Structural phase transitions in heavy alkali metals under pressure

Chemphyschem. 2004 Sep 20;5(9):1411-5. doi: 10.1002/cphc.200400292.

Abstract

We performed a theoretical study of the crystal structures of cesium and rubidium under high compressions. Our results confirm the recent high-pressure experimental observations of new complex crystal structures for the Cs III and Rb III phases. The calculated transition pressures agree extremely well with the measured data. Thus, it is now certain that the famous isostructural phase transition in cesium is actually a new crystallographic phase transition. A d-orbital occupation number of about 0.52 is crucial for the occurrence of these complex structures.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cesium / chemistry*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Crystallization
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Models, Molecular
  • Phase Transition*
  • Pressure
  • Rubidium / chemistry*

Substances

  • Cesium
  • Rubidium