Spectroscopic evidence for pressure-induced metallization in solid silane

ORAL

Abstract

Infrared reflectance measurements on solid silane SiH$_{4}$ have been performed under pressure up to 70 GPa at room temperature. After passing through three phase transformations, solid SiH$_{4}$ is already black at 30 GPa. At high pressures around 60 GPa, the infrared reflectance spectra exhibit a Drude metallic behavior, signaling the pressure-induced metallization in solid silane. Angle-dispersive powder x-ray diffraction studies reveal that a structural transition is accompanying the silane transition to the metallic state.

*The work was supported by the DOE Grant DEFG02-02ER4595, and CDAC Grant DEFC03-03NA00144.

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Authors

  • Xiao-Jia Chen

    • Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC 20015

  • Viktor Struzhkin

    • Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC 20015
    • Carnegie Institution of Washington

  • Alexander Goncharov

    • Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC 20015
    • Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington
    • Carnegie Institution of Washington

  • Yang Song

    • Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC 20015

  • Zhenxian Liu

    • Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC 20015
    • Brookhaven National Lab
    • NSLS, Carnegie Institute of Washinton

  • Ho-kwang Mao

    • Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC 20015
    • Carnegie Institution of Washington

  • Russell Hemley

    • Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC 20015
    • Carnegie Institution of Washinton