Splitting Water Creates Alloy
(X-rays cause ice under pressure to form H2-O2 solid)
The findings that destroying ice VII-crystalline form of water that takes place at high pressure and surrounding temperature with X-rays splits the O-H bonds and forms a novel crystalline solid that is composed of molecular hydrogen and oxygen. Wendy L. Mao a postdoctoral student led the research, together with her father Ho-Kwang Mao and Russel J. Hemley of the Carnegie Institution of Wahington and Peter J. Eng of the University of Chicago, produced the unforeseen discovery while attempting out a new high-pressure synchrotron x-ray technique that irradiates substances with moderately high energy x-rays for long periods of time.
The researchers’ first saw H2 and O2 elevates in the X-ray Raman spectra, afterwards the researchers’ released pressure from the diamond anvil cell, and perceived gas bubbling out. After further investigation, the researchers found out that at high pressure the x-rays separates H2 O and the generated atoms combines again to a previous unknown solid of H2 and O2. The new “alloy” is spectroscopically different from the simple mix of H2-O2 mix. High levels of x-ray energy input will cause the radiation to pass through the sample and lower levels of x-ray energy will cause the diamonds in the pressure apparatus to absorb the radiation. The new alloy shows unexpected stability as long as it is kept under high pressure, the researchers revealed that after six months, and after heating the new alloy up to 700 K and assaulting it with lasers and x-rays, the new alloy has not return to its former condition which is the ice VII.
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
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