Ice XV: a new thermodynamically stable phase of ice

Phys Rev Lett. 2009 Sep 4;103(10):105701. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.105701. Epub 2009 Sep 2.

Abstract

A new phase of ice, named ice XV, has been identified and its structure determined by neutron diffraction. Ice XV is the hydrogen-ordered counterpart of ice VI and is thermodynamically stable at temperatures below approximately 130 K in the 0.8 to 1.5 GPa pressure range. The regions of stability in the medium pressure range of the phase diagram have thus been finally mapped, with only hydrogen-ordered phases stable at 0 K. The ordered ice XV structure is antiferroelectric (P1), in clear disagreement with recent theoretical calculations predicting ferroelectric ordering (Cc).