Pressure-induced phase transition and polymerization of tetracyanoethylene (TCNE).

We have studied the pressure-induced physical and chemical transformations of tetracyanoethylene (TCNE or C6N4) in diamond anvil cells using micro-Raman spectroscopy, laser-heating, emission spectroscopy, and synchrotron x-ray diffraction. The results indicate that TCNE in a quasi-hydrostatic condition undergoes a shear-induced phase transition at 10 GPa and then a chemical change to two-dimensional (2D) C=N polymers above 14 GPa. These phase and chemical transformations depend strongly on the state of stress in the sample and occur sluggishly in non-hydrostatic conditions over a large pressure range between 7 and 14 GPa.