High-pressure-assisted X-ray-induced damage as a new route for chemical and structural synthesis

Abstract

X-ray induced damage has been known for decades and has largely been viewed as a tremendous nuisance. We, on the other hand, harness the highly ionizing and penetrating properties of hard X-rays to initiate novel decomposition and synthetic chemistry. Here, we show that powdered cesium oxalate monohydrate pressurized to ≤0.5 GPa and irradiated with X-rays of energies near the cesium K-edge undergoes molecular and structural transformations with one of the final products exhibiting a new type of bcc crystal structure that has previously not been observed. Additionally, based on cascades of ultrafast electronic relaxation steps triggered by the absorption of one X-ray photon, we propose a model explaining the X-ray induced damage of multitype bounded matter. As X-rays are ubiquitous, these results show promise in the preparation of novel compounds and novel structures that are inaccessible via conventional methods. They may offer insight into the formation of complex organic compounds in outer space.

Negative X-ray expansion in cadmium cyanide

“…4,5 X-ray-induced effects are somewhat less well studied in conventional inorganic systems, despite being implicated in a number of interesting phenomena. Examples include decomposition, [6][7][8] conductivity enhancement, [9][10][11][12][13] colour changes, 14 spincrossover, 15 charge transfer, 16,17 cell-parameter changes, 18 crystallisation, 19 and amorphisation. 20,21 X-ray irradiation has been found to induce changes in the resistivity of magnetoresistive manganites (A 3+ 1−x B 2+…”

Interatomic and Intermolecular Coulombic Decay

“…Recently, this work triggered, detailed investigations of high-pressure assisted X-ray induced damage. 422 In addition, the authors concluded that such processes can be a new route for he synthesis of novel materials and structures.…”

X-Ray Lithography for Nanofabrication: Is There a Future?

“…Heya et al (Heya et al, 2020, Heya et al, 2021) irradiated pentacene to obtain nanographene. Evlyukhin et al (Evlyukhin et al, 2018) reported the combination of high-pressure and X-ray exposure for the synthesis of oxalates. Miszta et al (Miszta et al, 2014) performed XRL on colloidal inorganic nanocrystals, causing the cross-linking of the ligand molecules coating the crystals, inducing a selective protection to cation exchange.…”