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Synthesis and Microdiffraction at Extreme Pressures and Temperatures
Published on: October 7, 2013
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Reactivity of He with ionic compounds under high pressure
Zhen Liu1,2,3, Jorge Botana1,3, Andreas Hermann4
1Beijing Computational Science Research Centre, Beijing, 100193, China.
Nature Communications
|March 7, 2018
Summary
Helium can now form stable solid compounds with ionic materials, challenging previous assumptions. This discovery suggests significant helium storage potential within Earth's lower mantle minerals.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Geochemistry
- High-Pressure Physics
Background:
- Helium (He) was historically considered incapable of forming stable solid compounds.
- Recent discoveries indicated He reactivity under extreme pressure conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the general driving forces for helium compound formation.
- To explore helium's reactivity with ionic compounds under pressure.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical proposal of a general driving force for He reactions.
- Computational demonstration of He insertion into ionic compounds.
- Analysis of stabilization mechanisms via modified Coulomb interactions.
Main Results:
- Identified a general driving force for He to react with ionic compounds having unequal cation/anion numbers.
- Demonstrated stabilization of He-containing compounds through modified long-range Coulomb interactions, particularly under high pressure.
- Confirmed this mechanism explains recent He-Na compound discoveries.
Conclusions:
- Helium exhibits a propensity to react with diverse ionic compounds at pressures as low as 30 GPa.
- The findings suggest substantial He storage in Earth's lower mantle due to mineral compositions.
- Challenges the long-held view of helium's inert nature in solid-state chemistry.
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