skip to main content


Title: Thorium and Rare Earth Monoxides and Related Phases
Thorium was a part of energy infrastructure in the 19th century due to the refractory and electronic properties of its dioxide. It will be a part of future energy infrastructure as the most abundant energy reserve based on nuclear fission. This paper discusses the solid-state chemistry of the monoxides and related rocksalt phases of thorium and the rare earths, both at atmospheric and at high pressure. The existence of solid thorium monoxide was first suggested more than 100 years ago; however, it was never obtained in bulk and has been studied mostly theoretically. Monoxides of lanthanides from Eu to Ho are ferromagnetic semiconductors sought for spintronics and were studied in thin films. La to Sm metallic monoxides were synthesized in bulk at pressures below 5 GPa. Recently, ThO formation in thin films has been reported and the stability of bulk ThO at high pressure was theoretically predicted based on first principles computations at 0 K. New ab initio computations were performed accounting for temperature effects up to 1000 K using lattice dynamics in the quasi-harmonic approximation. New computational results confirm the stabilization of pure ThO above 30 GPa and suggest the possibility of high-pressure synthesis of (Th,Nd)O at 1000 K and 5 GPa.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2209026 2209027
NSF-PAR ID:
10410278
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Materials
Volume:
16
Issue:
4
ISSN:
1996-1944
Page Range / eLocation ID:
1350
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. null (Ed.)
    Thermoelastic behavior of transition metal boride Os2B3 was studied under quasi-hydrostatic and isothermal conditions in a Paris-Edinburgh cell to 5.4 GPa and 1273 K. In-situ Energy Dispersive X-ray diffraction was used to determine interplanar spacings of the hexagonal crystal structure and thus the volume and axial compression. P-V-T data were fitted to a 3rd Order Birch-Murnaghan equation of state with a temperature modification to determine thermal elastic constants. The bulk modulus was shown to be K0 = 402 ± 21 GPa when the first pressure derivative was held to K0’ = 4.0 from the room temperature P-V curve. Under a quadratic fit α=α_0+α_1 T-α_2 T^(-2), the thermal expansion coefficients were determined to be α_0=1.862×10^(-5) K-1, α_1=0.841×10^(-9) K-2, and α_2=-0.525 K. Density functional theory (DFT) with the quasi-harmonic approximation (QHA) were further employed to study Os2B3, including its P-V-T curves, phonon spectra, bulk modulus, specific heat, thermal expansion, and the Grüneisen parameter. A good agreement between the first-principle theory and experimental observations was achieved, highlighting the success of the Armiento-Mattsson 2005 generalized gradient approximation functional employed in this study and QHA for describing thermodynamic properties of Os2B3. 
    more » « less
  2. SUMMARY We derive exact expressions for the thermal expansivity, heat capacity and bulk modulus for assemblages with arbitrarily large numbers of components and phases, including the influence of phase transformations and chemical exchange. We illustrate results in simple two-component, two-phase systems, including Mg–Fe olivine-wadsleyite and Ca–Mg clinopyroxene-orthopyroxene and for a multicompontent model of mantle composition in the form of pyrolite. For the latter we show results for the thermal expansivity and heat capacity over the entire mantle pressure–temperature regime to 40 GPa, or a depth of 1000 km. From the thermal expansivity, we derive a new expression for the phase buoyancy parameter that is valid for arbitrarily large numbers of phases and components and which is defined at every point in pressure–temperature space. Results reveal regions of the mantle where the magnitude of the phase buoyancy parameter is larger in magnitude than for those phase transitions that are most commonly included in mantle convection simulations. These regions include the wadsleyite to garnet and ferropericlase transition, which is encountered along hot isentropes (e.g. 2000 K potential temperature) in the transition zone, and the ferropericlase and stishovite to bridgmanite transition, which is encountered along cold isentropes (e.g. 1000 K potential temperature) in the shallow lower mantle. We also show the bulk modulus along a typical mantle isentrope and relate it to the Bullen inhomogeneity parameter. All results are computed with our code HeFESTo, updates and improvements to which we discuss, including the implementation of the exact expressions for the thermal expansivity, heat capacity and bulk modulus, generalization to allow for pressure dependence of non-ideal solution parameters and an improved numerical scheme for minimizing the Gibbs free energy. Finally, we present the results of a new global inversion of parameters updated to incorporate more recent results from experiment and first principles theory, as well as a new phase (nal phase), and new species: Na-majorite and the NaAlO2 end-member of ferropericlase. 
    more » « less
  3. The high-pressure structure and stability of the calcic amphibole tremolite (Ca2Mg5Si8O22(OH)2) was investigated to ~40 GPa at 300 K by single-crystal X-ray diffraction using synchrotron radiation. C2/m symmetry tremolite displays a broader metastability range than previously studied clinoamphiboles, exhibiting no first-order phase transition up to 40 GPa. Axial parameter ratios a/b and a/c, in conjunction with finite strain versus normalized pressure trends, indicate that changes in compressional behavior occur at pressures of ~5 and ~20 GPa. An analysis of the finite strain trends, using third-order Birch-Murnaghan equations of state, resulted in bulk moduli (𝐾) of 72(7), 77(2), and 61(1) GPa for the compressional regimes from 0-5 GPa (regime I), 5-20 GPa (II), and above 20 GPa (III), respectively, and accompanying pressure-derivatives of the bulk moduli (𝐾′) of 8.6(42), 6.0(3), and 10.0(2). The results are consistent with first-principle theoretical calculations of tremolite elasticity. The axial compressibility ratios of tremolite, determined as 𝛽a : 𝛽b : 𝛽c = 2.22:1.0:0.78 (regime I), 2.12:1.0:0.96 (II), and 1.03:1.0:0.75 (III), demonstrate a substantial reduction of the compressional anisotropy of tremolite at high pressures, which is a notable contrast with the increasingly anisotropic compressibility observed in the high-pressure polymorphs of the clinoamphibole grunerite. The shift in compression-regime at 5 GPa (I-II) transition is ascribed to stiffening along the crystallographic a-axis corresponding to closure of the vacant A-site in the structure, and a shift in the topology of the a-oriented surfaces of the structural I-beam from concave to convex. The II-III regime shift at 20 GPa corresponds to an increasing rate of compaction of the Ca-polyhedra and increased distortion of the Mg-octahedral sites, processes which dictate compaction in both high-pressure compression-regimes. Bond-valence analyses of the tremolite structure under pressure show dramatic overbonding of the Ca-cations (75% at 30 GPa), with significant Mg-cation overbonding as well (40%). These imply that tremolite’s notable metastability range hinges on the calcium cation’s bonding environment. The 8-fold coordinated Ca-polyhedron accommodates significant compaction under pressure, while the geometry of the Ca-O polyhedron becomes increasingly regular and inhibits the reorientation of the tetrahedral chains that generate phase transitions observed in other clinoamphiboles. Peak/background ratio of diffraction data collected above 40 GPa and our equation of state determination of bulk moduli and compressibilities of tremolite in regime III, in concert with the results of our previous Raman study, suggest that C2/m tremolite may be approaching the limit of its metastability above 40 GPa. Our results have relevance for both the metastable compaction of tremolite during impact events, and for possible metastable persistence of tremolite within cold subduction zones within the Earth. 
    more » « less
  4. Abstract

    Here, the combination of theoretical computations followed by rapid experimental screening and in situ diffraction studies is demonstrated as a powerful strategy for novel compounds discovery. When applied for the previously “empty” Na−Zn−Bi system, such an approach led to four novel phases. The compositional space of this system was rapidly screened via the hydride route method and the theoretically predicted NaZnBi (PbClF type,P4/nmm) and Na11Zn2Bi5(Na11Cd2Sb5type,P) phases were successfully synthesized, while other computationally generated compounds on the list were rejected. In addition, single crystal X‐ray diffraction studies of NaZnBi indicate minor deviations from the stoichiometric 1 : 1 : 1 molar ratio. As a result, two isostructural (PbClF type,P4/nmm) Zn‐deficient phases with similar compositions, but distinctly different unit cell parameters were discovered. The vacancies on Zn sites and unit cell expansion were rationalized from bonding analysis using electronic structure calculations on stoichiometric “NaZnBi”.In‐situsynchrotron powder X‐ray diffraction studies shed light on complex equilibria in the Na−Zn−Bi system at elevated temperatures. In particular, the high‐temperature polymorphHT‐Na3Bi (BiF3type,Fmm) was obtained as a product of Na11Zn2Bi5decomposition above 611 K.HT‐Na3Bi cannot be stabilized at room temperature by quenching, and this type of structure was earlier observed in the high‐pressure polymorphHP‐Na3Bi above 0.5 GPa. The aforementioned approach of predictive synthesis can be extended to other multinary systems.

     
    more » « less
  5. Abstract

    The deformation behavior of the three metal dodecaborides (YB12, ZrB12, and Zr0.5Y0.5B12) is investigated using radial X‐ray diffraction under nonhydrostatic compression up to ≈60 GPa with a goal of understanding how bonding and metal composition control hardness. Zr0.5Y0.5B12, which has the highest Vickers hardness (Hv= 45.8 ± 1.3 GPa at 0.49 N load), also shows the highest bulk modulus (K0= 320 ± 5 GPa). The 0.49 N hardness for ZrB12and YB12are both lower and very similar, and both show lower bulk moduli (K0= 276 ± 7 GPa, andK0= 238 ± 6 GPa, respectively). Differential stress is then measured to study the strength and strength anisotropy. Zr0.5Y0.5B12supports the highest differential stress, in agreement with its high hardness, a fact that likely arises from atomic size mismatch between Zr and Y combined with the rigid network of boron cages. The (200) plane for all samples supports the largest differential strain, while the (111) plane supports the smallest, consistent with the theoretically predicted slip system of {111} [  ]. Strain softening is also observed for ZrB12. Finally, the full elastic stiffness tensors for ZrB12and YB12are solved. ZrB12is the most isotropic, but the extent of elastic anisotropy for all dodecaborides studied is relatively low due to the highly symmetric boron cage network.

     
    more » « less