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Updated: Jun 3, 2026
09:37
Imine Metathesis by Silica-Supported Catalysts Using the Methodology of Surface Organometallic Chemistry
Published on: October 18, 2019
High-pressure synthesis, amorphization, and decomposition of silane
Michael Hanfland1, John E Proctor, Christophe L Guillaume
1European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble, France.
Physical Review Letters
|March 17, 2011
Summary
Researchers synthesized polymeric silicon tetrahydride (SiH4) under extreme pressure. This study reveals the insulating I4(1)/a structure and pressure-induced amorphization of silane, followed by recrystallization into polymeric forms.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- High-Pressure Physics
- Solid-State Chemistry
Background:
- Silane (SiH4) is a simple hydride with a tetrahedral molecular structure.
- Understanding the behavior of materials under extreme pressure is crucial for discovering new phases and properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize polymeric silicon tetrahydride (SiH4) under high pressure.
- To investigate the structural transformations of silane at high pressures and temperatures.
Main Methods:
- Compression of elemental silicon and hydrogen in a diamond anvil cell.
- In situ synchrotron x-ray diffraction for structural analysis.
- High-pressure experiments on silane at room and low temperatures.
Main Results:
- Successful synthesis of polymeric silicon tetrahydride (SiH4) at 124 GPa and 300 K.
- Identification of the insulating I4(1)/a crystal structure for the synthesized SiH4.
- Observation of pressure-induced amorphization of silane above 60 GPa.
- Recrystallization of silane into polymeric crystal structures at 90 GPa.
Conclusions:
- Polymeric silicon tetrahydride (SiH4) can be synthesized under high pressure, adopting the predicted I4(1)/a structure.
- Silane undergoes significant structural changes, including amorphization and recrystallization into polymeric forms, when subjected to extreme pressures.
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