Xenon in oxide frameworks: at the crossroads between inorganic chemistry and planetary science

Abstract

The chemistry of noble gases was for a long time dominated by fluoride-bearing compounds of xenon. However, the last two decades have brought new insights into the chemistry of xenon oxides and oxysalts, including insights involving a novel type of non-covalent interaction (aerogen bonding), discoveries of new xenon oxides, oxide perovskite frameworks and evidence for an abrupt increase of xenon reactivity under extreme pressure-temperature conditions. The complex implementation of these findings could facilitate the development of explanations for long-standing interdisciplinary problems, such as the depletion of heavy noble gases in contemporary planetary atmospheres – the cosmochemical enigma known as the “missing xenon” paradox.