Synthesis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction characterization of novel gadolinium nitrides under high pressures up to 50 GPa

The high-pressure chemistry and physical properties of rare earth metal nitrides are almost unknown. The unique magnetic properties of gadolinium ion as well as recently predicted high-pressure Gd-N phases, which can serve as high energy density materials, make it relevant and perspective to investigate the phase diagram of Gd-N system at high pressures. Here, we propose a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of Gd-N system at mild pressures up to 50 GPa at ID15b. The goals of this proposal are to 1) determine the crystal structure of novel preliminary synthesized Gd-N phase at 25 GPa observed by Raman spectroscopy, 2) determine crystal structures of novel Gd-N compounds synthesized under pressures up to 50 GPa in laser-heated diamond anvil cells, and 3) determine the equation of states and existence pressures of all novel yet to be uncovered gadolinium nitrides phases.