Diamond anvil cell membrane

Figure 7. Some representative examples of diamond anvil cells (a) NBS (b) Mao-Bell (c) Syassen-Holzapfel (d) Bassett (e) membrane-type (f) Merrill-Bassett.

The operating principle of a DAC is elegantly simple (Figure 15). A gasket of metal foil (usually steel, W or Re) is placed between the diamond anvils. A hole drilled in the center of the gasket contains the sample immersed in a hydrostatic liquid. The anvils are mounted on beryllium (for X-ray transparency) back-plates, to which force is apphed by an inflatable membrane, a level-arm mechanism or just by tightening screw-bolts. Thus a hydrostatic compression is achieved. Such cells can be operated also at high and low temperature, and are also suitable for spectroscopic studies, since diamond is an ideal transmitter of heat and of all types of radiation. 

Fig. 1.34 A membrane DAC used for X-ray diffraction for half cuts through (a) the locating pins and through (b) the alignment screws (1) retaining nut, (2) membrane, (3) push piece, (4) piston, (5) lower platen (cell body), (6) beryllium seats, (7) diamond anvils, (8) gasket, (9 and 10) gas inlets. The cell dimensions are 50 x 25 mm (Reprinted with permission from reference 48. Copyright Gordon and Breach Science Publishers, 1993.)...

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