Experimental evidence for a second hydrogen ordered phase of ice VI

TL;DR

This study provides experimental evidence for a second hydrogen ordered phase of ice VI, called ice β-XV, which is more ordered and thermodynamically stable than ice XV, revealing complex phase behavior in water's solid state.

Contribution

The paper reports the discovery and characterization of a new hydrogen ordered ice phase, ice β-XV, distinct from ice XV, expanding the understanding of water's phase diagram.

Findings

Ice β-XV is more ordered than ice XV by 14%.

Ice β-XV transforms to ice XV above 103K and to ice VI above 129K.

Ice β-XV has higher activation energy for dielectric relaxation (45 kJ/mol) than ice XV (18 kJ/mol).

Abstract

In the last decade five new ice phases were experimentally prepared. Two of them are empty clathrate hydrates and three of them represent hydrogen ordered counterparts of previously known disordered ice phases. Here, we report on hydrogen ordering in ice VI samples upon cooling at pressures up to 1.8 GPa. Using calorimetry, dielectric relaxation spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction we provide evidence for the existence of a second hydrogen ordered phase related to ice VI, that we call ice {\beta}-XV. This phase is more ordered than ice XV by 14% and directly transforms to ice XV above 103K and to ice VI above 129K. That is, upon heating an order->order->disorder transition is experienced. The new phase is thus thermodynamically more stable than ice XV requiring a new stability region in the phase diagram of water. Raman spectroscopy indicates ice XV and ice {\beta}-XV to be different in terms of symmetry and space group. The activation energies for dielectric relaxation are 45 kJ mol-1 in ice {\beta}-XV compared to 18 kJ mol-1 in ice XV. Powder X-ray data show the oxygen network to be the one of ice VI. The ordering of hydrogen atoms induces a significant peak shift to lower d-spacings at d=0.265 nm in ice {\beta}-XV, whereas for ice XV shifts to higher d-spacings are found. This present work represents a unique experimental realization of a second electric ordering in an ice phase.