Structural systematics in the clathrate hydrates under pressure

We report the results of synchrotron X-ray and neutron diffraction studies of methane, argon, nitrogen, and xenon clathrate hydrates at high pressure and room temperature. The results reveal common features in the structural transition sequences. All phases transform initially to the hexagonal clathrate structure and all except xenon hydrate eventually form an orthorhombic dihydrate. Argon and nitrogen hydrates adopt the type-II clathrate structure at low pressures and have a tetragonal cage structure between the hexagonal and orthorhombic phases. At normal compression rates, the hexagonal form of xenon hydrate decomposes into ice and xenon at similar to2.5 GPa.