The mission of SEES (Synchrotron Earth and Environmental Science) is to advance research and education in synchrotron-based Earth and environmental science to better understand our planet from the atmosphere to the core, to address societally relevant problems, and to train the next generation of scientists. SEES is responsible for the management, operation, and development of multiple user facilities hosted at four DOE-operated US synchrotrons: Advanced Photon Source (APS), Advanced Light Source (ALS), National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II), and Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL).
2025 SEES-ISRD Joint Meeting
SEES and ISRD invite you to attend our annual meeting to be held jointly at the University of Chicago on August 11-13, 2025. Keynote speakers will discuss topics in rock and mineral deformation and rheological properties in Earth, and there will be a poster session with a broad scientific focus. All SEES and ISRD researchers are welcome and encouraged to attend. Click here to learn more.
Recent Publications
Stabilized N5 and N6 rings in the Ag–N system under modest pressure
Huimin Zhang, Ran Liu, Jiajing Yuan, Dongxue Wang, Ran Liu, Yuanyuan Wang, Zhaodong Liu, Zhen Yao, Ying Zhang, Shuang Liu, Peng Wang; Stabilized N5 and N6 rings in the Ag–N system under modest pressure. Matter Radiat. Extremes 1 November 2025; 10 (6): 067801.
High-Pressure Synthesis and Characterization of the Novel Potassium Superhydride KH9
Tomas Marqueño, Israel Osmond, Mikhail A. Kuzovnikov, Hannah A. Shuttleworth, Andreas Hermann, Ross T. Howie, and Miriam Peña-Alvarez, High-Pressure Synthesis and Characterization of the Novel Potassium Superhydride KH9, The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 0, 16
Elastic Properties of hcp-Structured Fe-C and Fe-C-H Alloys at High Pressures: Implications on Earth’s Core
Lai, X., Zhu, F., Yang, J., Chariton, S., Prakapenka, V. B., Wu, X., & Chen, B. (2025). Elastic properties of hcp-structured Fe-C and Fe-C-H alloys at high pressures: Implications on Earth’s core. Geophysical Research Letters, 52, e2025GL115276.
Structural evolution and bandgap modification of a robust mixed-valence compound Eu9MgS2B20O41 under pressure
Fu, Boyang, Wenfeng Zhou, Fuyang Liu, Luhong Wang, Haozhe Liu, Sheng-Ping Guo, and Weizhao Cai. “Structural evolution and bandgap modification of a robust mixed-valence compound Eu9MgS2B20O41 under pressure.” Chinese Physics B (2025).
Unexpected compound reformation in the dense selenium-hydrogen system
Hu, H., Kuzovnikov, M.A., Shuttleworth, H.A. et al. Unexpected compound reformation in the dense selenium-hydrogen system. Commun Mater 6, 193 (2025).
Deep Hydrogen Cycle Facilitated by Redox Dehydrogenation and Hydration
Zhu, F., Lai, X., Jiang, Y., Chen, B.,Chariton, S., Prakapenka, V., & Wu, X.(2025). Deep hydrogen cycle facilitated byredox dehydrogenation and hydration.Geophysical Research Letters, 52,e2025GL115820.
Science Highlights
Elastic Properties of hcp-Structured Fe-C and Fe-C-H Alloys at High Pressures: Implications on Earth’s Core
Lai, X., Zhu, F., Yang, J., Chariton, S., Prakapenka, V. B., Wu, X., & Chen, B. (2025). Elastic properties of hcp-structured Fe-C and Fe-C-H alloys at high pressures: Implications on Earth’s core. Geophysical Research Letters, 52, e2025GL115276.
Deep Hydrogen Cycle Facilitated by Redox Dehydrogenation and Hydration
Zhu, F., Lai, X., Jiang, Y., Chen, B.,Chariton, S., Prakapenka, V., & Wu, X.(2025). Deep hydrogen cycle facilitated byredox dehydrogenation and hydration.Geophysical Research Letters, 52,e2025GL115820.
Linking the Spin Transition of Ferric Iron in δ‐(Al,Fe)OOH to Water Storage in the Lower Mantle
V. V., Sturhahn, W., Ishii, T., Chariton, S., et al. (2025). Linking the spin transition of ferric iron in δ‐(Al,Fe)OOH to water storage in the lower mantle. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 130, e2025JB031715.
X-Ray Microtomography Measurements of Coevolving Particle Size and Shape
Li, Yang, Shubjot Singh, and Giuseppe Buscarnera. “X-Ray Microtomography Measurements of Coevolving Particle Size and Shape.” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 151, no. 10 (2025): 04025110.
Intermediate oxidation products from pyrrhotite grains in natural waste rock: A synchrotron study using Fe K-edge XANES
Smith, Lianna JD, Dogan Paktunc, and David W. Blowes. “Intermediate oxidation products from pyrrhotite grains in natural waste rock: A synchrotron study using Fe K-edge XANES.” Applied Geochemistry (2025): 106501.
Applying EQTransformer to laboratory earthquakes: detecting and picking acoustic emissions with machine learning
Sheehan, J., Zhai, Q., Chuang, L.Y. Officer, T., Wang, Y., Zhu, L., Peng, Z., Applying EQTransformer to laboratory earthquakes: detecting and picking acoustic emissions with machine learning. Earth Planets Space 77, 116 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-025-02237-2
Latest Happenings
Celebrating Our SEES Postdocs
Happy National Postdoc Appreciation Week! We’re proud to highlight our postdocs and share a...
Snapshots from the 2025 Annual Meeting
We were thrilled to see so many of you at the 2025 SEES-ISRD meeting! Inspiring talks, a lively...
SEES Staff Host ACA 2025 Conference Tours at APS
As part of the American Crystallographic Association 2025 Conference, beamline staff led tours...
SEES Highlights at Goldschmidt 2025
SEES Scientists Dr. Kyounglim Kang (Advanced Light Source) and Dr. Roberto Colina-Ruiz (GSECARS...