High-pressure transformations in xenon hydrates

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Jan 8;99(1):25-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.221602698. Epub 2001 Dec 26.

Abstract

A high-pressure investigation of the Xe*H(2)O chemical system was conducted by using diamond-anvil cell techniques combined with in situ Raman spectroscopy, synchrotron x-ray diffraction, and laser heating. Structure I xenon clathrate was observed to be stable up to 1.8 GPa, at which pressure it transforms to a new Xe clathrate phase stable up to 2.5 GPa before breaking down to ice VII plus solid xenon. The bulk modulus and structure of both phases were determined: 9 +/- 1 GPa for Xe clathrate A with structure I (cubic, a = 11.595 +/- 0.003 A, V = 1,558.9 +/- 1.2 A(3) at 1.1 GPa) and 45 +/- 5 GPa for Xe clathrate B (tetragonal, a = 8.320 +/- 0.004 A, c = 10.287 +/- 0.007 A, V = 712.1 +/- 1.2 A(3) at 2.2 GPa). The extended pressure stability field of Xe clathrate structure I (A) and the discovery of a second Xe clathrate (B) above 1.8 GPa have implications for xenon in terrestrial and planetary interiors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Biophysical Phenomena
  • Biophysics
  • Lasers
  • Light
  • Pressure*
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman
  • Water / chemistry
  • X-Ray Diffraction
  • Xenon / chemistry*

Substances

  • Water
  • Xenon