Elucidating pressure dependent electronic configurations in lanthanide systems.

Lanthanides are ubiquitous in modern technologies from energy conversion devices to optoelectronics. The localized nature of the f-orbitals underpins the useful magnetic and electronic properties these applications rely on but also limits the electronic structural role of the lanthanide element. The application of pressure fundamentally changes this electronic structure signature of lanthanides as valence states become more delocalized. We propose to probe the orbital specific nature of these changes and transitions across a series of lanthanide molecules and materials using HERFD XAS. Elucidating the combined effect of mechanical and chemical factors will help deconvolute the interactions underpinning emergent behaviors such as magnetism. Developing such mechanochemical intuition promises improved design principles for synthesizing new magnetic materials.