Chemical bonding, electron-phonon coupling, and structural transformations in high-pressure phases of Si

The nature of chemical bonding of the stable phases of Si at high pressure was analyzed. The effect of pressure is to promote sp electrons into the d orbitals, thus increasing the metallic character and reducing the dimensionality of covalent bonding. Localized covalent bonds, however, persist up to approximately 40 GPa (Si-VI, Cmca) and help to stabilize directional framework structures. At high pressures, Si becomes a metal, and the usual dense packed structures prevail. The existence of conducting and localized electrons gives rise to a combination of "steep and flat bands" near the Fermi level in Si-V. This peculiar electron topology in conjunction with low-frequency vibrations contributes to the relatively high superconducting temperature in Si-V and VI.