Layered Structures Favor Superconductivity in Compressed Solid SiH${}_4$

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.

5 pages, 5 figures