Pressure-Induced High-Spin to Low-Spin Transition in FeS Evidenced by X-Ray Emission Spectroscopy

We report the observation of the pressure-induced high-spin to low-spin transition in FeS using new high-pressure synchrotron x-ray emission spectroscopy techniques. The transition is evidenced by the disappearance of the low-energy satellite in the Fe Kβ emission spectrum of FeS. Moreover, the phase transition is reversible and closely related to the structural phase transition from a manganese phosphidelike phase to a monoclinic phase. The study opens new opportunities for investigating the electronic properties of materials under pressure.