文摘
The high-pressure behavior of SnBr4 has been explored by angle-dispersive X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, optical absorption/transmission measurements, and ab initio calculations. The joint of experimental and theoretical results shows that there is a crystal鈥揷rystal transition induced by molecular dimerization, which begins at 10.8 GPa and completes at 21.5 GPa. Above 21.5 GPa, the gradual crystal鈥揳morphous transition induced by the molecular dissociation appears, and the sample remains in partial amorphous state up to 43.8 GPa. At 40.3 GPa, the possible insulator鈥搈etal transformation is discovered by in situ optical transmission measurements. It is proposed that the observed amorphous phase is a nonmolecular phase by theoretical calculations.