Potassium under Pressure: A Pseudobinary Ionic Compound

M. Marques, Graeme Ackland, L. F. Lundegaard, G. Stinton, Richard Nelmes, Malcolm McMahon, J. Contreras-Garcia

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

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 P6(3)/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.

Original languageEnglish
Article number115501
Pages (from-to)-
Number of pages4
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume103
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 11 Sept 2009

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • ELECTRON LOCALIZATION

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