Recent advances in high-pressure science and technology

Recently we are witnessing the boom of high-pressure science and technology from a small niche field to becoming a major dimension in physical sciences. One of the most important technological advances is the integration of synchrotron nanotechnology with the minute samples at ultrahigh pressures. Applications of high pressure have greatly enhanced our understanding of the electronic, phonon, and doping effects on the newly emerged graphene and related 2D layered materials. High pressure has created exotic stoichiometry even in common Group 17, 15, and 14 compounds and drastically altered the basic σ and π bonding of organic compounds. Differential pressure measurements enable us to study the rheology and flow of mantle minerals in solid state, thus quantitatively constraining the geodynamics. They also introduce a new approach to understand defect and plastic deformations of nano particles. These examples open new frontiers of high-pressure research.