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The power of explosive matter: Why solid nitrogen under high pressure becomes the strongest non-nuclear material?
Solid nitrogen, although relatively unknown in academic research, has an astonishing explosive power when placed under high pressure, making it one of the strongest non-nuclear materials known. The properties of solid nitrogen and its changes in extreme environments make it an important research object for space exploration and other industrial applications.
Solid nitrogen is a material with high energy density that can release huge amounts of energy in a high-pressure environment, surpassing any other non-nuclear material.
Formation and discovery of solid nitrogen
The history of solid nitrogen dates back to 1884, when researcher Karol Olszewski succeeded in solidifying nitrogen by cooling liquid nitrogen. This process not only paved the way for the formation of solid nitrogen, but also enabled the experimenters to create the lowest temperature in the world at that time - 48K.
With the advancement of science and technology, the technology for generating solid nitrogen is also constantly evolving. Modern laboratories usually use the method of evaporating liquid nitrogen in a vacuum environment to obtain porous solid nitrogen.
Solid nitrogen in nature
Solid nitrogen not only exists in laboratories, but is also an important component of many celestial bodies in the outer solar system. For example, much of Pluto's surface is covered in solid nitrogen, mixed with solid carbon monoxide and methane, which were first directly observed in 2015 by the New Horizons probe. On Neptune's moon Triton, it was detected by Voyager 2 in 1989. These findings highlight the widespread presence of solid nitrogen in the universe.
Solid nitrogen is still relatively volatile at extremely low temperatures and can sublime directly into a gas state or condense into nitrogen frost.
Solid nitrogen under high pressure
Under high pressure, the properties of solid nitrogen change dramatically. When the ambient pressure reaches 50 GPa, solid nitrogen undergoes a polymerization process. At this time, the melting point of solid nitrogen increases with the increase of pressure, and even higher stability is achieved. Through high-pressure technology, we can produce new nitrogen polymers, such as solid nitrogen with staggered structures, which can reach amazing levels of energy density, making this type of nitrogen material extremely promising for both civilian and military applications.
Explosive properties of solid nitrogen
Today, the most intriguing property of solid nitrogen is its potential as an explosive. Experiments have shown that the energy density of solid nitrogen can reach unprecedented levels, exceeding that of traditional explosives and other non-nuclear materials. The way its explosive energy is released allows it to instantly generate huge pressure waves and shock waves, and can cause a lot of damage in a small area. This makes solid nitrogen a potential alternative energy source that may even have a place in rocket propulsion systems.
Researchers have been exploring applications for solid nitrogen, hoping to use its powerful explosive properties to penetrate various fields of industry and science.
Future solid nitrogen applications
Research into solid nitrogen continues to advance, with many scientists trying to unlock the potential of this material. Some applications could include new rocket propellants, repair agents for urban damage, and even propulsion materials in aerospace. Solid nitrogen will not only change our basic understanding of materials, but may also have far-reaching economic and social impacts in the future.
However, we also need to consider the safety and sustainability of solid nitrogen in these potential applications. Will solid nitrogen allow us to take greater strides in technology in the future, or will it become an unforeseen danger?
