Transition mechanism of sH to filled-ice Ih structure of methane hydrate under fixed pressure condition

The phase transition mechanism of methane hydrate from sH to filled-ice Ih structure was examined using a combination of time-resolved X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy in conjunction with charge-coupled device (CCD) camera observation under fixed pressure conditions. Prior to time-resolved Raman experiments, the typical C-H vibration modes and their pressure dependence of three methane hydrate structures, fluid methane and solid methane were measured using Raman spectroscopy to distinguish the phase transitions of methane hydrates from decomposition to solid methane and ice VI or VII. Experimental results by XRD, Raman spectroscopy and CCD camera observation revealed that the structural transition of sH to filled-ice Ih occurs through a collapse of the sH framework followed by the release of fluid methane that is then gradually incorporated into the filled-ice Ih to reconstruct its structure. These observations suggest that the phase transition of sH to filled-ice Ih takes place by a typical reconstructive mechanism. (paper)