Structure of sodium above 100 GPa by single-crystal x-ray diffraction

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0709309104
PMID: 17947379

Authors: M. I. Mcmahon (School of Physics and Centre for Science at Extreme Conditions, The University of Edinburgh, U.K.) , E. Gregoryanz (School of Physics and Centre for Science at Extreme Conditions, The University of Edinburgh, U.K.) , L. F. Lundegaard (School of Physics and Centre for Science at Extreme Conditions, The University of Edinburgh, U.K.) , Ingo Loa (University of Edinburgh) , C. Guillaume (Diamond Light Source) , R. J. Nelmes (Diamond Light Source) , A. K. Kleppe (Diamond Light Source) , M. Amboage (Diamond Light Source) , H. Wilhelm (Diamond Light Source) , A. P. Jephcoat (Diamond Light Source)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences , VOL 104 (44) , PAGES 17297 - 17299

State: Published (Approved)
Published: October 2007
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 081

Abstract: At pressures above a megabar (100 GPa), sodium crystallizes in a number of complex crystal structures with unusually low melting temperatures, reaching as low as 300 K at 118 GPa. We have utilized this unique behavior at extreme pressures to grow a single crystal of sodium at 108 GPa, and have investigated the complex crystal structure at this pressure using high-intensity x-rays from the new Diamond synchrotron source, in combination with a pressure cell with wide angular apertures. We confirm that, at 108 GPa, sodium is isostructural with the cI16 phase of lithium, and we have refined the full crystal structure of this phase. The results demonstrate the extension of single-crystal structure refinement beyond 100 GPa and raise the prospect of successfully determining the structures of yet more complex phases reported in sodium and other elements at extreme pressures.

Journal Keywords: Device Infection; Protein Biophysics; X-Ray Crystallography; Protein Domains

Subject Areas: Environment


Instruments: I15-Extreme Conditions

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