Can extreme conditions forge new materials with unique properties? This study reports the successful synthesis of a novel cubic neodymium-rhenium alloy, NdRe2, achieved through high-pressure and laser heating techniques within a diamond anvil cell. This method allows for the creation of materials under conditions that are impossible to replicate in standard laboratory settings. NdRe2 crystallizes in the Fd3Ì„m space group, exhibiting a MgCu2 structure type under extreme conditions (24 GPa and 2,200 K). High-pressure single-crystal X-ray diffraction was used to study the compound's structure and properties. Ab initio calculations provide predictions regarding the mechanical characteristics of this newly synthesized material, paving the way for further investigations into its potential applications. This research demonstrates the effectiveness of high-pressure high-temperature conditions for synthesizing alloys with a Laves phase structure. It also explores the potential utilization of such extreme conditions in the creation and examination of materials relevant to nuclear waste management, highlighting the broader implications of this synthetic approach.
This study, published in Frontiers in Chemistry, is highly relevant to the journal's scope, which encompasses a wide range of chemistry-related topics. By detailing the synthesis and characterization of a new metallic alloy under extreme conditions, the research contributes to the understanding of materials science, high-pressure chemistry, and the application of chemical principles to materials discovery.