Breaking the 10 GPa Pressure Barrier in Organic Solids.

Investigating the impact of extreme (10GPa and above) high pressure on organic solids using a range of analytical techniques to characterise the structural changes that can be induced through extreme compression. Diffraction-methods of structural determination will allow the impact of compression and reduced volume on the crystal structure of the materials, examining changes in inter- and intra- molecular bonding in a structure. Other analytical techniques such as vibrational spectroscopy will allow more complete characterisation of the materials under extreme compression, with aim to create a base of knowledge on the impact of extreme compression on this class of molecule.