SrAlSiH: A Polyanionic Semiconductor Hydride

(Chemical Equation Presented) Stable and semiconducting: Polyanionic hydrides represent a new class of main-group-metal hydrides with unforeseen hydrogen-coordination environments. The hydrogen atom in SrAlSiH is attached exclusively to Al and forms part of a layered [AlHSi]2- polyanion (see figure). This material is the first narrow bandgap semiconductor hydride and combines the high thermal stability of saline hydrides with the air and moisture stability of interstitial transition-metal hydrides.