What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to investigate the high-pressure phase transition sequences of magnesium dichloride and identify new phases.

February 9, 2026

Compressed MgCl2 Reveals Multiple Pathways to Cotunnite Structures.

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Experimental analysis demonstrates multiple structural transformations in magnesium dichloride under high pressure, indicating key material insights.

This research aims to investigate the high-pressure phase transition sequences of magnesium dichloride and identify new phases.
Synthesis of anhydrous MgCl2 using elemental magnesium and carbon tetrachloride under high pressure.
Utilization of laser-heated diamond anvil cells to achieve pressures from 7 to 83 GPa.
Single-crystal X-ray diffraction to identify phases and structures.
Ab initio calculations to support experimental findings and provide electronic properties.
Identification of the known hP3-MgCl2 phase at 7 GPa and two new high-pressure phases at higher pressures.
Discovery of orthorhombic oP72-MgCl2 at 28 and 44 GPa and cotunnite-type oP12-MgCl2 at 64, 73, and 83 GPa.
Observation of distinct coordination geometries in the new phases, including distorted MgCl6 trigonal prisms and MgCl8 bicapped trigonal prisms.

Yin et al. (2026) studied this question.

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Experimental analysis demonstrates multiple structural transformations in magnesium dichloride under high pressure, indicating key material insights.