The effects of extreme pressures on single-crystal structures with distortions of the cation coordination sphere

Abstract

The further development of single-crystal structure analysis from X-ray diffraction data to pressures well above 10 GPa is reviewed. In particular, it is shown on recent studies that new insights can be obtained into the effect of pressure on electronic and steric distortions of the cation coordination sphere from structural analyses up to 50 GPa.

Keywords:

• single crystal
• high pressure
• X-ray diffraction
• diamond anvil cell
• hydrogen bond
• lone electron pair

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from the DFG, Germany (projects FR 2491/2-1 and WI 1232/25-1 through the SPP1236 priority program, and project HA 5137/3-1) and by Goethe university. Portions of this research were carried out at the light source DORIS III at DESY, a member of the Helmholtz Association (HGF). I thank B. Winkler (Frankfurt), R. Boehler (Washington, USA) and H. Ahsbahs (Marburg) for their support, W. Morgenroth (Frankfurt) for assistance at beamline D3, and my colleagues and co-workers E. Haussühl, L. Wiehl, J. Ruiz-Fuertes (Cambridge, USA) and E.A. Juarez-Arellano (Tuxtepec, Mexico) for their contributions.