Scientists Discovered New Superionic Ice Phase
Researchers identified a hexagonal close-packed ice phase existing under extreme planetary pressures.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Materials Science
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Scientists have discovered a new form of superionic hexagonal close-packed ice through high-pressure experiments. This ice phase, which features a crystalline oxygen lattice with mobile hydrogen atoms, may help explain the magnetic fields of giant planets.
Why it matters
Understanding the structure of water under extreme pressure allows researchers to better model the interior environments and magnetic properties of Ice Giant planets. This discovery expands our knowledge of phase transitions in extreme conditions.
Researchers utilized diamond-anvil cells and high-energy x-ray beams to observe the ice structure. The study reached maximum conditions of 230 gigapascals of pressure and 2630 Kelvin in temperature.
The players
European Synchrotron Radiation Facility
This international research facility located in Grenoble, France, provides advanced x-ray beams used for structural studies.
The details
The team trapped water samples between diamond tips and used lasers to heat them to extreme levels while monitoring the structure with x-rays at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility. This phase builds upon the identification of the superionic Ice XVIII, which was first confirmed in 2019.
Timeline
Scientists experimentally confirmed the prior superionic Ice XVIII phase in 2019.
The new study on hexagonal close-packed ice was published in 2026.
The Big Picture
This discovery updates the paradigm of high-pressure water ice established by the 2019 discovery of superionic Ice XVIII. It provides critical data that bridges gaps in theoretical models of planetary interior composition.
While this discovery currently impacts theoretical models of planetary science, it advances our ability to predict material behavior under extreme environmental conditions. Such data can eventually inform the development of more durable synthetic materials for high-pressure industrial applications.
The takeaway
This finding demonstrates the complex ways water behaves when subjected to the intense pressures found deep inside celestial bodies. Further theoretical work is expected to build on these experimental results to refine our understanding of planetary physics.
Further reading
For more information on the evolving understanding of atomic structures, visit Materials Science.
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