High-pressure synthesis, amorphization, and decomposition of silane

By compressing elemental silicon and hydrogen in a diamond anvil cell, we have synthesized polymeric silicon tetrahydride (SiH(4)) at 124 GPa and 300 K. In situ synchrotron x-ray diffraction reveals that the compound forms the insulating I4(1)/a structure previously proposed from ab initio calculati...

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Published inPhysical review letters Vol. 106; no. 9; p. 095503
Main Authors Hanfland, Michael, Proctor, John E, Guillaume, Christophe L, Degtyareva, Olga, Gregoryanz, Eugene
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 02.03.2011
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Summary:By compressing elemental silicon and hydrogen in a diamond anvil cell, we have synthesized polymeric silicon tetrahydride (SiH(4)) at 124 GPa and 300 K. In situ synchrotron x-ray diffraction reveals that the compound forms the insulating I4(1)/a structure previously proposed from ab initio calculations for the high-pressure phase of silane. From a series of high-pressure experiments at room and low temperature on silane itself, we find that its tetrahedral molecules break up, while silane undergoes pressure-induced amorphization at pressures above 60 GPa, recrystallizing at 90 GPa into the polymeric crystal structures.
ISSN:1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/physrevlett.106.095503