Extending the Stability Field of Polymeric Carbon Dioxide Phase V beyond the Earth’s Geotherm

We present a study on the phase stability of dense carbon dioxide (CO2) at extreme pressure-temperature conditions, up to 6200 K within the pressure range 37 to 106 GPa. The investigations of high pressure high-temperature in situ x-ray diffraction patterns recorded from laser-heated CO2, as densified in diamond-anvil cells, consistently reproduced the exclusive formation of polymeric tetragonal CO2-Vat any condition achieved in repetitive laser-heating cycles. Using well-considered experimental arrangements, which prevent reactions with metal components of the pressure cells, annealing through laser heating was extended individually up to approximately 40 min per cycle in order to keep track of upcoming instabilities and changes with time. The results clearly exclude any decomposition of CO2-V into the elements as previously suggested. Alterations of the Bragg peak distribution on Debye-Scherrer rings indicate grain coarsening at temperatures >4000 K, giving a glimpse of the possible extension of the stability of the polymeric solid phase.