Large volume presses for high-pressure studies using synchrotron radiation

Abstract

The large-volume press (LVP) is an indispensable technique in high-pressure research that complements capabilities of the diamond anvil cell (DAC). While maximum attainable temperature (T) and pressure (P) are limited, compared to the DAC, LVP offers more uniform P-T conditions, with sample volumes about 10 3-106 times those of the DAC. These features make LVP an ideal tool for accurate measurements of bulk physical properties and systematic studies on complex systems. Advents in high-pressure technology and synchrotron radiation have revolutionized LVP research in the past 2 decades. The employment of sintered diamond anvils has dramatically expanded the LVP pressure range (currently about 90 GPa) at high temperatures. New diffraction techniques have made it possible to determine atomic structures of both crystalline and non-crystalline materials under extreme P and T conditions. Efforts in incorporating other in-situ techniques at synchrotron sources have made it possible to measure many physical properties simultaneously with x-ray diffraction. This lecture provides a brief description of the various types of LVPs in use at synchrotron sources and scientific applications. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.