Communication: A novel method for generating molecular mixtures at extreme conditions: The case of hydrogen and oxygen

Journal Article · Sun Sep 07 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · Journal of Chemical Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4894402· OSTI ID:1332814

Pravica, Michael ^[1]; Sneed, Daniel ^[1]; White, Melanie ^[1]; Wang, Yonggang ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV (United States). High Pressure Science adn Engineering Center (HiPSEC) and Dept. of Physics

We have created a segregated mixture of molecular fluorine and oxygen at high pressure in a diamond anvil cell (DAC) via useful hard x-ray photochemistry. Here, a keyhole-like sample chamber was created in a stainless steel gasket to hold two segregated powders of potassium tetrafluoroborate (KBF₄) and potassium perchlorate (KClO₄) respectively in each hole at a pressure of ~3.0 GPa. Both holes were individually irradiated with synchrotron hard x-rays to release molecular fluorine and molecular oxygen, respectively. Upon irradiation of the hole containing KBF₄ molecular fluorine appeared (as evidenced via Raman spectroscopy) near the region of irradiation. The second hole containing KClO₄ was then irradiated and reddish-orange O₂ was observed to form. Oxygen was observed to diffuse throughout both holes whereas molecular fluorine did not. There is some evidence that oxygen difluoride (OF₂) was formed in the hole originally containing the KBF₄.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• Grant/Contract Number: NA0001982; NA0000979; FC08-01NV14049; NA0001974; FG02-99ER45775; AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 1332814
• Journal Information: Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol. 141, Issue 9; ISSN 0021-9606
• Publisher: American Institute of Physics (AIP)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY