Spectroscopic Studies of Cyclopentane under Extreme Conditions and Implications for the P-T Phase Diagram

Infrared (IR) spectroscopy and Raman scattering combined with diamond anvil cell (DAC) and cryogenic techniques have been employed to investigate cyclopentane up to 4 GPa in the temperature range of 100-350 K and isothermal compression up to 84 GPa at room temperature. Four phases including liquid, plastic phases I and II, and truly crystalline phase III are clearly identified in the P-T range studied based on the changes of the ring breathing mode and CH$_{2}$ rocking modes. The phase diagram is extended to the pressure and temperature range of 0 -- 4.0 GPa and 105 -- 350 K. Further compression at room temperature up to 84 GPa, another high-pressure phase (IV) is observed based on the appearance of low frequency peaks related to the lattice vibrational modes in the synchrotron far-IR spectra. The spectroscopic results indicate that cyclopentane persists the orientation ordered crystalline phase up to 84 GPa at room temperature.