Pressure induced lattice expansion and phonon softening in layered ReS₂

We report high pressure X-ray diffraction and a detailed systematic Raman measurements on $ReS_2$ sample, which is mechanically exfoliated from a single crystal. A few new Bragg peaks are observed to emerge above 6 GPa indicating a structural transition from distorted $1T$ to distorted $1T$$^{\prime}$ in triclinic structure. The same is corroborated by appearance of new Raman modes in the same pressure range. Softening of the Raman modes corresponding to $Re$ atom vibrations are observed in the distorted $1T$$^{\prime}$ phase in the pressure range 15-25 GPa. In the same pressure range the anomalous change in the volume is found to be induced by the lattice expansion. The volume expansion is related to the sliding of layers leading to octahedral distortion and increase in octahedral volume. The sample is found to be much incompressible above 25 GPa with respect to below 15 GPa data. The same is also reflected in the Raman mode shifts with pressure.