Layered Structures Favor Superconductivity in Compressed Solid SiH$_{4}$

TL;DR

This study predicts that layered structures of compressed solid SiH$_{4}$ exhibit superconductivity with transition temperatures between 20 and 80 K, highlighting the importance of layered networks for high-temperature superconductivity in hydrogen-rich materials.

Contribution

The paper demonstrates that layered SiH$_{4}$ structures with SiH$_{8}$ coordination promote metallization and superconductivity under high pressure, providing new insights into hydrogen-rich superconductors.

Findings

Layered SiH$_{4}$ structures favor metallization.

Superconducting transition temperatures range from 20 to 80 K.

Layered networks are key to high-temperature superconductivity.

Abstract

The electronic and lattice dynamical properties of compressed solid SiH$_{4}$ have been calculated in the pressure range up to 300 GPa with density functional theory. We find that structures having a layered network with eight-fold SiH$_{8}$ coordination favor metallization and superconductivity. SiH$_{4}$ in these layered structures is predicted to have superconducting transition temperatures ranging from 20 to 80 K, thus presenting new possibilities for exploring high temperature superconductivity in this hydrogen-rich system.