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    High Hole Doping Redirects Pressure-Induced Phase Transformation of Silicon

    Tong Zhao1,5,*, Shulin Zhong2,*, Yuxin Sun1,*, Defan Wu1, Zhidan Zeng3, Yilun Wang1, Chunyi Zhang4, Rui Shi2,*, Hao Chen1 et al.

    Qunlin Nie1, Zhenyi Ni1, Xiaodong Pi1, Xiangyang Ma1,5,†, Yunhao Lu2,6,‡, and Deren Yang1,5,§

    • *These authors contributed equally to this work.
    • †Contact author: mxyoung@zju.edu.cn
    • ‡Contact author: luyh@zju.edu.cn
    • §Contact author: mseyang@zju.edu.cn

    Phys. Rev. Lett. 137, 146101 – Published 29 September, 2026

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/v636-pcxy

    Abstract

    The pressure-induced phase transformation of semiconductors, particularly silicon (Si), has long been a fundamental problem in condensed matter physics. Decades of research have predominantly focused on external factors such as temperature, load, and unloading rate, leaving the role of inherent electronic properties fundamentally unresolved. This Letter addresses this gap by demonstrating that hole doping (i.e., hole concentration) is a critical governing factor in the pressure-induced phase transformation. We experimentally establish, for the first time, that high hole-doping redirects the phase transformation by facilitating the amorphization of Si. Our simulations powered by carrier-dependent interatomic potentials reveal that the three-coordinated Si atoms are dynamically stabilized by the localized holes during the decompression from β-tin (Si-II) phase, irreversibly driving the collapse of long-range order in Si to facilitate amorphization. Furthermore, we experimentally observe the hole-facilitated amorphization in Ge and SiC, while GaAs shows a somewhat weaker yet consistent trend. Our Letter unveils the hidden role of holes from mere charge carriers to fundamental mediators of structural stability under high pressure, establishing a new perspective on the interplay between electronic and structural properties in semiconductors.

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