Abstract
We report novel molecular compound formation from silane-hydrogen mixtures with intermolecular interactions unprecedented for hydrogen-rich solids. A complex vibron spectrum with anticorrelated pressure-frequency dependencies and a striking H-D exchange below 10 GPa reveal strong and unusual attractive interactions between and and molecular bond destabilization at remarkably low pressure. The unique features of the observed compound suggest a new range of accessible pressure-driven intermolecular interactions for hydrogen-bearing simple molecular systems and a new approach to perturb the hydrogen covalent bond.
- Received 25 May 2009
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.065701
©2009 American Physical Society
Viewpoint
Pressing some boundaries in Mendeleev’s chart
Published 3 August 2009
We can generally understand the way simple chemical combinations arise by assuming a standard valence structure for the elements, but a high-pressure study suggests that the rules for hydrogen may not be so easily pinned down.
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