Gold Becomes Reactive Under Megabar Pressures, Forms Stable Hydride
Researchers compressed gold in a hydrogen-rich environment to megabar pressures (>110 GPa) using a diamond anvil cell and, with ultrafast diffraction from the European XFEL, observed hydrogen incorporation into gold to form a stable gold hydride. The result shows gold’s noble behavior can break down under extreme planetary-core-like conditions, potentially altering models of gas giant interiors and suggesting new metallic hydride materials. The hydride persists only under high pressure; releasing pressure causes hydrogen to escape and gold to revert to its original state.
