Time-resolved x-ray diffraction across water-ice-VI/VII transformations using the dynamic-DAC

Abstract

We present recent time-resolved x-ray diffraction data obtained across the solidification of water to ice-VI and -VII at different compression rates. The structural evolution of ice-VI to ice-VII, however, is not a sharp transition, but occurs rather coarsely. The diffraction data shows an anisotropic compression behavior for ice VI; that is, the c-axis is more compressible than the a-axis at the same compression rate. Nevertheless, the present equations of state of both ice-VI and ice-VII obtained under dynamic loadings agree well with those previously obtained under static conditions. Hence, the present study demonstrates that time-resolved x-ray diffraction coupled with the dynamic-DAC is an effective method for investigating details of the structural response of materials over a wide range of well-controlled compression rates. Finally, we found the evidence for an X-ray induced chemical reaction of water and ice-VI. The impurities, produced by the x-ray induced chemical reaction, inhibit the formation of amorphous ice. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.