: • La{sub 1/3}TaO{sub 3} has been studied under pressure by synchrotron XRD and Raman spectroscopy. • La{sub 1/3}TaO{sub 3} undergoes irreversible pressure induced amorphization around 18.5 GPa. • The transition is manifested in both XRD and Raman measurements. • A linear P–V relation is observed from ambient pressure up to the phase transition.