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Critical region and metal–nonmetal transition in expanded fluid mercury: advanced evaluation of small‐angle X‐ray scattering data
Author(s) -
Ruland Wilhelm,
Hensel Friedrich
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of applied crystallography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.429
H-Index - 162
ISSN - 1600-5767
DOI - 10.1107/s0021889809055113
Subject(s) - volume fraction , scattering , mercury (programming language) , microemulsion , small angle scattering , phase transition , materials science , thermodynamics , dispersity , small angle x ray scattering , small angle neutron scattering , condensed matter physics , chemistry , optics , neutron scattering , physics , polymer chemistry , pulmonary surfactant , computer science , programming language
The small‐angle X‐ray scattering data of expanded fluid mercury published in the literature were evaluated using a modified form of the Teubner–Strey equation for microemulsions together with the general treatment of two‐phase systems according to Porod. The parameters obtained in the critical region and the metal–nonmetal (M–NM) transition are evidence of a nanoemulsion composed of M and NM domains. The structure of this emulsion is characterized by density, volume fraction and size parameters (average chord length, polydispersity) of the domains. On the basis of these parameters, a structural model for fluid mercury in the liquid–vapour critical region and the M–NM transition is developed. Analysis of the relationship between the volume fraction of the M domains and the electrical conductivity reveals that a percolation transition occurs, with a threshold located near the liquid–vapour critical density. This observation is consistent with recent theoretical developments.