White Laue and powder diffraction studies to reveal mechanisms of HCP-to-BCC phase transformation in single crystals of Mg under high pressure.

Mechanisms of hexagonal close-packed (HCP) to body-centered cubic (BCC) phase transformation in Mg single crystals are observed using a combination of polychromatic beam Laue diffraction and monochromatic beam powder diffraction techniques under quasi-hydrostatic pressures of up to 58 ± 2 GPa at ambient temperature. Although experiments were performed with both He and Ne pressure media, crystals inevitably undergo plastic deformation upon loading to 40-44 GPa. The plasticity is accommodated by dislocation glide causing local misorientations of up to 1°-2°. The selected crystals are tracked by mapping Laue diffraction spots up to the onset of the HCP to BCC transformation, which is determined to be at a pressure of 56.6 ± 2 GPa. Intensity of the Laue reflections from HCP crystals rapidly decrease but no reflections from crystalline BCC phase are observed with a further increase of pressure. Nevertheless, the powder diffraction shows the formation of 110 BCC peak at 56.6 GPa. The peak intensity increases at 59.7 GPa. Upon the full transformation, a powder-like BCC aggregate is formed revealing the destructive nature of the HCP to BCC transformation in single crystals of Mg.

CO2 laser heating system for in situ radial x-ray absorption at 16-BM-D at the Advanced Photon Source.

We present a portable CO2 laser heating system for in situ x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) studies at 16-BM-D (High Pressure Collaborative Access Team, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory). Back scattering optical measurements are made possible by the implementation of a Ge beamsplitter. Optical pyrometry is conducted in the near-infrared, and our temperature measurements are free of chromatic aberration due to the implementation of the peak-scaling method [A. Kavner and W. R. Panero, Phys. Earth Planet. Inter. 143-144, 527-539 (2004) and A. Kavner and C. Nugent, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 79, 024902 (2008)] and mode scrambling of the input signal. Laser power stabilization is established using electronic feedback, providing a steady power over second timescales [Childs et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 91, 103003 (2020)]-crucial for longer XAS collections. Examples of in situ high pressure-temperature extended x-ray absorption fine structure measurements of ZrO2 are presented to demonstrate this new capability.

Overview of HPCAT and capabilities for studying minerals and various other materials at high-pressure conditions.

High-Pressure Collaborative Access Team (HPCAT) is a synchrotron-based facility located at the Advanced Photon Source (APS). With four online experimental stations and various offline capabilities, HPCAT is focused on providing synchrotron x-ray capabilities for high pressure and temperature research and supporting a broad user community. Overall, the array of online/offline capabilities is described, including some of the recent developments for remote user support and the concomitant impact of the current pandemic. General overview of work done at HPCAT and with a focus on some of the minerals relevant work and supporting capabilities is also discussed. With the impending APS-Upgrade (APS-U), there is a considerable effort within HPCAT to improve and add capabilities. These are summarized briefly for each of the end-stations.

Phase Transitions of Cu and Fe at Multiscales in an Additively Manufactured Cu-Fe Alloy under High-Pressure.

A state of the art, custom-built direct-metal deposition (DMD)-based additive manufacturing (AM) system at the University of Michigan was used to manufacture 50Cu-50Fe alloy with tailored properties for use in high strain/deformation environments. Subsequently, we performed preliminary high-pressure compression experiments to investigate the structural stability and deformation of this material. Our work shows that the alpha (BCC) phase of Fe is stable up to ~16 GPa before reversibly transforming to HCP, which is at least a few GPa higher than pure bulk Fe material. Furthermore, we observed evidence of a transition of Cu nano-precipitates in Fe from the well-known FCC structure to a metastable BCC phase, which has only been predicted via density functional calculations. Finally, the metastable FCC Fe nano-precipitates within the Cu grains show a modulated nano-twinned structure induced by high-pressure deformation. The results from this work demonstrate the opportunity in AM application for tailored functional materials and extreme stress/deformation applications.

High-Entropy Borides under Extreme Environment of Pressures and Temperatures.

The high-entropy transition metal borides containing a random distribution of five or more constituent metallic elements offer novel opportunities in designing materials that show crystalline phase stability, high strength, and thermal oxidation resistance under extreme conditions. We present a comprehensive theoretical and experimental investigation of prototypical high-entropy boride (HEB) materials such as (Hf, Mo, Nb, Ta, Ti)B2 and (Hf, Mo, Nb, Ta, Zr)B2 under extreme environments of pressures and temperatures. The theoretical tools include modeling elastic properties by special quasi-random structures that predict a bulk modulus of 288 GPa and a shear modulus of 215 GPa at ambient conditions. HEB samples were synthesized under high pressures and high temperatures and studied to 9.5 GPa and 2273 K in a large-volume pressure cell. The thermal equation of state measurement yielded a bulk modulus of 276 GPa, in excellent agreement with theory. The measured compressive yield strength by radial X-ray diffraction technique in a diamond anvil cell was 28 GPa at a pressure of 65 GPa, which is a significant fraction of the shear modulus at high pressures. The high compressive strength and phase stability of this material under high pressures and high temperatures make it an ideal candidate for application as a structural material in nuclear and aerospace fields.

Nontrivial nanostructure, stress relaxation mechanisms, and crystallography for pressure-induced Si-I → Si-II phase transformation.

Crystallographic theory based on energy minimization suggests austenite-twinned martensite interfaces with specific orientation, which are confirmed experimentally for various materials. Pressure-induced phase transformation (PT) from semiconducting Si-I to metallic Si-II, due to very large and anisotropic transformation strain, may challenge this theory. Here, unexpected nanostructure evolution during Si-I → Si-II PT is revealed by combining molecular dynamics (MD), crystallographic theory, generalized for strained crystals, and in situ real-time Laue X-ray diffraction (XRD). Twinned Si-II, consisting of two martensitic variants, and unexpected nanobands, consisting of alternating strongly deformed and rotated residual Si-I and third variant of Si-II, form [Formula: see text] interface with Si-I and produce almost self-accommodated nanostructure despite the large transformation volumetric strain of [Formula: see text]. The interfacial bands arrest the [Formula: see text] interfaces, leading to repeating nucleation-growth-arrest process and to growth by propagating [Formula: see text] interface, which (as well as [Formula: see text] interface) do not appear in traditional crystallographic theory.

X-ray Free Electron Laser-Induced Synthesis of ε-Iron Nitride at High Pressures.

The ultrafast synthesis of ε-Fe3N1+x in a diamond-anvil cell (DAC) from Fe and N2 under pressure was observed using serial exposures of an X-ray free electron laser (XFEL). When the sample at 5 GPa was irradiated by a pulse train separated by 443 ns, the estimated sample temperature at the delay time was above 1400 K, confirmed by in situ transformation of α- to γ-iron. Ultimately, the Fe and N2 reacted uniformly throughout the beam path to form Fe3N1.33, as deduced from its established equation of state (EOS). We thus demonstrate that the activation energy provided by intense X-ray exposures in an XFEL can be coupled with the source time structure to enable exploration of the time-dependence of reactions under high-pressure conditions.

Pressure-Induced Enhancement of Thermoelectric Figure of Merit and Structural Phase Transition in TiNiSn.

Half-Heusler thermoelectric materials are potential candidates for high thermoelectric efficiency. We report high-pressure thermoelectric and structural property measurements, density functional theory calculations on the half-Heusler material TiNiSn, and an increase of 15% in the relative dimensionless figure of merit, ZT, around 3 GPa. Thermal and electrical properties were measured utilizing a specialized sample cell assembly designed for the Paris-Edinburgh large-volume press to a maximum pressure of 3.5 GPa. High-pressure structural measurements performed up to 50 GPa in a diamond-anvil cell indicated the emergence of a new high-pressure phase around 20 GPa. A first-principles structure search performed using an ab initio random structure search approach identified the high-pressure phase as an orthorhombic type, in good agreement with the experimental results.

A broadband wavelet implementation for rapid ultrasound pulse-echo time-of-flight measurements.

A broadband wavelet approach to ultrasonic pulse-echo time-of-flight measurements is described. The broadband approach significantly reduces the time required for frequency-dependent pulse-echo measurements, enabling studies of dynamic systems ranging from biological systems to solid-state phase transitions. The described broadband approach is demonstrated in parallel with the more traditional frequency stepping approach to perform ultrasound time-of-flight measurements inside a large volume Paris-Edinburgh press in situ at a synchrotron source. The broadband wavelet data acquisition process was found to be 1-2 orders of magnitude faster than the stepped-frequency approach, with no compromise on data quality or determined results.

Structural Changes in Liquid Lithium under High Pressure.

We have experimentally studied the effect of compression on the structure of liquid lithium (Li) by multiangle energy dispersive X-ray diffraction in a large-volume cupped-Drickamer-Toroidal cell. The structure factors, s(q), of liquid Li have been successfully determined under an isothermal compression at 600 ± 30 K and at pressures up to 11.5 GPa. The first peak position in s(q) is found to increase with increasing pressure and is showing an obvious slope change starting at ∼7.5 GPa. The slope change is interpreted as a structural change from bcc-like to fcc-like local ordering in liquid Li. At pressures above 8.7 GPa, the liquid Li becomes predominantly fcc-like up to the highest pressure of 11.5 GPa in this study. The observed structural changes in liquid Li are consistent with the recently determined melting curve of Li.

Experimental melting curve of zirconium metal to 37 GPa.

In this report, we present results of high-pressure experiments probing the melt line of zirconium (Zr) up to 37 GPa. This investigation has determined that temperature versus laser power curves provide an accurate method to determine melt temperatures. When this information is combined with the onset of diffuse scattering, which is associated with the melt process, we demonstrate the ability to accurately determine the melt boundary. This presents a reliable method for rapid determination of melt boundary and agrees well with other established techniques for such measurements, as reported in previous works on Zr.

Room-temperature compression and equation of state of body-centered cubic zirconium.

Zirconium (Zr) has properties conducive to nuclear applications and exhibits complex behavior at high pressure with respect to the effects of impurities, deviatoric stress, kinetics, and grain growth which makes it scientifically interesting. Here, we present experimental results on the 300 K equation of state of ultra-high purity Zr obtained using the diamond-anvil cell coupled with synchrotron-based x-ray diffraction and electrical resistance measurements. Based on quasi-hydrostatic room-temperature compression in helium to pressure P = 69.4(2) GPa, we constrain the bulk modulus and its pressure derivative of body-centered cubic (bcc) ß-Zr to be K = 224(2) GPa and K' = 2.6(1) at P = 37.0(1) GPa. A Monte Carlo approach was developed to accurately quantify the uncertainties in K and K'. In the Monte Carlo simulations, both the unit-cell volume and pressure vary according to their experimental uncertainty. Our high-pressure studies do not indicate additional isostructural volume collapse in the bcc phase of Zr in the 56-58 GPa pressure range.

Real time study of grain enlargement in zirconium under room-temperature compression across the α to ω phase transition.

We report a synchrotron Laue diffraction study on the microstructure evolution in zirconium (Zr) as it undergoes a pressure-driven structural phase transformation, using a recently developed real time scanning x-ray microscopy technique. Time resolved characterizations of microstructure under high pressure show that Zr exhibits a grain enlargement across the α-Zr to ω-Zr structural phase transition at room-temperature, with nucleation and growth of ω-Zr crystals observed from initially a nano-crystalline aggregate of α-Zr. The observed grain enlargement is unusual since the enlargement processes typically require substantially high temperature to overcome the activation barriers for forming and moving of grain boundaries. Possible mechanisms for the grain enlargement are discussed.

Anomalous Conductivity in the Rutile Structure Driven by Local Disorder.

Many rutile-type materials are characterized by a softness in shear with pressure which is coupled to a Raman-active librational motion. Combining direct studies of anion positions in SnO2 with measurements of its electronic properties, we find a correlation between O sublattice disorder between 5 and 10 GPa and an anomalous decrease up to 4 orders of magnitude in electrical resistance. Hypotheses into the atomistic nature of the phenomenon are evaluated via ab initio calculations guided by extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy analysis, and the most likely mechanism is found to be the displacement of single anions resulting from the pressure-induced softening of the librational mode. On the basis of this mechanism, we propose that the same behavior should feature across all materials exhibiting a rutile → CaCl2 phase transition and that conductivity in other rutile-type materials could be facilitated at ambient pressure by appropriate design of devices to enhance defects of this nature.

Giant Pressure-Induced Enhancement of Seebeck Coefficient and Thermoelectric Efficiency in SnTe.

The thermoelectric properties of polycrystalline SnTe have been measured up to 4.5 GPa at 330 K. SnTe shows an enormous enhancement in Seebeck coefficient, greater than 200 % after 3 GPa, which correlates to a known pressure-induced structural phase transition that is observed through simultaneous in situ X-ray diffraction measurement. Electrical resistance and relative changes to the thermal conductivity were also measured, enabling the determination of relative changes in the dimensionless figure of merit (ZT), which increases dramatically after 3 GPa, reaching 350 % of the lowest pressure ZT value. The results demonstrate a fundamental relationship between structure and thermoelectric behaviours and suggest that pressure is an effective tool to control them.

Strong, Ductile, and Thermally Stable bcc-Mg Nanolaminates.

Magnesium has attracted attention worldwide because it is the lightest structural metal. However, a high strength-to-weight ratio remains its only attribute, since an intrinsic lack of strength, ductility and low melting temperature severely restricts practical applications of Mg. Through interface strains, the crystal structure of Mg can be transformed and stabilized from a simple hexagonal (hexagonal close packed hcp) to body center cubic (bcc) crystal structure at ambient pressures. We demonstrate that when introduced into a nanocomposite bcc Mg is far more ductile, 50% stronger, and retains its strength after extended exposure to 200 C, which is 0.5 times its homologous temperature. These findings reveal an alternative solution to obtaining lightweight metals critically needed for future energy efficiency and fuel savings.

High-pressure Seebeck coefficients and thermoelectric behaviors of Bi and PbTe measured using a Paris-Edinburgh cell.

A new sample cell assembly design for the Paris-Edinburgh type large-volume press for simultaneous measurements of X-ray diffraction, electrical resistance, Seebeck coefficient and relative changes in the thermal conductance at high pressures has been developed. The feasibility of performing in situ measurements of the Seebeck coefficient and thermal measurements is demonstrated by observing well known solid-solid phase transitions of bismuth (Bi) up to 3 GPa and 450 K. A reversible polarity flip has been observed in the Seebeck coefficient across the Bi-I to Bi-II phase boundary. Also, successful Seebeck coefficient measurements have been performed for the classical high-temperature thermoelectric material PbTe under high pressure and temperature conditions. In addition, the relative change in the thermal conductivity was measured and a relative change in ZT, the dimensionless figure of merit, is described. This new capability enables pressure-induced structural changes to be directly correlated to electrical and thermal properties.

Equation of state and thermodynamic Grüneisen parameter of monoclinic 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethylene.

In situ synchrotron x-ray diffraction experiments were conducted on 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethylene (FOX-7) at pressures up to 6.8 GPa and temperatures up to 485 K. Within the resolution of the present diffraction data, our results do not reveal evidence for a pressure-induced structural phase transition near 2 GPa, previously observed in several vibrational spectroscopy experiments. Based on unit-cell volume measurements, the least-squares fit using the third-order Birch-Murnaghan equation of state (EOS) yields K 0 = 12.6 ± 1.4 GPa and [Formula: see text] = 11.3 ± 2.1 for the α-phase of FOX-7, which are in good agreement with recently reported values for the deuterated sample, indicating that the effect of hydrogen-deuterium substitution on the compressibility of FOX-7 is negligibly small. A thermal EOS is also obtained for the α-phase of FOX-7, including pressure dependence of thermal expansivity, (∂α/∂P)T = -7.0 ± 2.0 × 10(-5) K(-1) GPa(-1), and temperature derivative of the bulk modulus, (∂K T/∂T)P = -1.1 × 10(-2) GPa K(-1). From these EOS parameters, we calculate heat capacity at constant volume (C V) and thermodynamic Grüneisen parameter (γ TH) as a function of temperature. At ambient conditions, the calculated γ TH is 1.055, which is in good agreement with the value (1.09) previously obtained from density functional theory (DFT). The obtained C V, however, is 13% larger than that calculated from the first-principles calculations, indicating that the dispersion correction in the DFT calculations may need to be further improved for describing intermolecular interactions of molecular crystals.

High Pressure-Temperature Phase Diagram of 1,1-Diamino-2,2-dinitroethylene (FOX-7).

The pressure-temperature (P-T) phase diagram of 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethylene (FOX-7) was determined by in situ synchrotron infrared radiation spectroscopy with the resistively heated diamond anvil cell (DAC) technique. The stability of high-P-T FOX-7 polymorphs is established from ambient pressure up to 10 GPa and temperatures until decomposition. The phase diagram indicates two near isobaric phase boundaries at ∼2 GPa (α → I) and ∼5 GPa (I → II) that persists from 25 °C until the onset of decomposition at ∼300 °C. In addition, the ambient pressure, high-temperature α → ß phase transition (∼111 °C) lies along a steep boundary (∼100 °C/GPa) with a α-ß-δ triple point at ∼1 GPa and 300 °C. A 0.9 GPa isobaric temperature ramping measurement indicates a limited stability range for the γ-phase between 0.5 and 0.9 GPa and 180 and 260 °C, terminating in a ß-γ-δ triple point. With increasing pressure, the δ-phase exhibited a small negative dT/dP slope (up to ∼0.2 GPa) before turning over to a positive 70 °C/GPa slope, at higher pressures. The decomposition boundary (∼55 °C/GPa) was identified through the emergence of spectroscopic signatures of the characteristic decomposition products as well as trapped inclusions within the solid KBr pressure media.

Intermolecular stabilization of 3,3'-diamino-4,4'-azoxyfurazan (DAAF) compressed to 20 GPa.

The room temperature stability of 3,3'-diamino-4,4'-azoxyfurazan (DAAF) has been investigated using synchrotron far-infrared, mid-infrared, Raman spectroscopy, and synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) up to 20 GPa. The as-loaded DAAF samples exhibited subtle pressure-induced ordering phenomena (associated with positional disorder of the azoxy "O" atom) resulting in doubling of the a-axis, to form a superlattice similar to the low-temperature polymorph. Neither high pressure synchrotron XRD, nor high pressure infrared or Raman spectroscopies indicated the presence of structural phase transitions up to 20 GPa. Compression was accommodated in the unit cell by a reduction of the c-axis between the planar DAAF layers, distortion of the ß-angle of the monoclinic lattice, and an increase in intermolecular hydrogen bonding. Changes in the ring and -NH2 deformation modes and increased intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions with compression suggest molecular reorganizations and electronic transitions at ∼ 5 GPa and ∼ 10 GPa that are accompanied by a shifting of the absorption band edge into the visible. A fourth-order Birch-Murnaghan fit to the room temperature isotherm afforded an estimate of the zero-pressure isothermal bulk modulus, K0 = 12.4 ± 0.6 GPa and its pressure derivative K0' = 7.7 ± 0.3.