The behavior of
polymorphic materials under pressure is a field of research having strong implications in basic and applied science.
Unusual and interesting phenomena, such as pressure-induced polyamorphism, pressure-induced amorphization or
nucleation of crystalline seeds, existence of low and high-density glasses (insulating and metallic), and the dynamics
of pressure-induced crystallization/amorphization are not fully understood. Goal of the present Ph.D. project is to
study with in-situ synchrotron radiation and optical techniques (Raman) a class of polymorphic systems where the
interplay between covalent and metallic bonding is particularly important