A standard diamond-anvil cell adapted for work on biological molecules and soft solids

Diamond-anvil cells readily generate pressures of many GPa in a very small sample volume, but in biological systems and in soft solids many interesting phenomena such as phase transitions occur below 1 GPa and often require a larger sample volume. Given the dangers and difficulties of traditional low-pressure apparatus, it is desirable to modify the standard diamond-anvil cell for operation at relatively lower pressures (up to 2.5GPa) and larger sample volumes. By using the diamond-anvil cell with only one anvil, modest pressures in relatively large volumes can be achieved. We demonstrate this to pressures up to 2.5GPa with gaskets of steel, brass and other metals, with a sample chamber 0.25mm diameter by 0.25 - 0.9mm depth, and with various pressure media. In this form, the diamond-anvil cell becomes a perfectly safe and easy-to-use device for pressure experiments on biological systems and soft solids.