The Raman spectra of pure N2, CO2, and CH4 were analyzed over the range 10 to 500 bars and from −160°C to 200°C (N2), 22°C to 350°C (CO2), and −100°C to 450°C (CH4). At constant temperature, Raman peak position, including the more intense CO2 peak (ν+), decreases (shifts to lower wave number) with increasing pressure for all three gases over the entire pressure and temperature (PT) range studied. At constant pressure, the peak position for CO2 and CH4 increases (shifts to higher wave number) with increasing temperature over the entire PT range studied. In contrast, N2 first shows an increase in peak position with increasing temperature at constant pressure, followed by a decrease in peak position with increasing temperature. The inflection temperature at which the trend reverses for N2 is located between 0°C and 50°C at pressures above ~50 bars and is pressure dependent. Below ~50 bars, the inflection temperature was observed as low as −120°C. The shifts in Raman peak positions with PT are related to relative density changes, which reflect changes in intermolecular attraction and repulsion. A conceptual model relating the Raman spectral properties of N2, CO2, and CH4 to relative density (volume) changes and attractive and repulsive forces is presented here. Additionally, reduced temperature‐dependent densimeters and barometers are presented for each pure component over the respective PT ranges. The Raman spectral behavior of the pure gases as a function of temperature and pressure is assessed to provide a framework for understanding the behavior of each component in multicomponent N2‐CO2‐CH4 gas systems in a future study.

Ultramafic and mafic rocks are possible targets for CO2 sequestration via mineral carbonation. The determination of reaction kinetics and the factors that control mineralization are important in order to understand and predict how fast injected CO2 will react with host rocks to permanently isolate and store the carbon. Here we present experimental results of olivine carbonation experiments using synthetic fluid inclusions (SFI) as micro-reactors. The micro-reactor technique coupled with non-destructive Raman spectroscopy allows us to monitor the reaction progress in situ and in real time at elevated temperatures (50–200°C) and pressures (several 10's to a few hundred bars), and quantify the amount of CO2 consumed in the reaction using the Raman CO2 densimeter and mass-balance calculations. Results show a measurable decrease of CO2 density in the fluid inclusions as a result of the reaction between the CO2-bearing seawater-like aqueous solution and olivine. Magnesite formation was observed within hours at ≥100°C, while at 50°C magnesite nucleation and precipitation was only observed after a few weeks. Raman mapping and FIB-SEM analysis confirmed the formation of a non-continuous Si-rich layer on the inclusion wall and the presence of ferroan magnesite as a reaction product. Reaction rates [log J (mol/m−2 s−1)] obtained for olivine carbonation range between ~-8.4 at 50°C and −4.7 at 200°C, which is sufficiently rapid to be suitable for commercial CO2 injection projects. Reaction rates involving a seawater-like fluid were similar to rates published for high salinity solutions containing NaHCO3, and were faster compared to rates involving solutions with low salinity. Thus, CO2 injection into submarine environments might offer some advantages over CO2 storage in onshore basalts where the pores are likely to be filled with low salinity meteoric water. The application of the synthetic fluid inclusion technique, combined with non-destructive analytical techniques, is a promising tool to monitor rates of fluid-rock reactions in situ and in real time. Here, we have documented its application to experimentally study carbonation reactions in the olivine-H2O-CO2-NaCl-MgCl2 system.

We report the first experimental characterization of isomerically pure and pristine C120 fullertubes, [5,5] C120-D5d(1) and [10,0] C120-D5h(10766). These new molecules represent the highest aspect ratio fullertubes isolated to date; for example, the prior largest empty cage fullertube was [5,5] C100-D5d(1). This increase of 20 carbon atoms represents a gigantic leap in comparison to three decades of C60–C90 fullerene research. Moreover, the [10,0] C120-D5d(10766) fullertube has an end-cap derived from C80-Ih and is a new fullertube whose C40 end-cap has not yet been isolated experimentally. Theoretical and experimental analyses of anisotropic polarizability and UV–vis assign C120 isomer I as a [5,5] C120-D5d(1) fullertube. C120 isomer II matches a [10,0] C120-D5h(10766) fullertube. These structural assignments are further supported by Raman data showing metallic character for [5,5] C120-D5d(1) and nonmetallic character for C120-D5h(10766). STM imaging reveals a tubular structure with an aspect ratio consistent with a [5,5] C120-D5d(1) fullertube. With microgram quantities not amenable to crystallography, we demonstrate that DFT anisotropic polarizability, augmented by long-accepted experimental analyses (HPLC retention time, UV–vis, Raman, and STM) can be synergistically used (with DFT) to down select, predict, and assign C120 fullertube candidate structures. From 10 774 mathematically possible IPR C120 structures, this anisotropic polarizability paradigm is quite favorable to distinguish tubular structures from carbon soot. Identification of isomers I and II was surprisingly facile, i.e., two purified isomers for two possible structures of widely distinguishing features. These metallic and nonmetallic C120 fullertube isomers open the door to both fundamental research and application development.

The Raman spectral behavior of N2, CO2, and CH4 in ternary N2–CO2–CH4 mixtures was studied from 22°C to 200°C and 10 to 500 bars. The peak position of N2 in all mixtures is located at lower wavenumbers compared with pure N2 at the same pressure (P)–temperature (T) (PT) conditions. The Fermi diad splitting in CO2 is greater in the pure system than in the mixtures, and the Fermi diad splitting increases in the mixtures as CO2 concentration increases at constant P and T. The peak position of CH4 in the mixtures is shifted to higher wavenumbers compared with pure CH4 at the same PT conditions. However, the relationship between peak position and CH4 mole fraction is more complicated compared with the trends observed with N2 and CO2. The relative order of the peak position isotherms of CH4 and N2 in the mixtures in pressure–peak position space mimics trends in the molar volume of the mixtures in pressure–molar volume space. Relationships between the direction of peak shift of individual components in the mixtures, the relative molar volumes of the mixtures, and the attraction and repulsion forces between molecules are developed. Additionally, the relationship between the peak position of N2 in ternary N2–CO2–CH4 mixtures with pressure is extended to other N2‐bearing systems to assess similarities in the Raman spectral behavior of N2 in various systems.

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