  The structural stability and physical properties of CrVO4 under compression
were studied by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, optical absorption,
resistivity measurements, and ab initio calculations up to 10 GPa.
High-pressure X-ray diffraction and Raman measurements show that CrVO4
undergoes a phase transition from the ambient pressure orthorhombic CrVO4-type
structure (Cmcm space group, phase III) to the high-pressure monoclinic CrVO4-V
phase, which is isomorphic to the wolframite structure. Such a phase transition
(CrVO4-type - wolframite), driven by pressure, also was previously observed in
indium vanadate. The crystal structure of both phases and the pressure
dependence in unit-cell parameters, Raman-active modes, resistivity, and
electronic band gap, is reported. Vanadium atoms are sixth-fold coordinated in
the wolframite phase, which is related to the collapse in the volume at the
phase transition. Besides, we also observed drastic changes in the phonon
spectrum, a drop of the band-gap, and a sharp decrease of resistivity. All the
observed phenomena are explained with the help of first-principles
calculations.
