Non-local Chemistry Driven by Cation-Anion Size Disparity in Helium Inserted Compounds under High Pressure

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that helium can form stable compounds with sodium halides under high pressure due to non-local electrostatic effects driven by cation-anion size differences, challenging previous assumptions.

Contribution

It reveals a new mechanism of helium reactivity in ionic compounds driven by long-range electrostatic interactions rather than local bonding.

Findings

Helium forms stable compounds with sodium halides under high pressure.

He insertion relieves Madelung energy buildup in NaX compounds.

Cation-anion size disparity enables He insertion through structural volume reduction.

Abstract

Opposing the theory that Helium (He) cannot be inserted into AB-type ionic compounds due to the Madelung energy increase, our crystal structure search and first-principles calculations found that He can form stable compounds with sodium halides (NaX, X=Cl, Br, I) under high-pressure. These reactions are driven by the non-local chemistry arising from the cation-anion size disparity, distinctly different from the He insertion reaction with A2B-type compounds. The large size differences between Na+ and X- enable structures that can effectively host He insertions through volume and inter-atomic distance disproportionation. Furthermore, the insertion of He atoms can significantly relieve the elevated Madelung energy that builds up in NaX under high pressure. This energy increase arises from structural transitions driven by cation-anion size disparity, which are necessary for reducing volume under pressure. The insertion of He allows the reduction of the total volume under high pressure without increasing the Madelung energy. Our predicted compounds and stability analysis reveal a new example of He reactivity governed not by local chemical bond formation, but by long-range electrostatic interactions.