We synthesized the inorganic anhydrous
aluminum carbonates
Al2[C2O5][CO3]2 and
Al2[CO3]3 by reacting Al2O3 with CO2 at high pressures and temperatures
and characterized them by Raman spectroscopy. Their structures were
solved by X-ray diffraction. Al2[CO3]3 forms at around 24–28 GPa, while Al2[C2O5][CO3]2 forms above 38(3) GPa.
The distinguishing feature of the new Al2[C2O5][CO3]2-structure type is the
presence of pyrocarbonate [C2O5]2–-groups, trigonal [CO3]2groups, and
octahedrally coordinated trivalent cations. Al2[CO3]3 has isolated [CO3]2–-groups. Both Al-carbonates can be recovered under ambient conditions.
Density functional theory calculations predict that CO2 will react with Fe2O3, Ti2O3, Ga2O3, In2O3, and MgSiO3 at high pressures to form compounds which
are isostructural to Al2[C2O5][CO3]2. MgSi[C2O5][CO3]2 is predicted to be stable at pressures relative to
abundant mantle minerals in the presence of CO2. This structure
type allows the incorporation of four elements (Mg, Si, Fe, and Al)
abundant in the Earth’s mantle in octahedral coordination and
provides an alternative phase with novel carbon speciation for carbon
storage in the deep Earth.