Molecular Dissociation in Deuterium Sulfide under High Pressure:  Infrared and Raman Study

Experiments using a diamond-anvil cell show that deuterium sulfide (D 2 S) dissociates to form sulfur at pressures above 27 GPa and room temperature. Raman-scattering spectroscopy indicates the presence of S−S bonds of a high-pressure phase sulfur, helical sulfur, and eight-membered cyclic sulfur. On the other hand, infrared-absorption spectroscopy indicates the presence of S−D bonds of both polymeric and unreacted D 2 S. The formation of sulfur from D 2 S can be interpreted as reconstruction of chemical bonds at high pressures.