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Updated: Oct 21, 2026

Synthesis and Microdiffraction at Extreme Pressures and Temperatures
Published on: October 7, 2013
Synthesis of Xenon and Iron-Nickel Intermetallic Compounds at Earth's Core Thermodynamic Conditions
Elissaios Stavrou1, Yansun Yao2,3, Alexander F Goncharov4,5,6
1Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Livermore, California 94550, USA.
Abstract:
Using in situ synchrotron x-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy in concert with first principles calculations we demonstrate the synthesis of stable Xe(Fe,Fe/Ni)_{3} and XeNi_{3} compounds at thermodynamic conditions representative of Earth's core. Surprisingly, in the case of both the Xe-Fe and Xe-Ni systems Fe and Ni become highly electronegative and can act as oxidants. The results indicate the changing chemical properties of elements under extreme conditions by documenting that electropositive at ambient pressure elements could gain electrons and form anions.
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