Structure of solid metal ammonia systems

Both crystalline and amorphous phases in metal ammonia solids have been studied using x-ray scattering. We have studied the structure of Li(NH$_{3})_{4}$ over a temperature range of 10 K to 90 K and also studied the structure of quenched sodium-ammonia solutions at concentrations of 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 mole percent metal. We find a mixture of amorphous and crystalline phases in lithium-ammonia with at least two different crystalline phases. An amorphous phase is also found in certain of the quenched sodium-ammonia solutions.