title: Pressure-induced polyamorphism in salty water.
abstract: We investigated the metastable phase diagram of an ionic salt aqueous solution, LiCl:6D₂O, at high pressure and low temperature by neutron diffraction measurements and computer simulations. We show that the presence of salt triggers a stepwise transformation, under annealing at high pressure, to a new very high-density amorphous form. The transition occurs abruptly at 120 K and 2 GPa, is reversible, and is characterized by a sizeable enthalpy release. Simulations suggest that the polyamorphic transition is linked to a local structural reorganization of water molecules around the Li ions.
authors.affiliation: IMPMC, CNRS-UMR 7590, Université P&M Curie, 75252 Paris, France.
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Bove
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Klotz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Philippe
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Saitta