American Physical Society, Physical review B, 6(84)
DOI: 10.1103/physrevb.84.064118
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Using our newly developed particle swarm optimization algorithm on crystal structural prediction, we characterized the pressure-induced structural transition sequence of gallane (GaH3). As has been observed in alane (AlH3), enthalpy calculations reveal that the Pm3̅ n structure of GaH3 becomes stable above 160 GPa, below which it is unstable with respect to elemental decomposition. Interestingly, the Pm3̅ n structure is metallic, and the application of the Allen-Dynes modified McMillan equation reveals a high superconducting transition temperature (Tc), which reaches 86 K at 160 GPa and increases with decreasing pressure (Tc = 102 K at 120 GPa). Our band structure calculations demonstrate that GaH3 within the Pm3̅ n structure is a highly ionic solid, where the ionicity of H atoms plays an important role in the predicted high temperature superconductivity.