High-pressure chemistry of molecular solids: evidences for novel extended phases of carbon dioxide

At high pressures and temperatures, many molecular solids become unstable and transform into denser extended phases. Recently, we have discovered evidences for two novel extended phases of carbon dioxide at high pressures and temperatures: (1) an ionic form of dimeric CO,, C02+C03*- at 8-13 GPa and above 2000 K [I] and (2) a polymeric phase CO,-V above 35 GPa and 1800 K [2,3]. These extended phases can be quenched at room temperature at low pressures, from which their molecular and crystal structures have been determined. These transitions occur to soften highly repulsive intermolecular potentials via delocalization of electrons at high pressures and temperatures. Based on these and other previous results, we conjecture that three fundamental mechanisms of high-pressure chemistry are ionization, polymerization, and metallization, occurring in high-density molecular solids and fluids. [carbon dioxide, polymeric COZ, ionic CO, dimer, high-pressure chemistry, electron delocalization