Electrical Resistivity of Silane Multiply Shock-Compressed to 106 GPa

The liquid silane sample, prepared by liquifying pure silane gas at 88.5 K, is multiply shock-compressed to 106 GPa by means of a two-stage light-gas gun and a coolant target system. Electrical resistivity is measured for fluid silane during the period of multi-shock compression in the pressure range from 63.5 GPa to 106 GPa. It is shown that the electrical resistivity reduces to the order of 10(-3)-10(-4) ohm.m after the second shock arrived, which is two orders higher than those of typical melt metals. Though the metallization transition could not be confirmed under the loading condition of our shock experiments, its resistivity drops sharply along with the pressure rise. The phenomenon might be caused by silane decomposed during the pressure loading, due to the fact that, above 100 GPa, we find that its resistivity is close to hydrogen under the same pressure.