High pressure synthesis of solids

The field of high pressure synthesis of solid state compounds is reviewed, for the period between late 1997 through late 1998. The review does not cover syntheses of organic compounds, nor high pressure mineralogy. Emphasis is placed on new solid state compounds discovered during the reviewing period, and on recent findings in on-going areas of high pressure research. The main classes of materials receiving on-going attention are (i) ‘super-hard’ materials, including compounds based on the diamond structure, advances in the search for C3N4, interesting new materials derived from fullerite (C60 and C70), and icosahedral borides, and (ii) high Tc oxide superconductors, as well as (iii) other new compounds and classes of compound synthesized for the first time by high pressure techniques. Current research on synthesis of new organometallic compounds prepared at high pressure is also mentioned briefly.