Structure Selectivity of Mixed Gas Hydrates

A new paper from our group has been published. In this paper, we discuss crystal structure selection rules for mixed gas hydrates using extended van der Waals–Platteeuw (vdWP) theory. First, we propose an empirical rule that mechanically unstable structures of empty host lattices can be excluded using the vertex order parameter (VOP). Next, we examine how guest species and mixing ratio affect the crystal structure, and show that a trace second component can induce a phase transition, enabling exploration of new stable and metastable phases.