2008/05/22 by Eugene Gregoryanz, L. F. Lundegaard, M. I. McMahon +3 · 2 citations
Materials Science · Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Solid-state spectroscopy and crystallography #High-pressure geophysics and materials #Crystal Structures and Properties
paper · doi:10.1126/science.1155715
openalex publication_date 2008/05/22 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23
Sodium exhibits a pronounced minimum of the melting temperature at approximately 118 gigapascals and 300 kelvin. Using single-crystal high-pressure diffraction techniques, we found that the minimum of the sodium melting curve is associated with a concentration of seven different crystalline phases. Slight changes in pressure and/or temperature induce transitions between numerous structural modifications, several of which are highly complex. The complexity of the phase behavior above 100 gigapascals suggests extraordinary liquid and solid states of sodium at extreme conditions and has implications for other seemingly simple metals.