Carbon clusters formed from shocked benzene.

Benzene (C6H6), while stable under ambient conditions, can become chemically reactive at high pressures and temperatures, such as under shock loading conditions. Here, we report in situ x-ray diffraction and small angle x-ray scattering measurements of liquid benzene shocked to 55 GPa, capturing the morphology and crystalline structure of the shock-driven reaction products at nanosecond timescales. The shock-driven chemical reactions in benzene observed using coherent XFEL x-rays were a complex mixture of products composed of carbon and hydrocarbon allotropes. In contrast to the conventional description of diamond, methane and hydrogen formation, our present results indicate that benzene's shock-driven reaction products consist of layered sheet-like hydrocarbon structures and nanosized carbon clusters with mixed sp2-sp3 hybridized bonding. Implications of these findings range from guiding shock synthesis of novel compounds to the fundamentals of carbon transport in planetary physics.

Billion-pixel x-ray camera (BiPC-X).

The continuing improvement in quantum efficiency (above 90% for single visible photons), reduction in noise (below 1 electron per pixel), and shrink in pixel pitch (less than 1 µm) enable billion-pixel x-ray cameras (BiPC-X) based on commercial complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) imaging sensors. We describe BiPC-X designs and prototype construction based on flexible tiling of commercial CMOS imaging sensors with millions of pixels. Device models are given for direct detection of low energy x rays (<10 keV) and indirect detection of higher energies using scintillators. Modified Birks's law is proposed for light yield non-proportionality in scintillators as a function of x-ray energy. Single x-ray sensitivity and spatial resolution have been validated experimentally using a laboratory x-ray source and the Argonne Advanced Photon Source. Possible applications include wide field-of-view or large x-ray aperture measurements in high-temperature plasmas, the state-of-the-art synchrotron, x-ray free electron laser, and pulsed power facilities.

Novel experimental setup for megahertz X-ray diffraction in a diamond anvil cell at the High Energy Density (HED) instrument of the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser (EuXFEL).

The high-precision X-ray diffraction setup for work with diamond anvil cells (DACs) in interaction chamber 2 (IC2) of the High Energy Density instrument of the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser is described. This includes beamline optics, sample positioning and detector systems located in the multipurpose vacuum chamber. Concepts for pump-probe X-ray diffraction experiments in the DAC are described and their implementation demonstrated during the First User Community Assisted Commissioning experiment. X-ray heating and diffraction of Bi under pressure, obtained using 20 fs X-ray pulses at 17.8 keV and 2.2 MHz repetition, is illustrated through splitting of diffraction peaks, and interpreted employing finite element modeling of the sample chamber in the DAC.

Detonation synthesis of carbon nano-onions via liquid carbon condensation.

Transit through the carbon liquid phase has significant consequences for the subsequent formation of solid nanocarbon detonation products. We report dynamic measurements of liquid carbon condensation and solidification into nano-onions over ∽200 ns by analysis of time-resolved, small-angle X-ray scattering data acquired during detonation of a hydrogen-free explosive, DNTF (3,4-bis(3-nitrofurazan-4-yl)furoxan). Further, thermochemical modeling predicts a direct liquid to solid graphite phase transition for DNTF products ~200 ns post-detonation. Solid detonation products were collected and characterized by high-resolution electron microscopy to confirm the abundance of carbon nano-onions with an average diameter of ∽10 nm, matching the dynamic measurements. We analyze other carbon-rich explosives by similar methods to systematically explore different regions of the carbon phase diagram traversed during detonation. Our results suggest a potential pathway to the efficient production of carbon nano-onions, while offering insight into the phase transformation kinetics of liquid carbon under extreme pressures and temperatures.

High pressure and temperature equation of state and spectroscopic study of CeO2.

One of the most widely used x-ray standards and a highly applied component of catalysis systems, CeO2 has been studied for the purpose of better understanding its equation of state and electronic properties. Diamond anvil cells have been used to extend the equation of state for this material to 130 GPa and explore the electronic behavior with applied load. From the x-ray diffraction studies, it has been determined that the high pressure phase transition extends from approximately 35-75 GPa at ambient temperature. Elevation of temperature is found to decrease the initiation pressure for this transition, with multiple distinct temperature regions which indicate structural related anomalies. In addition, hydrostatic and non-hydrostatic effects are compared and exhibit a drastic difference in bulk moduli. The electronic results indicate a change in the scattering environment of the cerium atom, associated with the high pressure phase transition. Overall, these results present the first megabar pressure study and the first high pressure and temperature study of ceria. Additionally, this shows the first combined study of the K and L III edges of this material to 33 GPa.

Adhesive properties of some fluoropolymer binders with the insensitive explosive 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB).

Adhesion between binders and explosive crystals is of critical importance for the mechanical performance of plastic-bonded explosives (PBXs). The surface properties of several prospective binders have been determined from static advancing contact angle measurements. The surface energies have been used to calculate theoretical work of adhesion to 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB), a common insensitive high explosive. The fluorinated terpolymer Oxy-461™, and Kel-F™ chlorotrifluoroethylene-vinylidene fluoride copolymers show the greatest potential for wetting TATB surfaces, and should promote the best adhesion to TATB in PBX formulations. In general, none of the fluoropolymer binders investigated here exhibit markedly superior adhesion to TATB. Thus, bulk physical properties are likely to be more important when choosing a binder.

High-pressure Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction studies of a terpolymer of tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene-vinylidene fluoride: THV 500.

High-pressure Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction of THV 500, a terpolymer of tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene-vinylidene fluoride, were performed using diamond anvil cells (DAC). Changes in the interatomic spacing as well as shifts of several of the vibrational bands as a function of pressure were measured up to approximately 10 GPa. The changes in interatomic spacing and shifts of the vibrational bands are compared to those of polytetrafluoroethylene, showing the effects of copolymerization and reduced crystallinity. The high-pressure behavior of polymers is a relatively unexplored field but is becoming increasingly important due to applications where polymers experience extreme conditions.

Photoelectrochemistry on Ru(II)-2,2'-bipyridine-phosphonate-derivatized TiO2 with the I3-/I- and quinone/hydroquinone relays. Design of photoelectrochemical synthesis cells.

Photocurrent measurements have been made on nanocrystalline TiO2 surfaces derivatized by adsorption of a catalyst precursor, [Ru(tpy)(bpy(PO3H2)2)(OH2)]2+, or chromophore, [Ru(bpy)2 (bpy(PO3H2)2)]2+ (tpy is 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine, bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine, and bpy(PO3H2)2 is 2,2'-bipyridyl-4,4'-diphosphonic acid), and on surfaces containing both complexes. This is an extension of earlier work on an adsorbed assembly containing both catalyst and chromophore. The experiments were carried out with the I3-/I- or quinone/hydroquinone (Q/H2Q) relays in propylene carbonate, propylene carbonate-water mixtures, and acetonitrile-water mixtures. Electrochemical measurements show that oxidation of surface-bound Ru(III)-OH2(3+) to Ru(IV)=O(2+) is catalyzed by the bpy complex. Addition of aqueous 0.1 M HClO4 greatly decreases photocurrent efficiencies for adsorbed [Ru(tpy)(bpy(PO3H2)2)(OH2)]2+ with the I3-/I- relay, but efficiencies are enhanced for the Q/H2Q relay in both propylene carbonate-HClO4 and acetonitrile-HClO4 mixtures. The dependence of the incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE) on added H2Q in 95% propylene carbonate and 5% 0.1 M HClO4 is complex and can be interpreted as changing from rate-limiting diffusion to the film at low H2Q to rate-limiting diffusion within the film at high H2Q. There is no evidence for photoelectrochemical cooperativity on mixed surfaces containing both complexes with the IPCE response reflecting the relative surface compositions of the two complexes. These results provide insight into the possible design of photoelectrochemical synthesis cells for the oxidation of organic substrates.

Photophysics of phenyleneethynylene metal-organic oligomers. Probing the lowest excited state by time-resolved IR spectroscopy.

The long-lived excited state in a series of metal-organic phenyleneethynylene oligomers is probed by UV-visible and infrared transient absorption spectroscopy.