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