Rheological property of H2O ice VI inferred from its self-diffusion : Implications for the mantle dynamics of large icy bodies

The volume diffusion coefficient of water in ice VI was determined in the pressure-temperature range of 1.3 – 1.9 GPa and 300 – 320 K by in situ isotope tracer diffusion experiments. We determined the activation energy of the volume diffusion to be 61.9 ± 9.5 kJ/mol. The viscosity of polycrystalline ice VI under diffusion creep was estimated from the diffusion coefficients based on the theory of the diffusion creep. From a compilation of viscosity values in the current diffusion creep regime and the viscosity previously determined by plastic deformation experiments of ice VI in a high stress regime (Durham et al. 1996), here we provide the relationships between viscosity, stress, and the average grain size of polycrystalline ice VI. The most plausible deformation mechanism of the layers of ice VI underneath the internal oceans in large icy bodies was inferred from the viscosity-stress-average grain size relationship. We also discuss the critical thickness of the ice VI layer, which determines the onset of thermal convection

Strong hydrogen bonding in a dense hydrous magnesium silicate discovered by neutron Laue diffraction

A large amount of hydrogen circulates inside the Earth, which affects the long-term evolution of the planet. The majority of this hydrogen is stored in deep Earth within the crystal structures of dense minerals that are thermodynamically stable at high pressures and temperatures. To understand the reason for their stability under such extreme conditions, the chemical bonding geometry and cation exchange mechanism for including hydrogen were analyzed in a representative structure of such minerals (i.e. phase E of dense hydrous magnesium silicate) by using time-of-flight single-crystal neutron Laue diffraction. Phase E has a layered structure belonging to the space group R (3) over barm and a very large hydrogen capacity (up to 18% H2O weight fraction). It is stable at pressures of 13-18 GPa and temperatures of up to at least 1573 K. Deuterated high-quality crystals with the chemical formula Mg2.28Si1.32D2.15O6 were synthesized under the relevant high-pressure and high-temperature conditions. The nuclear density distribution obtained by neutron diffraction indicated that the O-D dipoles were directed towards neighboring O2- ions to form strong interlayer hydrogen bonds. This bonding plays a crucial role in stabilizing hydrogen within the mineral structure under such high-pressure and high-temperature conditions. It is considered that cation exchange occurs among Mg2+, D+ and Si4+ within this structure, making the hydrogen capacity flexible

Quasi-elastic neutron scattering studies on fast dynamics of water molecules in tetra-n-butylammonium bromide semiclathrate hydrate

The dynamics of the water molecules in tetra-n-butyl-d36-ammonium bromide semiclathrate hydrate were investigated by quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS). The QENS results clearly revealed afast reorientation motion of water molecules in the temperature range of 212–278 K. The mean jumpdistance of hydrogen atoms was within 1.5‒2.0 Å. The relaxation time of water reorientation wasestimated to be 100‒410 ps with activation energy of 10.2±5.8 kJ·mol-1. The activation energy wasin good agreement with the cleavage energy of hydrogen bonds. Such a short relaxation time ofwater reorientation is possibly due to strong interaction between a bromide anion and its surroundingwater molecules (similar to so-called negative hydration), which suggests a unique strategy fordesigning efficient, safe, and inexpensive proton conductors having the framework of semiclathratehydrates.Shimada Jin, Tani Atsushi, Yamada Takeshi, et al. "Quasi-elastic neutron scattering studies on fast dynamics of water molecules in tetra-n-butylammonium bromide semiclathrate hydrate", Applied Physics Letters 123, 50 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0157560

Poirierite, a dense metastable polymorph of magnesium iron silicate in shocked meteorites

宇宙から飛来した隕石から新鉱物ポワリエライトを発見 --小天体の衝突過程、地球内部の変化等を探る重要な鍵に--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2021-01-25.A dense magnesium iron silicate polymorph with a structure intermediate between olivine, ringwoodite, and wadsleyite was theoretically predicted about four decades ago. As this group of minerals constitute the major component of shocked meteorites, constraining their transitional forms and behaviour is of potential importance for understanding impact events on their parent bodies. Here we use high-resolution transmission electron microscopy techniques and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses to identify naturally occurring examples of this mineral – recently named poirierite – in shocked chondritic meteorites. We observe nanoscale lamellar poirierite topotactically intergrown within wadsleyite, and additionally within ringwoodite as recently reported. Our results confirm the intermediate structure of poirierite and suggest it might be a relay point in the shear transformations between its polymorphs. We propose that poirierite formed during rapid decompression at relatively low temperature in retrograde shock metamorphism of the meteorites

Quantitative analysis of hydrogen sites and occupancy in deep mantle hydrous wadsleyite using single crystal neutron diffraction

OpenAcces

Efficient storage of hydrogen fuel into leaky cages of clathrate hydrate

We demonstrate an alternative principle to efficiently store molecular hydrogen fuel into clathrate hydrate medium. Hydrogen-free hydrate powders quickly absorb the hydrogen gas at moderate pressure appropriate for industrial applications. The absorption kinetics was observed in situ by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in a pressurized tube. The diffusion of hydrogen through the solid hydrate medium was directly measured by pulsed field gradient NMR. At temperatures down to 250 K, the stored hydrogen is still mobile so that the hydrate storage should work well even in cold environments.NRC publication: Ye

Forge-Hardened TiZr Null-Matrix Alloy for Neutron Scattering under Extreme Conditions

For neutron scattering research that is performed under extreme conditions, such as high static pressures, high-strength metals that are transparent to the neutron beam are required. The diffraction of the neutron beam by the metal, which follows Bragg’s law, can be completely removed by alloying two metallic elements that have coherent scattering lengths with opposite signs. An alloy of Ti and Zr, which is known as a TiZr null-matrix alloy, is an ideal combination for such purposes. In this study, we increased the hardness of a TiZr null-matrix alloy via extensive mechanical deformation at high temperatures. We successfully used the resulting product in a high-pressure cell designed for high-static-pressure neutron scattering. This hardened TiZr null-matrix alloy may play a complementary role to normal TiZr alloy in future neutron scattering research under extreme conditions