Polyhydride CeH9 with an atomic-like hydrogen clathrate structure
Compression of hydrogen-rich hydrides has been proposed as an alternative way to attain the atomic metallic hydrogen state or high-temperature superconductors. However, it remains a challenge to get access to these states by synthesizing novel polyhydrides with unusually high hydrogen-to-metal ratio...
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Published in | Nature communications Vol. 10; no. 1; pp. 1 - 7 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
London
Nature Publishing Group UK
01.08.2019
Nature Publishing Group Nature Portfolio |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Compression of hydrogen-rich hydrides has been proposed as an alternative way to attain the atomic metallic hydrogen state or high-temperature superconductors. However, it remains a challenge to get access to these states by synthesizing novel polyhydrides with unusually high hydrogen-to-metal ratios. Here we synthesize a series of cerium (Ce) polyhydrides by a direct reaction of Ce and H
2
at high pressures. We discover that cerium polyhydride CeH
9
, formed above 100 GPa, presents a three-dimensional hydrogen network composed of clathrate H
29
cages. The electron localization function together with band structure calculations elucidate the weak electron localization between H-H atoms and confirm its metallic character. By means of Ce atom doping, metallic hydrogen structure can be realized via the existence of CeH
9
. Particularly, Ce atoms play a positive role to stabilize the sublattice of hydrogen cages similar to the recently discovered near-room-temperature lanthanum hydride superconductors.
Obtainment of hydrogen-rich metal hydrides that are high-temperature superconductors has been demonstrated under very high pressure, but is still largely unexplored. Here the authors synthesize CeH
9
, with a structure related to solid metallic hydrogen, at relatively low pressure and without need for heating. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 2041-1723 2041-1723 |
DOI: | 10.1038/s41467-019-11330-6 |