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).
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Recent Publications
HPHT Synthesis and Compressibility of Hydrogen-Terminated Nanodiamonds
Zhang, Yuxuan, Jingjing Niu, Hao Zhang, Feng Zhu, Bin Chen, Xiang Wu, Andy H. Shen, Dongzhou Zhang, and Xiaojing Lai. “HPHT Synthesis and...
Prediction and synthesis of Mg4Pt3H6: A superconducting complex transition metal hydride stabilized at ambient pressure
Wencheng Lu, Michael J. Hutcheon, Mads F. Hansen, Kapildeb Dolui, Shubham Sinha, Mihir R. Sahoo, Chris J. Pickard, Christoph Heil, Anna Pakhomova,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Science Highlights
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...
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...
Unraveling the Complex Features of the Seismic Scatterersin the Mid‐Lower Mantle Through Phase Transition of (Al, H)‐Bearing Stishovite
Yu, Y., Zhang, Y., Li, L., Zhang, X., Wang, D., Mao, Z., et al. (2025). Unraveling the complex features of the seismic scatterers in the...
Plagioclase under compression: A path to diaplectic glass and maskelynite
Xie, Tianqi, Sean R. Shieh, Stella Chariton, Mauritz van Zyl, Ricardo D. Rodriguez, Vitali B. Prakapenka, and Dongzhou Zhang. “Plagioclase...
Equilibrium Fe isotope fractionation between olivine, pyroxene, spinel and MORB glass: Implications for mantle partial melting to generate MORBs
Nie, Nicole X., Anat Shahar, Peng Ni, Richard W. Carlson, Steven B. Shirey, Corliss K. Sio, Justin Y. Hu et al. "Equilibrium Fe isotope...
Magma sources, crustal storage depths, and degassing of alkalic, CO2-rich magmas at Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira Volcanoes, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Connors, Lissie, Paul J. Wallace, Kenneth WW Sims, D. Matthew Sublett Jr, and Robert J. Bodnar. “Magma sources, crustal storage depths,...
Latest Happenings
Infrared Microscope Project at NSLS-II
I. Continuum Infrared Microscope at NSLS-II: BIC project updateThe BioImaging Core (BIC) of the...
GSECARS congratulates Andy Campbell, SEES Director, for his award of the Arthur L. Kelly Faculty Prize for Exceptional Service in the Physical Sciences Division, University of Chicago
As announced by Ka Yee C. Lee, Interim Dean, Physical Sciences Division, The University of Chicago...




