XAS Characterization of the Novel Pressure-Formed AuF8Xe11 Solid

Fluorine's unparalleled reactivity enables the stabilization of elements in unconventional oxidation states, exemplified by compounds such as AuF5 (gold in +5) and (Xe2F11)+(AuF6)- (gold and xenon in +6). High-pressure conditions amplify this potential, allowing the synthesis of exotic materials that challenge conventional chemistry. Our recent synchrotron single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments revealed the formation of the novel compound AuF8Xe11 near 50 GPa, with gold potentially reaching the unprecedented +8 oxidation state. This proposal aims to use XANES and EXAFS measurements on ID24-DCM to directly measure and determine the oxidation states of Au and Xe as well as the Au- and Xe-F interatomic distances in this compound near 50 GPa. This will provide the unambiguous determination of the chemical nature of the exotic AuF8Xe11 solid.