Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
06:04
Simulation of the Planetary Interior Differentiation Processes in the Laboratory
Published on: November 15, 2013
Radial gradient of superionic hydrogen in the Earth's inner core
Zepeng Wu1, Liangrui Wei1, Chen Gao1
1Department of Physics, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
Summary
Hydrogen
Area of Science:
- Geophysics and geochemistry
- Materials science
- Computational physics
Background:
- Hydrogen is a crucial light element in Earth's core.
- The thermodynamics of hydrogen's superionic phase and its distribution in the inner core are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compute ab initio Gibbs free energies for liquid and superionic hcp and bcc Fe-H phases.
- To construct the superionic-liquid phase diagram under Earth's inner core conditions.
- To investigate the distribution and thermodynamic behavior of hydrogen in the inner core.
Main Methods:
- Ab initio calculations of Gibbs free energies for Fe-H phases.
- Construction of the superionic-liquid phase diagram.
- Application of thermochemical constraints.
Main Results:
- Phase diagrams collapse when temperatures are scaled by iron's melting point, indicating pressure-weak sensitivity.
- A scaling relation reconciles theoretical discrepancies and matches low-pressure experimental data.
- A radial hydrogen gradient within the inner core was revealed.
Conclusions:
- Compositional gradients of superionic hydrogen arise naturally from equilibrium thermodynamics.
- A general mechanism for depth-dependent light element distribution in Earth's inner core is suggested.
More Related Videos
14:11Quantification of Hydrogen Concentrations in Surface and Interface Layers and Bulk Materials through Depth Profiling with Nuclear Reaction Analysis
Published on: March 29, 2016
06:34In Situ Monitoring of Diffusion of Guest Molecules in Porous Media Using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: September 2, 2016
Related Concept Videos
01:26What is an Electrochemical Gradient?
Adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, is considered the primary energy source in cells. However, energy can also be stored in the electrochemical gradient of an ion across the plasma membrane, which is determined by two factors: its chemical and electrical gradients.The chemical gradient relies on differences in the abundance of a substance on the outside versus the inside of a cell and flows from areas of high to low ion concentration. In contrast, the electrical gradient revolves around an ion’s...
01:22Electric Field of a Non Uniformly Charged Sphere
Gauss's law states that the electric flux through any closed surface equals the net charge enclosed within the surface. This law is beneficial for determining the expressions for the electric field for a particular charge distribution if the electric flux is known.
Consider a non-uniformly charged sphere, for which the density of charge depends only on the distance from a point in space and not on the direction. Such a sphere has a spherically symmetrical charge distribution. Here, the electric...
Consider a non-uniformly charged sphere, for which the density of charge depends only on the distance from a point in space and not on the direction. Such a sphere has a spherically symmetrical charge distribution. Here, the electric...
00:59Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Magnetic Moment
All atomic nuclei are positively charged. When they have a nonzero spin, they behave like rotating charges. As a consequence of their charge and spin, these nuclei generate a magnetic field (B). This, in turn, gives rise to a magnetic moment (μ), which is randomly oriented in the absence of an external magnetic field. When an external magnetic field (B0) is applied, the magnetic moment vectors can align with the field or against it in 2 + 1 orientations. A hydrogen nucleus, which is just a...
01:30The Electrical Double Layer
In the region where two bulk phases meet, an intricate electric charge distribution arises due to charge transfer, ion adsorption, molecular orientation, and charge distortion. This complex distribution is commonly referred to as the electrical double layer.When a solid electrode interfaces with ions in an electrolyte solution, the speed of electron transfer dictates the rates of oxidation and reduction. The electrode acquires a charge through the escape of atoms into the solution as cations or...
01:25Magnetic Field due to Moving Charges
A stationary charge creates and interacts with the electric field, while a moving charge creates a magnetic field.
Consider a point charge moving with a constant velocity. Like the electric field, the magnetic field at any point is directly proportional to the magnitude of the charge and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the source point and the field point. However, unlike the electric field, the magnetic field is always perpendicular to the plane containing the line...
Consider a point charge moving with a constant velocity. Like the electric field, the magnetic field at any point is directly proportional to the magnitude of the charge and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the source point and the field point. However, unlike the electric field, the magnetic field is always perpendicular to the plane containing the line...
03:08Atomic Radii and Effective Nuclear Charge
The elements in groups of the periodic table exhibit similar chemical behavior. This similarity occurs because the members of a group have the same number and distribution of electrons in their valence shells.