In-situ gas loading in a DAC via x-ray induced chemistry

The photo left shows a sample of KC1O₃  powder inside a diamond anvil cell with reddish damage spots (near the center) of molecular oxygen after x-ray bombardment at 15 GPa. The clear bubbles are ruby spheres. 

A novel method to load oxygen in a sealed diamond anvil cell, via the x-ray induced decomposition of potassium chlorate (KClO₃) is demonstrated. It is anticipated that this technique will be useful in loading even more challenging, difficult-to-load gases such as hydrogen and also to load multiple gases.

Michael Pravica, Ligang Bai, Changyong Park, Yu Liu, Martin Galley, John Robinson, and Neelanjan Bhattacharya

Rev. Sci. Instrum. 82, 106102 (2011)