Potassium under Pressure: A Pseudobinary Ionic Compound
Abstract
Experimentally, we have found that among the “complicated” phases of potassium at intermediate pressures is one which has the same space group as the double hexagonal-close-packed structure, although its atomic coordination is completely different. Calculations on this P63/mmc (hP4) structure as a function of pressure show three isostructural transitions and three distinctive types of chemical bonding: free electron, ionic, and metallic. Interestingly, relationships between localized metallic structures and ionic compounds are found.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review Letters
- Pub Date:
- September 2009
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.115501
- Bibcode:
- 2009PhRvL.103k5501M
- Keywords:
-
- 61.50.Ks;
- 62.50.-p;
- 71.20.-b;
- Crystallographic aspects of phase transformations;
- pressure effects;
- High-pressure effects in solids and liquids;
- Electron density of states and band structure of crystalline solids