Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

A high-pressure van der Waals compound in solid nitrogen-helium mixtures

Abstract

WEAKLY bound van der Waals molecules, consisting of atoms or molecules (such as rare gases, H2 and N2) interacting through van der Waals forces, can be formed in the gas phase1. The existence of similar weakly bound stoichiometric compounds in condensed phases has remained an open question as the components usually form separate pure phases or solid solutions2. Here we report on a detailed study of the helium–nitrogen system in a diamond-anvil cell using synchrotron X-ray diffraction, Raman scattering and optical microscopy. We find that high pressure stabilizes the formation of a stoichiometric, solid van der Waals compound of composition He(N2)11. Because of the relatively simple interactions involved, this solid may exemplify a novel class of van der Waals compounds that are formed only at high pressures. Van der Waals chemistry in simple molecular systems may be important for understanding the structure and properties of the interiors of the outer planets and their satellites, where pressures are high and such components may be abundant3–5.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Novick, S. E., Leopold, K. R. & Klemperer, W. in Atomic and Molecular Clusters (ed. Bernstein, E. R.) 359–391 (Elsevier, New York, 1990).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Meyer, L. Adv. chem. Phys. 16, 343–387 (1969).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Hubbard, W. B. Planetary Interiors (van Nostrand, New York, 1984).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Nellis, W. J. et al. Science 240, 779–781 (1988).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Hubbard, W. B. et al. Science 253, 648–651 (1991).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Schouten, J. A. Phys. Rep. 172, 33–92 (1989).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Schouten, J. A. Fluid Phase Equil. (in the press).

  8. Cromer, D. T., Mills, R. L., Schiferl, D. & Schwalbe, L. A. Acta crystallogr. B37, 8–11 (1981).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Mills, R. L., Cromer, D. T. & Olinger, B. J. chem. Phys. 84, 2837–2845 (1986).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Olijnyk, H. J. chem. Phys 93, 8968–8972 (1990).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Vos, W. L., van Hinsberg, M. G. E. & Schouten, J. A. Phys. Rev. B42, 6106–6109 (1990).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Mao, H. K. et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 60, 2649–2652 (1988).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Vos, W. L. & Schouten, J. A. Phys. Rev. Lett. 64, 898–901 (1990).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Scheerboom, M. I. M. & Schouten, J. A. J. Phys.: Condensed Matter 3, 8305–8312 (1991).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Vos, W. L. & Schouten, J. A. Physica A182, 365–387 (1992).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. van den Bergh, L. C., Schouten, J. A. & Trappeniers, N. J. Physica A141, 524–538 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Mao, H. K. et al. Science 239, 1131–1134 (1988).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Le Toullec, R., Loubeyre, P. & Pinceaux, J.-P. Phys. Rev. B40, 2368–2378 (1990).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. van den Bergh, L. C. & Schouten, J. A. J. chem. Phys. 89, 2336–2343 (1988).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Bartlett P. J. Phys.: Condensed Matter 2, 4979–4989 (1990).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. Murray, M. J. & Sanders, J. V. Phil. Mag. A42, 721–740 (1980).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Kitaigorodsky, A. I. Mixed Crystals (Springer, Berlin, 1984).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  23. Hemley, R. J. & Mao, H. K. in Proc. APS 1991 Topical Conf. Shock Compression of Condensed Matter (eds Schmidt, S. C., Dick, R. D., Forbes, J. W. & Tasker, D. G.) (in the press).

  24. Mao, H. K. in Simple Molecular Systems at Very High Densities (eds Polian, A., Loubeyre, P. & Boccara, N.) 221–236 (Plenum, New York, 1989).

    Google Scholar 

  25. Hu, J. Z., Mao, H. K. & Shu, J. F. EOS 72, 554 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vos, W., Finger, L., Hemley, R. et al. A high-pressure van der Waals compound in solid nitrogen-helium mixtures. Nature 358, 46–48 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1038/358046a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/358046a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing