Can Solid Metallic Hydrogen Be Created Under Certain Conditions?

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In summary, metallic hydrogen has been achieved in the liquid state at high temperatures and pressures, but creating a stable solid form has proven difficult. Recent experiments using Raman spectroscopy have revealed that at pressures above 300 GPa, solid hydrogen exhibits characteristics of a semiconductor. It is predicted that at even higher pressures, the solid hydrogen will become a metallic conductor. However, the practical uses and properties of such a material at normal everyday conditions are still unclear. Some data suggests that it would be a lightweight, strong material with superconducting abilities, but further research is needed to fully understand its potential.
  • #1
Orion1
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Metallic Hydrogen:

Metallic hydrogen was first created - at Livermore in 1996 - in the liquid state at relatively high temperature. Whether solid metallic hydrogen can be created, however, remains unclear so far. According to early calculations, solid hydrogen should start conducting at about 340 GPa. The compression of solid hydrogen to 342 GPa at Cornell University in 1998 failed to produce the metallic phase, however. Now experiments by P Loubeyre and colleagues in France may help develop a more accurate theoretical model and identify conditions necessary for solid metallic hydrogen to form. The team used Raman spectroscopy to obtain a detailed absorption spectrum of solid hydrogen at pressures up to 320 GPa. It is found that as pressure increases from 290 GPA to 320 GPa, the sample changes its color from white through yellow and red to black. Of particular importance is the discovery at a pressure above 300 GPa of an energy gap characteristic of semiconductors. As pressure is increased to 320 GPa, the gap narrows. Extrapolation shows that at 450 GPa the gap should disappear, turning solid hydrogen to a (metallic) conductor.

Reference:
http://www.nature.com
 
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  • #2
Haven't had a chance to read the artical yet; Orion, did they say anything about whether these new insiths help predict if metalic Hydrogen can be a stable solid under normal everyday conditions? That was one of the big unnanswered questions last time I had info.
 
  • #3
METALLIC HYDROGEN HAS BEEN ACHIEVED at Livermore in a sample of fluid hydrogen. William Nellis at Livermore was somewhat surprised when he succeeded at lesser pressures with fluid hydrogen. He used a gas gun to compress samples of liquid H2 and D2. Able to make direct electrical measurements on his 1- inch-wide sample (unlike the anvil experiments---with their micron- sized samples---which can only use indirect optical probes), he observed that the sample's resistivity fell with increasing pressure, leveling off at a low value (comparable to that of the fluid alkali metals Cs and Rb under similar conditions) at pressures above 1.4 Mbar, about a million times Earth's atmospheric pressure.

Reference:
http://www.aip.org/enews/physnews/1996/split/pnu263-1.htm
http://www.llnl.gov/str/Nellis.html


Metallic Hydrogen is currently only stable under pressure.
 
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  • #4
this has been round for years. but does anyone acually know what'll be like if it was stable at 1 bar?

light and strong? light and weak? brittle? soft?
 
  • #5
Metal Metallica...



Some data pulled from the internet, indeterminate accuracy, accurate enough for some calculations.

Metallic Hydrogen Properties: (paired metal)
Electronic energy band gap: 15 eV - uncompressed insulator
Electronic energy band gap: 0.3 eV - Metal @ 4000º K and 1.4 Mega-atmospheres (Matm)
Electrical Resistivity: ~0 ohm*m - Type II Superconductor @ 4000º K and 1.4 Mega-atmospheres (Matm)
Standard Density: 2696.487 kg*m^-3 (2.696 g*cc^-1)
Metallic Density: 24268.3899 kg*m^-3 @ 4000º K (24.268 g*cc^-1)
Tensile Strength: ~40-50 kg*mm^-2 @ 4000º K
Propellant Efficiency: 5*liquid H2/O2

 
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  • #6
Buh... o_O

can i have that in english? ^__^
 
  • #7
Originally posted by Gara
Buh... o_O

can i have that in english? ^__^

I second that! I don't feel like Googling a bunch of various metals and comparing each and every property, could someone who already has that knowledge please enlighten us as to the possible practical uses for such a metal? Thx!
 
  • #8
I know i have seen a phase diagram for Hydrogen. And according to the Thermodynamics Hydrogen cannot exsist as metal at 1 bar. I'll see if I can find it in my texts and journals and scan it in.
 
  • #9
so urm... if it can be a solid metalic metal at 1 bar @ room temp, would it be a super light super strong material?

its proberly a dumb question but wouldn't it be basicly a block of fuel, like charcoal blocks?

"Throw another block of solid metalic hydrogen on the barbeque, let's get this thing started!"
 

1. What is Metallic Hydrogen?

Metallic Hydrogen is a highly elusive form of hydrogen that exists as a solid metal at extremely high pressures. It is predicted to have unique properties such as superconductivity and high energy density.

2. How is Metallic Hydrogen formed?

Metallic Hydrogen is formed by subjecting gaseous hydrogen to extreme pressures of over 4 million atmospheres. This can be achieved by using specialized diamond anvil cells or powerful shock waves.

3. What makes Metallic Hydrogen special?

Metallic Hydrogen is special because it is predicted to have properties that are not found in any other element. These include superconductivity at room temperature and the ability to store large amounts of energy, making it a potential clean energy source.

4. What are the potential applications of Metallic Hydrogen?

The potential applications of Metallic Hydrogen include its use as a superconductor for efficient energy transmission, a high-energy fuel source for space travel, and as a powerful rocket propellant. It could also revolutionize technology in various industries such as transportation and electronics.

5. Has Metallic Hydrogen been successfully created?

Although there have been claims of creating Metallic Hydrogen in the past, it has not been confirmed by peer-reviewed experiments. Recent research has shown promising results, but further studies are needed to confirm its existence and properties.

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