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Jiang Q, Chen L, Du M, Duan D. A perspective on reducing stabilizing pressure for high-temperature superconductivity in hydrides. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2024; 36:493002. [PMID: 39168147 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/ad7217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
The theoretical predictions and experimental syntheses of hydrogen sulfide (H3S) have ignited a surge of research interest in hydride superconductors. Over the past two decades, extensive investigations have been conducted on hydrides with the ultimate goal of achieving room-temperature superconductivity under ambient conditions. In this review, we present a comprehensive summary of the current strategies and progress towards this goal in hydride materials. We conclude their electronic characteristics, hydrogen atom aggregation forms, stability mechanisms, and more. While providing a real-time snapshot of the research landscape, our aim is to offer deeper insights into reducing the stabilizing pressure for high-temperature superconductors in hydrides. This involves defining key long-term theoretical and experimental opportunities and challenges. Although achieving high critical temperatures for hydrogen-based superconductors still requires high pressure, we remain confident in the potential of hydrides as candidates for room-temperature superconductors at ambient pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiwen Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Material Simulation Methods & Software of Ministry of Education and State Key Laboratory of Superhard Materials, College of Physics, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, People's Republic of China
| | - Ling Chen
- Key Laboratory of Material Simulation Methods & Software of Ministry of Education and State Key Laboratory of Superhard Materials, College of Physics, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingyang Du
- Institute of High Pressure Physics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, People's Republic of China
| | - Defang Duan
- Key Laboratory of Material Simulation Methods & Software of Ministry of Education and State Key Laboratory of Superhard Materials, College of Physics, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, People's Republic of China
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2
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Putra RP, Oh JY, An GH, Rahman IN, Lee HS, Kang B. Raman Spectroscopy Investigation of Phonon Behavior in ZnO-Buffered MgB 2 Tapes: Exploring Lattice Dynamics and Anharmonicity. J Phys Chem Lett 2024; 15:8924-8932. [PMID: 39172703 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c02033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2024]
Abstract
We investigated the phonon behavior of ZnO-buffered MgB2 tapes with varying ZnO buffer layer thicknesses using polarized Raman spectroscopy at room and cryogenic temperatures. Polar plots from integrated angle-resolved polarized Raman spectroscopy (ARPRS) at room temperature revealed substantial distortion in the boron plane geometry due to lattice mismatch among the MgB2 film, ZnO buffer layer, and Hastelloy substrate. This distortion significantly affects the electron-phonon coupling (EPC) constant, λ, which we calculated using the modified McMillan equation by Allen-Dynes in relation to the superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of the sample. At cryogenic temperatures, our investigation of the E2g mode exhibited a notable phonon hardening effect of up to ∼4.1%, correlated with the ZnO buffer layer thickness. Furthermore, analysis of the anharmonic E2g phonon mechanism through line width (full width at half maximum) revealed damping behavior, indicating an additional coupling mechanism within the sample that varies with the temperature. This unique Raman scattering behavior potentially elucidates the high Tc mechanism of MgB2, which is underestimated by traditional EPC calculations. Additionally, increasing the thickness of the ZnO layer is predicted to alleviate the distortion in the boron plane geometry, thereby promoting MgB2 toward its inherent electron-phonon superconducting nature by mitigating the additional coupling mechanisms. Understanding how the ZnO buffer layer influences the phonon dynamics and EPC in MgB2 will provide critical insights into optimizing its superconducting properties and advancing its practical applications in high-performance superconducting devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- R P Putra
- Department of Physics, Research Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - J Y Oh
- Department of Physics, Research Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - G H An
- Department of Physics, Research Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - I N Rahman
- Department of Physics, Research Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - H S Lee
- Department of Physics, Research Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - B Kang
- Department of Physics, Research Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
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3
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Wang M, Liu X, Huang X, Liu L. Surface inducing high-temperature superconductivity in layered metal carborides Li 2BC 3 and LiBC by metallizing σ electrons. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:13534-13542. [PMID: 38946398 DOI: 10.1039/d4nr01482k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Metallizing σ electrons provides a promising route to design high-temperature superconducting materials, such as MgB2 and high-pressure hydrides. Here, we focus on two MgB2-like layered carborides Li2BC3 and LiBC; their bulk does not have superconductivity because the B-C σ states are far away from the Fermi level (EF), however, based on first-principles calculations, we found that when their bulk systems are cleaved into surfaces with B-C termination, high Tc of ∼80 K could be observed in the exposed B-C layer on the surfaces. Detailed analysis reveals that surface symmetry reduction, due to lattice periodic breaking, not only introduces hole self-doping into surface B-C layers and shifts the σ-bonding states towards the EF - associated with emergent large electronic occupation, but also makes in-plane stretching modes on the surface layer experience significant softness. The enhanced σ states and softened phonon modes work to produce strong coupling, thus yielding high-Tc surface superconductivity, which distinctly differs from the superconducting features of the MgB2 film, which generates phonon stiffness accompanied by suppressed superconductivity. Our findings undoubtedly provide a novel platform to realize high-Tc surface superconductivity, and also clearly elucidate the microscopic mechanism of surface-enhanced superconductivity in favor of creating more high-Tc surface superconductors among MgB2-like layered materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muyao Wang
- Key Laboratory for Special Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China.
| | - Xiaohan Liu
- Key Laboratory for Special Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China.
| | - Xiaowei Huang
- Key Laboratory for Special Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China.
| | - Liangliang Liu
- Key Laboratory for Special Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China.
- Institute of Quantum Materials and Physics, Henan Academy of Sciences, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Joint Center for Theoretical Physics, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
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4
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Tao X, Yang A, Quan Y, Wan B, Yang S, Zhang P. Discovery of superconductivity in technetium borides at moderate pressures. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:16963-16971. [PMID: 38742395 DOI: 10.1039/d4cp00191e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Advances in theoretical calculations have boosted the search for high-temperature superconductors, such as sulfur hydrides and rare-earth polyhydrides. However, the required extremely high pressures for stabilizing these superconductors has handicapped further implementation. Based upon thorough structural searches, we identified a series of unprecedented superconducting technetium borides at moderate pressures, including TcB (P63/mmc) with a superconducting transition temperature of Tc = 20.2 K at ambient pressure and TcB2 (P6/mmm) with Tc = 23.1 K at 20 GPa. Superconductivity in these technetium borides mainly originates from the coupling between the low-frequency vibrations of technetium atoms and the dominant technetium-4d electrons at the Fermi level. Our work therefore presents a fresh group in the family of superconducting borides, whose diversified crystal structures suggest rich possibilities in the discovery of other superconducting transition-metal borides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangru Tao
- MOE Key Laboratory for Non-equilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, Shaanxi Province Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P.R. China.
| | - Aiqin Yang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Non-equilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, Shaanxi Province Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P.R. China.
| | - Yundi Quan
- MOE Key Laboratory for Non-equilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, Shaanxi Province Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P.R. China.
| | - Biao Wan
- Key Laboratory of Material Physics of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Microelectronics, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan, P.R. China
| | - Shuxiang Yang
- Zhejiang Laboratory, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China.
| | - Peng Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Non-equilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, Shaanxi Province Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P.R. China.
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Liu P, Wang C, Zhang D, Wang X, Duan D, Liu Z, Cui T. Strategies for improving the superconductivity of hydrides under high pressure. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2024; 36:353001. [PMID: 38754446 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/ad4ccc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
The successful prediction and confirmation of unprecedentedly high-temperature superconductivity in compressed hydrogen-rich hydrides signify a remarkable advancement in the continuous quest for attaining room-temperature superconductivity. The recent studies have established a broad scope for developing binary and ternary hydrides and illustrated correlation between specific hydrogen motifs and high-Tcs under high pressures. The analysis of the microscopic mechanism of superconductivity in hydrides suggests that the high electronic density of states at the Fermi level (EF), the large phonon energy scale of the vibration modes and the resulting enhanced electron-phonon coupling are crucial contributors towards the high-Tcphonon-mediated superconductors. The aim of our efforts is to tackle forthcoming challenges associated with elevating theTcand reducing the stabilization pressures of hydrogen-based superconductors, and offer insights for the future discoveries of room-temperature superconductors. Our present Review offers an overview and analysis of the latest advancements in predicting and experimentally synthesizing various crystal structures, while also exploring strategies to enhance the superconductivity and reducing their stabilization pressures of hydrogen-rich hydrides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengye Liu
- Institute of High Pressure Physics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, People's Republic of China
| | - Chang Wang
- Institute of High Pressure Physics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, People's Republic of China
| | - Daoyuan Zhang
- Institute of High Pressure Physics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiang Wang
- Institute of High Pressure Physics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, People's Republic of China
| | - Defang Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Superhard Materials, College of Physics, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhao Liu
- Institute of High Pressure Physics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, People's Republic of China
| | - Tian Cui
- Institute of High Pressure Physics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Superhard Materials, College of Physics, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, People's Republic of China
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6
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Zhang Z, Porter AP, Sun Y, Belashchenko KD, Viswanathan G, Sarkar A, Gamage EH, Kovnir K, Ho KM, Antropov V. Unveiling a Family of Dimerized Quantum Magnets, Conventional Antiferromagnets, and Nonmagnets in Ternary Metal Borides. J Am Chem Soc 2024. [PMID: 38832750 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c05478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Dimerized quantum magnets are exotic crystalline materials where Bose-Einstein condensation of magnetic excitations can happen. However, known dimerized quantum magnets are limited to only a few oxides and halides. Here, we unveil 9 dimerized quantum magnets and 11 conventional antiferromagnets in ternary metal borides MTB4 (M = Sc, Y, La, Ce, Lu, Mg, Ca, and Al; T = V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni), where T atoms are arranged in structural dimers. Quantum magnetism in these compounds is dominated by strong antiferromagnetic (AFM) interactions between Cr (Cr and Mn for M = Mg and Ca) atoms within the dimers, with much weaker interactions between the dimers. These systems are proposed to be close to a quantum critical point between a disordered singlet spin-dimer phase, with a spin gap, and the ordered conventional Néel AFM phase. They greatly enrich the materials inventory that allows investigations of the spin-gap phase. Conventional antiferromagnetism in these compounds is dominated by ferromagnetic Mn (Fe for M = Mg and Ca) interactions within the dimers. The predicted stable and nonmagnetic (NM) YFeB4 phase is synthesized and characterized, providing a scarce candidate to study Fe dimers and Fe ladders in borides. The identified quantum, conventional, and NM systems provide a platform with abundant possibilities to tune the magnetic exchange coupling by doping and study the unconventional quantum phase transition and conventional magnetic transitions. This work opens new avenues for studying novel magnetism in borides arising from spin dimers and establishes a theoretical workflow for future searches for dimerized quantum magnets in other families of materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Zhang
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Andrew P Porter
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
- Ames National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Yang Sun
- Department of Physics, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Kirill D Belashchenko
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States
| | - Gayatri Viswanathan
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
- Ames National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Arka Sarkar
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
- Ames National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Eranga H Gamage
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
- Ames National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Kirill Kovnir
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
- Ames National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Kai-Ming Ho
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Vladimir Antropov
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
- Ames National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
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7
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Meng J, Zheng P, Peng Y, Liu R, Yang Y, Yin Z. Structure searches and superconductor discovery in XB 2 (X = Sc, Ti, V, Cr, and Tc). RSC Adv 2024; 14:10507-10515. [PMID: 38567342 PMCID: PMC10985594 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra08746h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
With extensive structure searches for XB2 (X = Sc, Ti, V, Cr, and Tc) under pressures up to 100 GPa, we uncovered that the crystal structures of these compounds with the lowest enthalpy have the same space group (P6/mmm) as MgB2 at ambient pressure. Among them, ScB2, TiB2 and VB2 are dynamically stable at ambient pressure, but they do not superconduct. CrB2 becomes dynamically stable at 108 GPa and shows superconductivity with a transition temperature (Tc) of 26.0 K. TcB2 is not dynamically stable until 9 GPa. At 20 GPa, it has a Tc of 23.5 K. Further calculations indicate that CrB2 and TcB2 are also thermodynamically stable, suggesting that it is highly likely that they can be synthesized successfully in the laboratory. We found that transition metal atoms (Cr/Tc) dominate soft phonon vibrations and make significant contributions to the electron-phonon coupling (EPC) and superconductivity in CrB2/TcB2, which is in strong contrast to the case of MgB2, where high-frequency B vibrations dominate the EPC and superconductivity. Our work enriches the understanding of superconductivity in transition metal borides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Meng
- Department of Physics, Center for Advanced Quantum Studies, Beijing Normal University Beijing 100875 China
| | - Pengyu Zheng
- Department of Physics, Center for Advanced Quantum Studies, Beijing Normal University Beijing 100875 China
| | - Yiran Peng
- Department of Physics, Center for Advanced Quantum Studies, Beijing Normal University Beijing 100875 China
| | - Rui Liu
- Department of Physics, Center for Advanced Quantum Studies, Beijing Normal University Beijing 100875 China
| | - Ying Yang
- Department of Physics, Center for Advanced Quantum Studies, Beijing Normal University Beijing 100875 China
| | - Zhiping Yin
- Department of Physics, Center for Advanced Quantum Studies, Beijing Normal University Beijing 100875 China
- Key Laboratory of Multiscale Spin Physics, Ministry of Education, Beijing Normal University Beijing 100875 China
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8
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Cerqueira TFT, Sanna A, Marques MAL. Sampling the Materials Space for Conventional Superconducting Compounds. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2307085. [PMID: 37985412 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202307085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
A large scale study of conventional superconducting materials using a machine-learning accelerated high-throughput workflow is performed, starting by creating a comprehensive dataset of around 7000 electron-phonon calculations performed with reasonable convergence parameters. This dataset is then used to train a robust machine learning model capable of predicting the electron-phonon and superconducting properties based on structural, compositional, and electronic ground-state properties. Using this machine, the transition temperatures (Tc ) of approximately 200 000 metallic compounds are evaluated, all of which are on the convex hull of thermodynamic stability (or close to it) to maximize the probability of synthesizability. Compounds predicted to have Tc values exceeding 5 K are further validated using density-functional perturbation theory. As a result, 541 compounds with Tc values surpassing 10 K, encompassing a variety of crystal structures and chemical compositions, are identified. This work is complemented with a detailed examination of several interesting materials, including nitrides, hydrides, and intermetallic compounds. Particularly noteworthy is LiMoN2 , which is predicted to be superconducting in the stoichiometric trigonal phase, with a Tc exceeding 38 K. LiMoN2 has previously been synthesized in this phase, further heightening its potential for practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago F T Cerqueira
- CFisUC, Department of Physics, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Coimbra, 3004-516, Portugal
| | - Antonio Sanna
- Max-Planck-Institut für Mikrostrukturphysik, Weinberg 2, D-06120, Halle, Germany
| | - Miguel A L Marques
- Research Center Future Energy Materials and Systems of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44801, Bochum, Germany
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9
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Chen CH, Lan YS, Huang A, Jeng HT. Two-gap topological superconductor LaB 2 with high Tc = 30 K. NANOSCALE HORIZONS 2023; 9:148-155. [PMID: 37938857 DOI: 10.1039/d3nh00249g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Since two gap superconductivity was discovered in MgB2, research on multigap superconductors has attracted increasing attention because of its intriguing fundamental physics. In MgB2, the Mg atom donates two electrons to the borophene layer, resulting in a stronger gap from the σ band and a weaker gap from the π bond. First-principles calculations demonstrate that the two gap anisotropic superconductivity strongly enhances the transition temperature of MgB2 in comparison with that given by the isotropic model. In this work, we report a three-band (B-σ, B-π, and La-d) two-gap superconductor LaB2 with very high Tc = 30 K by solving the fully anisotropic Migdal-Eliashberg equation. Because of the σ and π-d hybridization on the Fermi surface, the electron-phonon coupling constant λ = 1.5 is significantly larger than the λ = 0.7 of MgB2. Our work paves a new route to enhance the electron-phonon coupling strength of multigap superconductors with d orbitals. On the other hand, our analysis reveals that LaB2 belongs to the weak topological semimetal category, leading to a possible topological superconductor with the highest Tc to date. Moreover, upon applying pressure and/or doping, the topology is tunable between weak and strong with Tc varying from 15 to 30 K, opening up a flexible platform for manipulating topological superconductors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chin-Hsuan Chen
- Department of Physics, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Ye-Shun Lan
- Department of Physics, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Angus Huang
- Department of Physics, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Horng-Tay Jeng
- Department of Physics, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
- Physics Division, National Center for Theoretical Sciences, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
- Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan.
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10
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Zheng F, Sun Y, Wang R, Fang Y, Zhang F, Wu S, Lin Q, Wang CZ, Antropov V, Ho KM. Prediction of superconductivity in metallic boron-carbon compounds from 0 to 100 GPa by high-throughput screening. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:32594-32601. [PMID: 38009068 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp03844k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
Boron-carbon compounds have been shown to have feasible superconductivity. In our earlier paper [Zheng et al., Phys. Rev. B, 2023, 107, 014508], we identified a new conventional superconductor of LiB3C at 100 GPa. Here, we aim to extend the investigation of possible superconductivity in this structural framework by replacing Li atoms with 27 different cations from periods 3, 4, and 5 under pressures ranging from 0 to 100 GPa. Using the high-throughput screening method of zone-center electron-phonon interaction, we found that ternary compounds like CaB3C, SrB3C, TiB3C, and VB3C are promising candidates for superconductivity. The consecutive calculations using the full Brillouin zone confirm that they have a Tc of <31 K at moderate pressures. Our study demonstrates that fast screening of superconductivity by calculating zone-center electron-phonon coupling strength is an effective strategy for high-throughput identification of new superconductors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Zheng
- School of Science, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China.
- Department of Physics, OSED, Key Laboratory of Low Dimensional Condensed Matter Physics (Department of Education of Fujian Province), Jiujiang Research Institute, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
| | - Yang Sun
- Department of Physics, OSED, Key Laboratory of Low Dimensional Condensed Matter Physics (Department of Education of Fujian Province), Jiujiang Research Institute, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
| | - Renhai Wang
- School of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yimei Fang
- Department of Physics, OSED, Key Laboratory of Low Dimensional Condensed Matter Physics (Department of Education of Fujian Province), Jiujiang Research Institute, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
| | - Feng Zhang
- Department of Physics, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
- Ames Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
| | - Shunqing Wu
- Department of Physics, OSED, Key Laboratory of Low Dimensional Condensed Matter Physics (Department of Education of Fujian Province), Jiujiang Research Institute, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
| | - Qiubao Lin
- School of Science, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China.
| | - Cai-Zhuang Wang
- Department of Physics, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
- Ames Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
| | - Vladimir Antropov
- Department of Physics, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
- Ames Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
| | - Kai-Ming Ho
- Department of Physics, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
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11
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Shi X, Gao J, Qiu S, Chang Y, Zhao L, Fu ZG, Zhao J, Zhang P. Stability and superconductivity of freestanding two-dimensional transition metal boridene: M 4/3B 2. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2023; 36:085602. [PMID: 37939399 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/ad0ace] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
The small atomic mass of boron indicates strong electron-phonon coupling (EPC), so it may have a brilliant performance in superconductivity. Recently, a new 2D boride sheet with ordered metal vacancies and surface terminals (Mo4/3B2-x) was realized in experiments (Zhouet al2021Science373801). Here, the 2D monolayer freestanding Mo4/3B2is evidenced to be thermodynamically stable. Through electronic structure, phonon spectrum and EPC, monolayer Mo4/3B2is found to be an intrinsic phonon-mediated superconductor. The superconducting transition temperature (Tc) is determined to be 4.06 K by the McMillian-Allen-Dynes formula. Remarkably, theTcof monolayer Mo4/3B2can be increased to 6.78 K with an appropriate biaxial tensile strain (+5%). Moreover, we predict that other transition metal replacing Mo atoms is also stable and retaining the superconductivity. Such as monolayer W4/3B2is also a superconductor with theTcof 2.37 K. Our research results enrich the database of 2D monolayer superconductors and boron-related formed materials science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoran Shi
- Key Laboratory of Materials Modification by Laser, Ion and Electron Beams, Dalian University of Technology, Ministry of Education, Dalian 116024, People's Republic of China
| | - Junfeng Gao
- Key Laboratory of Materials Modification by Laser, Ion and Electron Beams, Dalian University of Technology, Ministry of Education, Dalian 116024, People's Republic of China
| | - Shi Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Materials Modification by Laser, Ion and Electron Beams, Dalian University of Technology, Ministry of Education, Dalian 116024, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan Chang
- Key Laboratory of Materials Modification by Laser, Ion and Electron Beams, Dalian University of Technology, Ministry of Education, Dalian 116024, People's Republic of China
| | - Luneng Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Materials Modification by Laser, Ion and Electron Beams, Dalian University of Technology, Ministry of Education, Dalian 116024, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhen-Guo Fu
- Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, Beijing 100088, People's Republic of China
| | - Jijun Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Materials Modification by Laser, Ion and Electron Beams, Dalian University of Technology, Ministry of Education, Dalian 116024, People's Republic of China
| | - Ping Zhang
- Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, Beijing 100088, People's Republic of China
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12
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Zeng S, Li G, Zhao Y. Two-gap-like anisotropic superconductivity in a bulk boron kagome lattice. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:29960-29967. [PMID: 37902846 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp03485b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
Since a report of superconductivity in elemental boron at high pressure [M. I. Eremets et al., Science, 2001, 293, 272-274], many efforts have been devoted to the search for superconductivity in diverse boron allotropes. However, there are few superconducting phenomena to be discovered theoretically and experimentally in elemental bulk boron crystals at normal pressure to date. In this paper, we propose a metastable but dynamically stable metallic bulk boron phase within the kagome lattice, and demonstrate from first principles good superconductivity with a high superconducting critical temperature Tc, e.g., ∼34-39 K, in the elemental bulk boron at ambient pressure. Our calculations indicate that such a high-Tc superconductivity is closely related to the Fermi surface displaying strong electron-phonon coupling with a two-region-like distribution feature, which resulted from two different types of covalent bonding crossing the Fermi level and also gives rise to a two-gap-like superconducting nature in the system. We uncover that the strong electron-lattice coupling is dominated by the transversal acoustic phonon modes around a degenerate softening kink that places the system on the verge of a latent charge density wave. The present findings shed light on a study of the high-Tc superconductivity of the elemental bulk boron phase at normal pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuming Zeng
- College of Physics Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Geng Li
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, National Institute for Advanced Materials, Nankai University, Tongyan Road 38, Tianjin 300350, China
- National Supercomputer Center in Tianjin, Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Yinchang Zhao
- Department of Physics, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, People's Republic of China.
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13
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Liu S, Huang R, Hou J, Duan Q. Theoretical study on the superconductivity of graphene-like TMB 6 (TM = Cr, Fe and Co) monolayer and its potential anchoring and catalytic properties for lithium-sulfur batteries. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:29182-29191. [PMID: 37870596 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp01964k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, two-dimensional materials have aroused enormous interest owing to their superior electrochemical performance, abundant exposed active sites, high specific surfaces and so on. Unlike many stable allotropes, honeycomb hexagonal borophene is kinetically unstable. In this study, we introduce transition metal atoms (Cr, Fe and Co) to stabilize honeycomb hexagonal borophene, forming stable graphene-like TMB6 (TM = Cr, Fe and Co) monolayers. Moreover, we explored the possibility of superconductivity and the anchoring materials of lithium-sulfur batteries using the first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculation. Our results show that CoB6 exhibited the best superconductivity with a superconducting transition temperature of 33.3 K. Furthermore, CoB6 and FeB6 are promising anchoring materials because of the suppression of lithium polysulfides shuttling in lithium-sulfur batteries because they can accelerate sulfur reduction reaction kinetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Liu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun, 130022, P. R. China.
| | - Rongfang Huang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun, 130022, P. R. China.
| | - Jianhua Hou
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun, 130022, P. R. China.
- Engineering Research Center of Optoelectronic Functional Materials, Ministry of Education, Changchun 130022, P. R. China
| | - Qian Duan
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun, 130022, P. R. China.
- Engineering Research Center of Optoelectronic Functional Materials, Ministry of Education, Changchun 130022, P. R. China
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14
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Zeng S, Zhao Y, Zulfiqar M, Li G. Prediction of superconductivity in sandwich XB 4 (X = Li, Be, Zn and Ga) films. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:28393-28401. [PMID: 37842983 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp03427e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Borophenes and 2D boron allotropes are metallic and exhibit a BCS superconducting state, unlike graphene. In-plane stretching vibrational modes in bulk MgB2 boron layers induce phonon-mediated superconductivity. However, the effect of stretching vibrational phonon modes on transition temperature (Tc) still requires further investigations. Here, we use first-principles calculations combined with conventional BCS theory to explore the superconducting properties in a series of dynamically stable boron-based sandwich films that have not been realized experimentally. The sandwich films of XB4 (where X = Li, Be, Zn, Ga) are predicted to exhibit good phonon-mediated superconductivity with high Tc values of 25.1 K, 28.7 K, 38.7 K, and 36.2 K, respectively. The origin of the superconducting states is mainly caused by the high metallicity and strong electron-phonon coupling (EPC), which can be attributed to the presence of intercalated atoms within the borophene layers. It is further demonstrated in the XB4 compounds (where X = Li, Be, Zn, Ga) that the pronounced EPC is not solely attributable to the in-plane vibrations of B atoms, but it is also influenced significantly by the out-of-plane vibrations of B atoms. Sandwich (Li,Be,Zn,Ga)B4 films may be a great choice for nanoscale superconductors as the electron-phonon coupling parameter becomes greater than unity, thereby providing a powerful approach for investigating these systems with high critical temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuming Zeng
- College of Physics Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Jiangsu 225009, China.
| | - Yinchang Zhao
- Department of Physics, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, People's Republic of China
| | - Muhammad Zulfiqar
- Department of Physics, University of Sargodha, 40100 Sargodha, Pakistan.
| | - Geng Li
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, National Institute for Advanced Materials, Nankai University, Tongyan Road 38, Tianjin 300350, China
- National Supercomputer Center in Tianjin, Tianjin 300457, China.
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15
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Wang HH, Xiong Y, Padma H, Wang Y, Wang Z, Claes R, Brunin G, Min L, Zu R, Wetherington MT, Wang Y, Mao Z, Hautier G, Chen LQ, Dabo I, Gopalan V. Strong electron-phonon coupling driven pseudogap modulation and density-wave fluctuations in a correlated polar metal. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5769. [PMID: 37723139 PMCID: PMC10507017 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41460-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023] Open
Abstract
There is tremendous interest in employing collective excitations of the lattice, spin, charge, and orbitals to tune strongly correlated electronic phenomena. We report such an effect in a ruthenate, Ca3Ru2O7, where two phonons with strong electron-phonon coupling modulate the electronic pseudogap as well as mediate charge and spin density wave fluctuations. Combining temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy with density functional theory reveals two phonons, B2P and B2M, that are strongly coupled to electrons and whose scattering intensities respectively dominate in the pseudogap versus the metallic phases. The B2P squeezes the octahedra along the out of plane c-axis, while the B2M elongates it, thus modulating the Ru 4d orbital splitting and the bandwidth of the in-plane electron hopping; Thus, B2P opens the pseudogap, while B2M closes it. Moreover, the B2 phonons mediate incoherent charge and spin density wave fluctuations, as evidenced by changes in the background electronic Raman scattering that exhibit unique symmetry signatures. The polar order breaks inversion symmetry, enabling infrared activity of these phonons, paving the way for coherent light-driven control of electronic transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaiyu Hugo Wang
- Materials Research Institute and Department of Material Science & Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
- Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA.
| | - Yihuang Xiong
- Materials Research Institute and Department of Material Science & Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, 14 Engineering Drive, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
| | - Hari Padma
- Materials Research Institute and Department of Material Science & Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Yi Wang
- Materials Research Institute and Department of Material Science & Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Ziqi Wang
- Materials Research Institute and Department of Material Science & Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Romain Claes
- Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences (IMCN), Université catholique de Louvain, Chemin des Étoiles 8, B-1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | | | - Lujin Min
- Materials Research Institute and Department of Material Science & Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Rui Zu
- Materials Research Institute and Department of Material Science & Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Maxwell T Wetherington
- Materials Research Institute and Department of Material Science & Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Yu Wang
- 2D Crystal Consortium, Material Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Department of Physics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Zhiqiang Mao
- 2D Crystal Consortium, Material Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Department of Physics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Geoffroy Hautier
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, 14 Engineering Drive, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
- Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences (IMCN), Université catholique de Louvain, Chemin des Étoiles 8, B-1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Long-Qing Chen
- Materials Research Institute and Department of Material Science & Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Ismaila Dabo
- Materials Research Institute and Department of Material Science & Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
| | - Venkatraman Gopalan
- Materials Research Institute and Department of Material Science & Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
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16
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Peng H, Chen L, Wang Y, Cao B, Li D, Chen Y. The Structure Evolution of Hydroxyl-Reacted LiBC to Improve the Capacity for Li-Ion Batteries. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023. [PMID: 37200490 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c03173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
As a graphite-like material, the LiBC can deliver a high capacity up to 500 mA h g-1 in Li-ion batteries, which is dependent on the carbon precursor, the high-temperature treatment, and the lithium insufficiency. However, the underlying mechanism is still not clear for the electrochemical reactions of LiBC. In this work, the pristine LiBC was reacted with aqueous solutions of different alkalinity, which was delithiated chemically and retained the layered structure. According to the XPS and NMR results, the B-B bond might be produced through the aqueous reaction or the initial charge process, which can be oxidized (charged) and reduced (discharged) in the electrochemical measurements. In the Li-ion battery, the reversible capacity of LiBC increases evidently with the alkalinity of aqueous solution and significantly rises to a similar value of ca. 285 mA h g-1 under 200 cycles. Therefore, the specific capacity of LiBC should be contributed by the active sites of B-B bonds, which can be significantly increased through the reaction with the hydroxyl ions, and this strategy might be adopted to activate more graphite-like materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanzhen Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resources Utilization in South China Sea, Key Laboratory of Research on Utilization of Si-Zr-Ti Resources of Hainan Province, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Langlang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resources Utilization in South China Sea, Key Laboratory of Research on Utilization of Si-Zr-Ti Resources of Hainan Province, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Yifeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resources Utilization in South China Sea, Key Laboratory of Research on Utilization of Si-Zr-Ti Resources of Hainan Province, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Bokai Cao
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Hydrogen Energy Technologies; School of Materials Science and Hydrogen Energy, Foshan University, Foshan 528000, China
| | - De Li
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resources Utilization in South China Sea, Key Laboratory of Research on Utilization of Si-Zr-Ti Resources of Hainan Province, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Yong Chen
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Hydrogen Energy Technologies; School of Materials Science and Hydrogen Energy, Foshan University, Foshan 528000, China
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17
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Pei C, Zhang J, Wang Q, Zhao Y, Gao L, Gong C, Tian S, Luo R, Li M, Yang W, Lu ZY, Lei H, Liu K, Qi Y. Pressure-induced superconductivity at 32 K in MoB 2. Natl Sci Rev 2023; 10:nwad034. [PMID: 37260928 PMCID: PMC10228782 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwad034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the discovery of superconductivity in MgB2 (Tc ∼ 39 K), the search for superconductivity in related materials with similar structures or ingredients has never stopped. Although about 100 binary borides have been explored, only a few of them show superconductivity with relatively low Tc. In this work, we report the discovery of superconductivity up to 32 K, which is the highest Tc in transition-metal borides, in MoB2 under pressure. The Tc of MoB2 in the α phase can be well explained by theoretical calculations in the framework of electron-phonon coupling. Furthermore, the coupling between the d electrons of Mo and the out-of-plane Mo-phonon modes are the main driving force of the 32 K superconductivity of MoB2. Our study sheds light on the exploration of high-Tc superconductors in transition metal borides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuiying Pei
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Jianfeng Zhang
- Department of Physics and Beijing Key Laboratory of Opto-electronic Functional Materials & Micro-nano Devices, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
| | - Qi Wang
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- Department of Physics and Beijing Key Laboratory of Opto-electronic Functional Materials & Micro-nano Devices, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
- ShanghaiTech Laboratory for Topological Physics, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yi Zhao
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Lingling Gao
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Chunsheng Gong
- Department of Physics and Beijing Key Laboratory of Opto-electronic Functional Materials & Micro-nano Devices, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
| | - Shangjie Tian
- Department of Physics and Beijing Key Laboratory of Opto-electronic Functional Materials & Micro-nano Devices, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
| | - Ruitao Luo
- Department of Physics and Beijing Key Laboratory of Opto-electronic Functional Materials & Micro-nano Devices, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
| | - Mingtao Li
- Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Wenge Yang
- Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Zhong-Yi Lu
- Department of Physics and Beijing Key Laboratory of Opto-electronic Functional Materials & Micro-nano Devices, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
| | - Hechang Lei
- Department of Physics and Beijing Key Laboratory of Opto-electronic Functional Materials & Micro-nano Devices, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
| | - Kai Liu
- Department of Physics and Beijing Key Laboratory of Opto-electronic Functional Materials & Micro-nano Devices, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
| | - Yanpeng Qi
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- ShanghaiTech Laboratory for Topological Physics, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of High-resolution Electron Microscopy, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
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18
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Desai DC, Park J, Zhou JJ, Bernardi M. Dominant Two-Dimensional Electron-Phonon Interactions in the Bulk Dirac Semimetal Na 3Bi. NANO LETTERS 2023; 23:3947-3953. [PMID: 37092857 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c00713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Bulk Dirac semimetals (DSMs) exhibit unconventional transport properties and phase transitions due to their peculiar low-energy band structure, yet the electronic interactions governing nonequilibrium phenomena in DSMs are not fully understood. Here we show that electron-phonon (e-ph) interactions in a prototypical bulk DSM, Na3Bi, are predominantly two-dimensional (2D). Our first-principles calculations reveal a 2D optical phonon with strong e-ph interactions associated with in-plane vibrations of Na atoms. We show that this 2D mode governs e-ph scattering and charge transport in Na3Bi and induces a dynamical phase transition to a Weyl semimetal. Our work advances the quantitative analysis of electron interactions in Na3Bi and reveals a dominant low-dimensional interaction in a bulk Dirac semimetal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhruv C Desai
- Department of Applied Physics and Materials Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Jinsoo Park
- Department of Applied Physics and Materials Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Jin-Jian Zhou
- School of Physics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Marco Bernardi
- Department of Applied Physics and Materials Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
- Department of Physics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
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19
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Liu R, Lu J, Chen H, Zhao X, Hu G, Yuan X, Ren J. Prediction of π-electrons mediated high-temperature superconductivity in monolayer LiC 12. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2023; 35:144001. [PMID: 36689775 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/acb582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Prediction and synthesis of two-dimensional high transition temperature (TC) superconductors is an area of extensive research. Based on calculations of the electronic structures and lattice dynamics, we predict that graphene-like layered monolayer LiC12is aπ-electrons mediated Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer-type superconductor. Monolayer LiC12is theoretically stable and expected to be synthesized experimentally. From the band structures and the phonon dispersion spectrum, it is found that the saddle point ofπ-bonding bands induces large density of states at the Fermi energy level. There is strongly coupled between the vibration mode in the in-plane direction of the lithium atoms and theπ-electrons of carbon atoms, which induces the high-TCsuperconductivity in LiC12. TheTCcan reach to 41 K under an applied 10% biaxial tensile strain based on the anisotropic Eliashberg equation. Our results show that monolayer LiC12is a good candidate asπ-electrons mediated electron-phonon coupling high-TCsuperconductor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Liu
- School of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiajun Lu
- School of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongxin Chen
- School of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiuwen Zhao
- School of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, People's Republic of China
| | - Guichao Hu
- School of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaobo Yuan
- School of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, People's Republic of China
| | - Junfeng Ren
- School of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, People's Republic of China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering and Technical Center of Light Manipulations & Institute of Materials and Clean Energy, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, People's Republic of China
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20
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Langmann J, Kepenci H, Eickerling G, Batke K, Jesche A, Xu M, Canfield P, Scherer W. Experimental X-ray Charge-Density Studies─A Suitable Probe for Superconductivity? A Case Study on MgB 2. J Phys Chem A 2022; 126:8494-8507. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.2c05925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jan Langmann
- CPM, Institut für Physik, Universität Augsburg, 86159Augsburg, Germany
| | - Hasan Kepenci
- CPM, Institut für Physik, Universität Augsburg, 86159Augsburg, Germany
| | - Georg Eickerling
- CPM, Institut für Physik, Universität Augsburg, 86159Augsburg, Germany
| | - Kilian Batke
- CPM, Institut für Physik, Universität Augsburg, 86159Augsburg, Germany
| | - Anton Jesche
- Experimentalphysik VI, Zentrum für Elektronische Korrelation und Magnetismus, Institut für Physik, Universität Augsburg, Augsburg86159, Germany
| | - Mingyu Xu
- The Ames Laboratory, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa50011, United States
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa50011, United States
| | - Paul Canfield
- The Ames Laboratory, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa50011, United States
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa50011, United States
| | - Wolfgang Scherer
- CPM, Institut für Physik, Universität Augsburg, 86159Augsburg, Germany
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21
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Wang R, Sun Y, Zhang F, Zheng F, Fang Y, Wu S, Dong H, Wang CZ, Antropov V, Ho KM. High-Throughput Screening of Strong Electron–Phonon Couplings in Ternary Metal Diborides. Inorg Chem 2022; 61:18154-18161. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.2c02829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Renhai Wang
- School of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou510006, China
| | - Yang Sun
- Department of Physics, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa50011, United States
- Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, Columbia University, New York, New York10027, United States
| | - Feng Zhang
- Department of Physics, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa50011, United States
- Ames Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Ames, Iowa50011, United States
| | - Feng Zheng
- Department of Physics, Xiamen University, Xiamen361005, China
| | - Yimei Fang
- Department of Physics, Xiamen University, Xiamen361005, China
| | - Shunqing Wu
- Department of Physics, Xiamen University, Xiamen361005, China
| | - Huafeng Dong
- School of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou510006, China
| | - Cai-Zhuang Wang
- Department of Physics, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa50011, United States
- Ames Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Ames, Iowa50011, United States
| | - Vladimir Antropov
- Department of Physics, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa50011, United States
- Ames Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Ames, Iowa50011, United States
| | - Kai-Ming Ho
- Department of Physics, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa50011, United States
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22
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Dai W, He S, Ding K, Lu C. Polymeric Hydronitrogen N 4H: A Promising High-Energy-Density Material and High-Temperature Superconductor. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:49986-49994. [PMID: 36286258 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c16293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Solid nitrogen-rich compounds are potential high-energy-density materials (HEDMs). The enormous challenge in this area is to synthesize and stabilize these energetic materials at moderate pressure and better under near-ambient conditions. Here, we perform an extensive theoretical study on hydronitrogens by the reverse design method considering both energies and energy densities. Four hydronitrogens with different stoichiometries, that is, N4H, N3H, N2H, and NH, are found to be stable at pressures of about 80-300 GPa and metastable with pressure releasing to ambient pressure. The energy densities of these hydronitrogens are about 5.6-6.5 kJ/g and 1.3-1.5 times larger than that of trinitrotoluene (TNT). Most importantly, the Pbam phase of the N4H compound is an excellent high-temperature superconductor with a Tc of 37.7 K at 72 GPa. The present findings enrich new phases of hydronitrogens under high pressure and characterize their structural and energetic properties and superconductivity, which offer crucial insights for further design and synthesis of exceptional materials with high energy density and high-temperature superconductivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Dai
- School of Mathematics and Physics, Jingchu University of Technology, Hubei448000, China
| | - Shi He
- Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan430074, China
- School of Mathematics and Physics, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan430074, China
| | - Kewei Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Fluorine & Nitrogen Chemicals, Xi'an710065, China
- Xi'an Modern Chemistry Research Institute, Xi'an710065, China
| | - Cheng Lu
- School of Mathematics and Physics, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan430074, China
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23
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Wolf S, Di Sante D, Schwemmer T, Thomale R, Rachel S. Triplet Superconductivity from Nonlocal Coulomb Repulsion in an Atomic Sn Layer Deposited onto a Si(111) Substrate. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2022; 128:167002. [PMID: 35522509 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.128.167002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Atomic layers deposited on semiconductor substrates introduce a platform for the realization of the extended electronic Hubbard model, where the consideration of electronic repulsion beyond the on-site term is paramount. Recently, the onset of superconductivity at 4.7 K has been reported in the hole-doped triangular lattice of tin atoms on a silicon substrate. Through renormalization group methods designed for weak and intermediate coupling, we investigate the nature of the superconducting instability in hole-doped Sn/Si(111). We find that the extended Hubbard nature of interactions is crucial to yield triplet pairing, which is f-wave (p-wave) for moderate (higher) hole doping. In light of persisting challenges to tailor triplet pairing in an electronic material, our finding promises to pave unprecedented ways for engineering unconventional triplet superconductivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Wolf
- School of Physics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Domenico Di Sante
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
- Center for Computational Quantum Physics, Flatiron Institute, New York, New York 10010, USA
| | - Tilman Schwemmer
- Institut für Theoretische Physik und Astrophysik, Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland Campus Süd, Würzburg 97074, Germany
| | - Ronny Thomale
- Institut für Theoretische Physik und Astrophysik, Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland Campus Süd, Würzburg 97074, Germany
| | - Stephan Rachel
- School of Physics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
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Boeri L, Hennig R, Hirschfeld P, Profeta G, Sanna A, Zurek E, Pickett WE, Amsler M, Dias R, Eremets MI, Heil C, Hemley RJ, Liu H, Ma Y, Pierleoni C, Kolmogorov AN, Rybin N, Novoselov D, Anisimov V, Oganov AR, Pickard CJ, Bi T, Arita R, Errea I, Pellegrini C, Requist R, Gross EKU, Margine ER, Xie SR, Quan Y, Hire A, Fanfarillo L, Stewart GR, Hamlin JJ, Stanev V, Gonnelli RS, Piatti E, Romanin D, Daghero D, Valenti R. The 2021 room-temperature superconductivity roadmap. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2022; 34:183002. [PMID: 34544070 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/ac2864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Designing materials with advanced functionalities is the main focus of contemporary solid-state physics and chemistry. Research efforts worldwide are funneled into a few high-end goals, one of the oldest, and most fascinating of which is the search for an ambient temperature superconductor (A-SC). The reason is clear: superconductivity at ambient conditions implies being able to handle, measure and access a single, coherent, macroscopic quantum mechanical state without the limitations associated with cryogenics and pressurization. This would not only open exciting avenues for fundamental research, but also pave the road for a wide range of technological applications, affecting strategic areas such as energy conservation and climate change. In this roadmap we have collected contributions from many of the main actors working on superconductivity, and asked them to share their personal viewpoint on the field. The hope is that this article will serve not only as an instantaneous picture of the status of research, but also as a true roadmap defining the main long-term theoretical and experimental challenges that lie ahead. Interestingly, although the current research in superconductor design is dominated by conventional (phonon-mediated) superconductors, there seems to be a widespread consensus that achieving A-SC may require different pairing mechanisms.In memoriam, to Neil Ashcroft, who inspired us all.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilia Boeri
- Physics Department, Sapienza University and Enrico Fermi Research Center, Rome, Italy
| | - Richard Hennig
- Deparment of Material Science and Engineering and Quantum Theory Project, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611, United States of America
| | - Peter Hirschfeld
- Department of Physics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States of America
| | | | - Antonio Sanna
- Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Halle, Germany
| | - Eva Zurek
- University at Buffalo, SUNY, United States of America
| | | | - Maximilian Amsler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States of America
| | - Ranga Dias
- University of Rochester, United States of America
| | | | | | | | - Hanyu Liu
- Jilin University, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanming Ma
- Jilin University, People's Republic of China
| | - Carlo Pierleoni
- Department of Physics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States of America
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Tiange Bi
- University at Buffalo, SUNY, United States of America
| | | | - Ion Errea
- University of the Basque Country, Spain
| | | | - Ryan Requist
- Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Halle, Germany
- Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
| | - E K U Gross
- Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Halle, Germany
- Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
| | | | - Stephen R Xie
- Department of Physics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States of America
| | - Yundi Quan
- Department of Physics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States of America
| | - Ajinkya Hire
- Department of Physics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States of America
| | - Laura Fanfarillo
- Department of Physics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States of America
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - G R Stewart
- Department of Physics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States of America
| | - J J Hamlin
- Department of Physics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States of America
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Alarco JA, Gupta B, Shahbazi M, Appadoo D, Mackinnon IDR. THz/Far infrared synchrotron observations of superlattice frequencies in MgB 2. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:23922-23932. [PMID: 34652364 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp03405g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
THz/Far Infrared synchrotron absorption experiments on pure and doped MgB2 samples show that the absorption spectral weight at low wavenumber (i.e., <110 cm-1) evolves as the temperature is reduced to 10 K. Distinct spectral peak intensities increase as the temperature of MgB2 and doped MgB2 approaches, and then crosses, the superconducting transition temperature. These experimental data suggest a strong link to superconductivity induced by subtle shifts in structural symmetry. Significant increases in absorption are observed at frequencies that correspond to the superconducting gaps for doped and pure MgB2, and at fractions of these frequency (or energy) values. This low wavenumber spectral transition is consistent with the notion that superlattice frequencies contribute to the optic modes of the MgB2 phonon dispersion and are critical to the superconducting transition for this structure. Key integer ratios are identified in real and reciprocal spaces that link bonding character, Fermi vectors and Fermi surfaces as well as phonon properties with geometric parameters and specific superlattice symmetries for MgB2. Similarly consistent spectral data at low wavenumber are also obtained for carbon doped Mg11B2. Density Functional Theory calculations of superlattice phonon dispersions result in folded mode frequencies that match these observed low wavenumber experiments. These results show that symmetry reductions, largely electronic in character although coupled to vibrations, occur with change in temperature and imply strong links to superconductivity mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose A Alarco
- Centre for Clean Energy Technologies and Practices, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia. .,Centre for Materials Science, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia.,School of Chemistry and Physics, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
| | - Bharati Gupta
- Centre for Clean Energy Technologies and Practices, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia. .,Centre for Materials Science, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia.,School of Chemistry and Physics, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
| | - Mahboobeh Shahbazi
- Centre for Clean Energy Technologies and Practices, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia. .,Centre for Materials Science, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia.,School of Chemistry and Physics, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
| | | | - Ian D R Mackinnon
- Centre for Clean Energy Technologies and Practices, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia. .,School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
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Tan H, Liu Y, Wang Z, Yan B. Charge Density Waves and Electronic Properties of Superconducting Kagome Metals. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2021; 127:046401. [PMID: 34355948 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.127.046401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Kagome metals AV_{3}Sb_{5} (A=K, Rb, and Cs) exhibit intriguing superconductivity below 0.9∼2.5 K, a charge density wave (CDW) transition around 80∼100 K, and Z_{2} topological surface states. The nature of the CDW phase and its relation to superconductivity remains elusive. In this work, we investigate the electronic and structural properties of CDW by first-principles calculations. We reveal an inverse Star of David deformation as the 2×2×2 CDW ground state of the kagome lattice. The kagome lattice shows softening breathing-phonon modes, indicating the structural instability. However, electrons play an essential role in the CDW transition via Fermi surface nesting and van Hove singularity. The inverse Star of David structure agrees with recent experiments by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The CDW phase inherits the nontrivial Z_{2}-type topological band structure. Further, we find that the electron-phonon coupling is too weak to account for the superconductivity T_{c} in all three materials. It implies the existence of unconventional pairing of these kagome metals. Our results provide essential knowledge toward understanding the superconductivity and topology in kagome metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hengxin Tan
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Yizhou Liu
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Ziqiang Wang
- Department of Physics, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, USA
| | - Binghai Yan
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
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27
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Ou M, Wang X, Yu L, Liu C, Tao W, Ji X, Mei L. The Emergence and Evolution of Borophene. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:2001801. [PMID: 34194924 PMCID: PMC8224432 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202001801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 09/19/2020] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Neighboring carbon and sandwiched between non-metals and metals in the periodic table of the elements, boron is one of the most chemically and physically versatile elements, and can be manipulated to form dimensionally low planar structures (borophene) with intriguing properties. Herein, the theoretical research and experimental developments in the synthesis of borophene, as well as its excellent properties and application in many fields, are reviewed. The decade-long effort toward understanding the size-dependent structures of boron clusters and the theory-directed synthesis of borophene, including bottom-up approaches based on different foundations, as well as up-down approaches with different exfoliation modes, and the key factors influencing the synthetic effects, are comprehensively summarized. Owing to its excellent chemical, electronic, mechanical, and thermal properties, borophene has shown great promise in supercapacitor, battery, hydrogen-storage, and biomedical applications. Furthermore, borophene nanoplatforms used in various biomedical applications, such as bioimaging, drug delivery, and photonic therapy, are highlighted. Finally, research progress, challenges, and perspectives for the future development of borophene in large-scale production and other prospective applications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meitong Ou
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen)Sun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhou510275P. R. China
| | - Xuan Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen)Sun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhou510275P. R. China
| | - Liu Yu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen)Sun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhou510275P. R. China
| | - Chuang Liu
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of AnesthesiologyBrigham and Women's HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMA02115USA
| | - Wei Tao
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of AnesthesiologyBrigham and Women's HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMA02115USA
| | - Xiaoyuan Ji
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen)Sun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhou510275P. R. China
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational MedicineTianjin UniversityTianjin300072China
| | - Lin Mei
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen)Sun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhou510275P. R. China
- Institute of Biomedical EngineeringChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeTianjin300192China
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28
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Campi D, Kumari S, Marzari N. Prediction of Phonon-Mediated Superconductivity with High Critical Temperature in the Two-Dimensional Topological Semimetal W 2N 3. NANO LETTERS 2021; 21:3435-3442. [PMID: 33856216 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c05125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Two-dimensional superconductors attract great interest both for their fundamental physics and for their potential applications, especially in the rapidly growing field of quantum computing. Despite intense theoretical and experimental efforts, materials with a reasonably high transition temperature are still rare. Even more rare are those that combine superconductivity with a nontrivial band topology that could potentially give rise to exotic states of matter. Here, we predict a remarkably high superconducting critical temperature of 21 K in the easily exfoliable, topologically nontrivial 2D semimetal W2N3. By studying its electronic and superconducting properties as a function of doping and strain, we also find large changes in the electron-phonon interactions that make this material a unique platform to study different coupling regimes and test the limits of current theories of superconductivity. Last, we discuss the possibility of tuning the material to achieve coexistence of superconductivity and topologically nontrivial edge states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Campi
- Theory and Simulation of Materials (THEOS), and National Centre for Computational Design and Discovery of Novel Materials (MARVEL), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Simran Kumari
- Theory and Simulation of Materials (THEOS), and National Centre for Computational Design and Discovery of Novel Materials (MARVEL), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nicola Marzari
- Theory and Simulation of Materials (THEOS), and National Centre for Computational Design and Discovery of Novel Materials (MARVEL), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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29
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Khan K, Tareen AK, Aslam M, Khan MF, Shi Z, Ma C, Shams SS, Khatoon R, mahmood N, Zhang H, Guo Z. Synthesis, properties and novel electrocatalytic applications of the 2D-borophene Xenes. PROG SOLID STATE CH 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.progsolidstchem.2020.100283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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30
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Cavalcanti PJF, Saraiva TT, Aguiar JA, Vagov A, Croitoru MD, Shanenko AA. Multiband superconductors with degenerate excitation gaps. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2020; 32:455702. [PMID: 32688355 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/aba776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
There is a tacit assumption that multiband superconductors are essentially the same as multigap superconductors. More precisely, it is usually assumed that the number of excitation gaps in the single-particle energy spectrum of a uniform superconductor (i.e. number of peaks in the density of states of the superconducting electrons) determines the number of contributing bands in the corresponding superconducting model. Here we demonstrate that contrary to this widely accepted viewpoint, the superconducting magnetic properties are sensitive to the number of contributing bands even when the spectral gaps are degenerate and cannot be distinguished. In particular, we find that the crossover between superconductivity types I and II-the intertype regime-is strongly affected by the difference between characteristic lengths of multiple contributing condensates. The reason for this is that condensates with diverse characteristic lengths, when coexisting in one system, interfere constructively or destructively, which results in multi-condensate magnetic phenomena regardless of the presence/absence of the multigap spectrum of a superconducting multiband material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo J F Cavalcanti
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Aníbal Fernandes, s/n, 50740-560, Recife-PE, Brazil
| | - Tiago T Saraiva
- National Research University, Higher School of Economics, Moscow, 101000, Russia
| | - J Albino Aguiar
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Aníbal Fernandes, s/n, 50740-560, Recife-PE, Brazil
| | - A Vagov
- Institute for Theoretical Physics III, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth 95440, Germany
- ITMO University, St. Petersburg, 197101, Russia
| | - M D Croitoru
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Aníbal Fernandes, s/n, 50740-560, Recife-PE, Brazil
| | - A A Shanenko
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Aníbal Fernandes, s/n, 50740-560, Recife-PE, Brazil
- National Research University, Higher School of Economics, Moscow, 101000, Russia
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31
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Liu C, Song X, Li Q, Ma Y, Chen C. Superconductivity in Compression-Shear Deformed Diamond. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2020; 124:147001. [PMID: 32338977 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.124.147001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Diamond is a prototypical ultrawide band gap semiconductor, but turns into a superconductor with a critical temperature T_{c}≈4 K near 3% boron doping [E. A. Ekimov et al., Nature (London) 428, 542 (2004)NATUAS0028-083610.1038/nature02449]. Here we unveil a surprising new route to superconductivity in undoped diamond by compression-shear deformation that induces increasing metallization and lattice softening with rising strain, producing phonon mediated T_{c} up to 2.4-12.4 K for a wide range of Coulomb pseudopotential μ^{*}=0.15-0.05. This finding raises intriguing prospects of generating robust superconductivity in strained diamond crystal, showcasing a distinct and hitherto little explored approach to driving materials into superconducting states via strain engineering. These results hold promise for discovering superconductivity in normally nonsuperconductive materials, thereby expanding the landscape of viable nontraditional superconductors and offering actionable insights for experimental exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Superhard Materials, Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials of MOE, Department of Materials Science, and Innovation Center for Computational Physics Method and Software, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Xianqi Song
- State Key Laboratory of Superhard Materials, Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials of MOE, Department of Materials Science, and Innovation Center for Computational Physics Method and Software, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Quan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Superhard Materials, Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials of MOE, Department of Materials Science, and Innovation Center for Computational Physics Method and Software, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
- International Center of Future Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Yanming Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Superhard Materials, Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials of MOE, Department of Materials Science, and Innovation Center for Computational Physics Method and Software, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
- International Center of Future Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Changfeng Chen
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada 89154, USA
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32
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Novko D, Caruso F, Draxl C, Cappelluti E. Ultrafast Hot Phonon Dynamics in MgB_{2} Driven by Anisotropic Electron-Phonon Coupling. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2020; 124:077001. [PMID: 32142321 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.124.077001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2019] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The zone-center E_{2g} modes play a crucial role in MgB_{2}, controlling the scattering mechanisms in the normal state as well the superconducting pairing. Here, we demonstrate via first-principles quantum-field theory calculations that, due to the anisotropic electron-phonon interaction, a hot-phonon regime where the E_{2g} phonons can achieve significantly larger effective populations than other modes, is triggered in MgB_{2} by the interaction with an ultrashort laser pulse. Spectral signatures of this scenario in ultrafast pump-probe Raman spectroscopy are discussed in detail, revealing also a fundamental role of nonadiabatic processes in the optical features of the E_{2g} mode.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dino Novko
- Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials and Sensing Devices, Institute of Physics, Bijenička 46, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Fabio Caruso
- Institut für Physik and IRIS Adlershof, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Claudia Draxl
- Institut für Physik and IRIS Adlershof, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Emmanuele Cappelluti
- Istituto di Struttura della Materia, CNR, Division of Ultrafast Processes in Materials (FLASHit), 34149 Trieste, Italy
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Kim S, Kim K, Koo J, Lee H, Il Min B, Kim DY. Pressure-induced phase transitions and superconductivity in magnesium carbides. Sci Rep 2019; 9:20253. [PMID: 31882982 PMCID: PMC6934831 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56497-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Crystal structure prediction and in silico physical property observations guide experimental synthesis in high-pressure research. Here, we used magnesium carbides as a representative example of computational high-pressure studies. We predicted various compositions of Mg–C compounds up to 150 GPa and successfully reproduced previous experimental results. Interestingly, our proposed MgC2 at high pressure >7 GPa consists of extended carbon bonds, one-dimensional graphene layers, and Mg atomic layers, which provides a good platform to study superconductivity of metal intercalated graphene nano-ribbons. We found that this new phase of MgC2 could be recovered to ambient pressure and exhibited a strong electron-phonon coupling (EPC) strength of 0.6 whose corresponding superconductivity transition temperature reached 15 K. The EPC originated from the cooperation of the out-of-plane and the in-plane phonon modes. The geometry confinement and the hybridization between the Mg s and C pz orbitals significantly affect the coupling of phonon modes and electrons. These results show the importance of the high-pressure route to the synthesis of novel functional materials, which can promote the search for new phases of carbon-based superconductors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sooran Kim
- Department of Physics, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, 37673, South Korea.,Department of Physics Education, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, Korea
| | - Kyoo Kim
- Department of Physics, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, 37673, South Korea.,Max Plank-POSTECH/Hsinchu Center for Complex Phase Materials, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, 37673, South Korea.,Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), 111 Daedeok-daero 989 Beon-Gil, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34057, South Korea
| | - Jahyun Koo
- Department of Physics, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, South Korea
| | - Hoonkyung Lee
- Department of Physics, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, South Korea
| | - Byung Il Min
- Department of Physics, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, 37673, South Korea
| | - Duck Young Kim
- Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Shanghai, 201203, China. .,Department of Chemistry, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, 37673, South Korea.
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Chen B, Li J, Wu M, Hu L, Liu F, Ao W, Li Y, Xie H, Zhang C. Simultaneous Enhancement of the Thermoelectric and Mechanical Performance in One-Step Sintered n-Type Bi 2Te 3-Based Alloys via a Facile MgB 2 Doping Strategy. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2019; 11:45746-45754. [PMID: 31729854 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b16781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The Bi2Te3-based alloys have been commercialized for the applications of energy harvesting and refrigeration for decades. However, the commercial Bi2Te3-based alloys produced by the zone-melting (ZM) method usually show poor mechanical strength and crack problems as well as the sluggish figure of merit ZT, especially for the less-progressed n-type samples. In this work, we have simultaneously enhanced the thermoelectric and mechanical performance of the one-step spark plasma sintering (SPS)-derived n-type Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 alloys just by doping a small amount of superconducting material MgB2 where Mg and B atoms can play significant roles in carrier density optimization and hardness enhancement. Besides the optimization of carrier density, the MgB2 doping can also increase the carrier mobility but decrease the lattice and bipolar thermal conductivity, leading to a peak ZT of 0.96 at 325 K and an average ZT of 0.88 within 300-500 K in the 0.5% MgB2-doped Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 (BTSMB) alloys. The peak ZT and average ZT of our optimized BTSMB samples are comparable and higher than those of the state-of-the-art commercial ZM ingot. Moreover, the optimized BTSMB sample also exhibits almost 70% enhancement in hardness compared with the ZM ingot. Our results demonstrate the great potential of the MgB2 doping strategy for mass production of SPS-derived Bi2Te3-based alloys in one-step sintering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Chen
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Special Functional Materials, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Technology of Ceramics, Guangdong Research Center for Interfacial Engineering of Functional Materials, Institute of Deep Underground Sciences and Green Energy , Shenzhen University , Shenzhen 518060 , P. R. China
| | - Junqin Li
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Special Functional Materials, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Technology of Ceramics, Guangdong Research Center for Interfacial Engineering of Functional Materials, Institute of Deep Underground Sciences and Green Energy , Shenzhen University , Shenzhen 518060 , P. R. China
| | - Mengnan Wu
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Special Functional Materials, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Technology of Ceramics, Guangdong Research Center for Interfacial Engineering of Functional Materials, Institute of Deep Underground Sciences and Green Energy , Shenzhen University , Shenzhen 518060 , P. R. China
| | - Lipeng Hu
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Special Functional Materials, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Technology of Ceramics, Guangdong Research Center for Interfacial Engineering of Functional Materials, Institute of Deep Underground Sciences and Green Energy , Shenzhen University , Shenzhen 518060 , P. R. China
| | - Fusheng Liu
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Special Functional Materials, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Technology of Ceramics, Guangdong Research Center for Interfacial Engineering of Functional Materials, Institute of Deep Underground Sciences and Green Energy , Shenzhen University , Shenzhen 518060 , P. R. China
| | - Weiqin Ao
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Special Functional Materials, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Technology of Ceramics, Guangdong Research Center for Interfacial Engineering of Functional Materials, Institute of Deep Underground Sciences and Green Energy , Shenzhen University , Shenzhen 518060 , P. R. China
| | - Yu Li
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Special Functional Materials, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Technology of Ceramics, Guangdong Research Center for Interfacial Engineering of Functional Materials, Institute of Deep Underground Sciences and Green Energy , Shenzhen University , Shenzhen 518060 , P. R. China
| | - Heping Xie
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Special Functional Materials, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Technology of Ceramics, Guangdong Research Center for Interfacial Engineering of Functional Materials, Institute of Deep Underground Sciences and Green Energy , Shenzhen University , Shenzhen 518060 , P. R. China
| | - Chaohua Zhang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Special Functional Materials, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Technology of Ceramics, Guangdong Research Center for Interfacial Engineering of Functional Materials, Institute of Deep Underground Sciences and Green Energy , Shenzhen University , Shenzhen 518060 , P. R. China
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Gao H, Zhang X, Li W, Zhao M. Tunable broadband hyperbolic light dispersion in metal diborides. OPTICS EXPRESS 2019; 27:36911-36922. [PMID: 31873462 DOI: 10.1364/oe.27.036911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The naturally hyperbolic materials that conquer the limitations of artificially structured hyperbolic metamaterials are promising candidates for the emerging devices based on light. However, the variety of natural hyperbolic materials and their hyperbolic frequency regime are presently limited. Here, on the basis of first-principles calculations, we demonstrated a family of natural hyperbolic materials, graphite-like metal diborides, with a broadband hyperbolic region from near-IR (∼2.5µm) to the ultraviolet regime (∼248 nm). The operating hyperbolic window and negative refraction can be effectively modulated by extracting electrons from the materials, offering a promising strategy for regulating the optical properties.
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36
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Duan L, Su J, Gong N, Wan B, Chen P, Zhou P, Wang Z, Li Z, Wu L. Pressure induced semiconductor-semimetal-superconductor transition of magnesium hexaborides. Dalton Trans 2019; 48:14299-14305. [PMID: 31453996 DOI: 10.1039/c9dt02813g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A thorough structural exploration was performed for MgB6 combining the global structure searching method with first-principles calculations. Besides the known Cmcm phase, new phases, i.e. I4/mmm, C2/m-I, C2/m-II and P21/m, were predicted to be stable in the pressure range of 18-100 GPa. Unexpectedly, Cmcm-MgB6 was found to be a semiconductor with an indirect band gap of 0.38 eV with the HSE06 functional, in good agreement with the experimental finding. I4/mmm-MgB6 stabilized above 18 GPa exhibits semimetallic behaviour with a topological node-line near the Fermi level. Consequently, C2/m-I MgB6 with a sandwich structure similar to MgB2 is predicted to be a superconductor with a critical temperature (Tc) of 9.5 K. By analysing the electronic structure, the intriguing semiconductor-semimetal-superconductor transition may be ascribed to the delocalization of more B-p electrons in the boron sublattice. The novel functions uncovered for MgB6 may inspire more efforts to discover materials with intriguing properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, College of Material Science and Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, Hebei, China.
| | - Jing Su
- State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, College of Material Science and Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, Hebei, China.
| | - Ning Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, College of Material Science and Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, Hebei, China.
| | - Biao Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, College of Material Science and Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, Hebei, China.
| | - Peng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, College of Material Science and Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, Hebei, China.
| | - Pengyuan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, College of Material Science and Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, Hebei, China.
| | - Zhibin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, College of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, Hebei, China
| | - Zhiping Li
- Key Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, College of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, Hebei, China
| | - Lailei Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, College of Material Science and Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, Hebei, China. and Key Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, College of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, Hebei, China
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37
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Meng LB, Zhou MJ, Zhang YJ, Ni S. Intrinsic phonon-mediated superconductivity in graphene-like BSi lattice. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2019; 31:345401. [PMID: 31096196 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/ab21eb] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The research of new superconductors is an ongoing field for the fundamental significances and potential applications, and two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials open a new alluring branch for exploration. Here we predict by first-principles calculations that 2D pristine graphene-like BSi monolayer is a phonon-mediated superconductor above the boiling point of liquid helium. The intrinsic covalent-metallic ground state, large density of states at Fermi energy, proper electronic organization as well as strong coupling of out-of-plane phonons and electrons endow an intermediate electron-phonon coupling of ~1.12, rendering this honeycomb sheet as a conventional superconductor with a relatively high T c ~ 11 K. As the global minimum structure in the 2D space previously predicted, this superconducting BSi monolayer may be feasible experimentally. Our finding provides a new field of superconducting nanomaterials for study.
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Affiliation(s)
- L-B Meng
- Research Center of Laser Fusion, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang 621900, People's Republic of China
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38
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Boeri L, Bachelet GB. Viewpoint: the road to room-temperature conventional superconductivity. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2019; 31:234002. [PMID: 30844781 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/ab0db2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
It is a honor to write a contribution on this memorial for Sandro Massidda. For both of us, at different stages in our lives, Sandro was first and foremost a friend. We both admired his humble, playful and profound approach to life and physics. In this contribution we describe the route which permitted to meet a long-standing challenge in solid state physics, i.e. room temperature superconductivity. In less than 20 years the critical temperature of conventional superconductors, which in the last century had been widely believed to be limited to 25 K, was raised from 40 K in MgB2 to 265 K in LaH10. This discovery was enabled by the development and application of computational methods for superconductors, a field in which Sandro Massidda played a major role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilia Boeri
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Sapienza Università di Roma, 00185 Roma, Italy
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Mazin II. Why have band theorists been so successful in explaining and predicting novel superconductors? JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2019; 31:174001. [PMID: 30695752 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/ab02ad] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
In this contribution to the J. Phys.: Condens. Matter memorial issue in honor of Sandro Massidda I reflect on a phenomenon Sandro had been a part of. While theoretical condensed matter physicists have made, over the years, exciting and most elegant contributions to the theory of superconductivity (which, in and by itself, is one of the most beautiful constructs in theoretical physics), some of them of utmost importance, they have had less success in predicting and explaining superconducting states and mechanisms in specific materials. More down-to-earth computational materials scientists, who often go by the moniker 'band theorists', have been much more successful in applying (usually other people's) ideas in such circumstances. In this essay I give some examples, largely drawn from my own experience, and speculate on their meaning.
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Affiliation(s)
- I I Mazin
- Code 6393, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, United States of America
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40
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Haque E, Hossain MA, Stampfl C. First-principles prediction of phonon-mediated superconductivity in XBC (X = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba). Phys Chem Chem Phys 2019; 21:8767-8773. [PMID: 30968874 DOI: 10.1039/c8cp07634k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
From first-principles calculations, we predict four new intercalated hexagonal XBC (X = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba) compounds to be dynamically stable and phonon-mediated superconductors. These compounds form a LiBC like structure but are metallic. The calculated superconducting critical temperature, Tc, of MgBC is 51 K. The strong attractive interaction between σ-bonding electrons and the B1g phonon mode gives rise to a larger electron-phonon coupling constant (1.135) and hence high Tc; notably, higher than that of MgB2. The other compounds have a low superconducting critical temperature (4-17 K) due to the interaction between σ-bonding electrons and low energy phonons (E2u modes). Due to their energetic and dynamic stability, we envisage that these compounds can be synthesized experimentally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enamul Haque
- Department of Physics, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University Santosh, Tangail-1902, Bangladesh
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41
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Ab Initio Study of the Electronic, Vibrational, and Mechanical Properties of the Magnesium Diboride Monolayer. CONDENSED MATTER 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/condmat4020037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Magnesium diboride gained significant interest in the materials science community after the discovery of its superconductivity, with an unusually high critical temperature of 39 K. Many aspects of the electronic properties and superconductivity of bulk MgB 2 and thin sheets of MgB 2 have been determined; however, a single layer of MgB 2 has not yet been fully theoretically investigated. Here, we present a detailed study of the structural, electronic, vibrational, and elastic properties of monolayer MgB 2 , based on ab initio methods. First-principles calculations reveal the importance of reduction of dimensionality on the properties of MgB 2 and thoroughly describe the properties of this novel 2D material. The presence of a negative Poisson ratio, higher density of states at the Fermi level, and a good dynamic stability under strain make the MgB 2 monolayer a prominent material, both for fundamental research and application studies.
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Li W, Kang J, Liu Y, Zhu M, Li Y, Qu J, Zheng R, Xu J, Liu B. Extrinsic Two-Dimensional Flux Pinning Centers in MgB 2 Superconductors Induced by Graphene-Coated Boron. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2019; 11:10818-10828. [PMID: 30785258 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b19645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Extrinsic two-dimensional flux pinning centers, via graphene-encapsulated boron powder as precursors, have been introduced into MgB2 superconductors by means of in situ and diffusion sintering methods. Uniform graphene encapsulation of the boron powders was achieved by the hydrothermal method with highly dispersed graphene oxide as the precursor. The graphene coating layers induce remaining graphene layers and other defects acting as flux pinning centers in the matrix as well as improved connectivity in between grains. The increased critical current density ( Jc) is attributed to the enhanced flux pinning force and improved connectivity. Two-dimensional flux pinning centers provided by thin graphene layers and grain boundaries in MgB2 possess high flux pinning efficiency without suppressing the connectivity of the MgB2 superconductor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxian Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of High Temperature Superconductors , Shanghai 200444 , China
| | | | | | | | | | - Jiangtao Qu
- School of Physics , The University of Sydney , Sydney , New South Wales 2006 , Australia
| | - Rongkun Zheng
- School of Physics , The University of Sydney , Sydney , New South Wales 2006 , Australia
| | - Jianyi Xu
- Ningbo Jansen NMR Technology Co., Ltd. , 427 Gaoke Avenue, Cixi New Industrial Area, Zonghan Street , Cixi , Zhejiang 315301 , China
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43
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Cheng Y, Wang X, Zhang J, Yang K, Niu C, Zeng Z. Superconductivity of boron-doped graphane under high pressure. RSC Adv 2019; 9:7680-7686. [PMID: 35521158 PMCID: PMC9061170 DOI: 10.1039/c8ra10241d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Based on first-principles calculations, the properties of B-doped graphane under high pressure up to 380 GPa are investigated. We find that B-doped graphane undergoes a phase transition from phase-α to phase-β at 6 GPa. Different from pristine graphane (X. Wen, L. Hand, V. Labet, T. Yang, R. Hoffmann, N. W. Ashcroft, A. R. Oganov and A. O. Lyakhov, Graphane sheets and crystals under pressure, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A., 2011, 108, 6833–6837), phase-γ of B-doped graphane is kinetically unstable. The calculated superconducting transition temperature of B-doped graphane at ambient pressure is 45 K, and pressurization can increase the transition temperature notably, e.g., 77 K at 100 GPa. Both the electronic states at the Fermi level and the electron–phonon coupling are mainly contributed by B–C characteristics, indicating that the B-doping plays a key role in the superconductivity. Under high-pressure, the most stable two configurations of B-doped graphane are phase-α and phase-β, and pressurization can increase their Tc significantly.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Materials Physics
- Institute of Solid State Physics
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Hefei 230031
- China
| | - Xianlong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Materials Physics
- Institute of Solid State Physics
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Hefei 230031
- China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Materials Physics
- Institute of Solid State Physics
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Hefei 230031
- China
| | - Kaishuai Yang
- Key Laboratory of Materials Physics
- Institute of Solid State Physics
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Hefei 230031
- China
| | - Caoping Niu
- Key Laboratory of Materials Physics
- Institute of Solid State Physics
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Hefei 230031
- China
| | - Zhi Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Materials Physics
- Institute of Solid State Physics
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Hefei 230031
- China
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44
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Jia J, Chen S, Yang Q, Feng X, Li D. Crystallinity-dependent capacity of a LiBC anode material in Li-ion batteries. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 20:28176-28184. [PMID: 30394475 DOI: 10.1039/c8cp05561k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
LiBC is a layered boron carbide material that was first studied as a superconducting material. Theoretical study showed that LiBC is a promising cathode material in Li-ion batteries, while our early computational and experimental studies demonstrated the feasibility of LiBC as a high-capacity anode material for Li-ion batteries. In this work, LiBC has been synthesized by a solid-state method using different carbon precursors of acetylene black and graphite, marked a-LiBC and g-LiBC, respectively, and their electrochemical properties and corresponding structure evolutions have been investigated in Li-ion batteries. As a result, a-LiBC delivers a higher specific capacity than g-LiBC, 500 mA h g-1vs. 200 mA h g-1, after 50 cycles at a rate of 0.1C. Actually, a significant structural evolution of a-LiBC was observed by in situ XRD during the charge/discharge processes, while a nearly constant structure was detected for g-LiBC. Meanwhile, in situ Raman results revealed the evolution of vibrational beating modes at different charge/discharge states. Therefore, the specific capacity of LiBC is closely related to its crystallinity, and LiBC with amorphous carbon precursors could be adopted as a promising anode material for Li-ion batteries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianfeng Jia
- State Key Laboratory on Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Research on Utilization of Si-Zr-Ti Resources, College of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Hainan University, 58 Renmin Road, Haikou 570228, China.
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45
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Liao JH, Zhao YC, Zhao YJ, Xu H, Yang XB. Phonon-mediated superconductivity in Mg intercalated bilayer borophenes. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 19:29237-29243. [PMID: 29067396 DOI: 10.1039/c7cp06180c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Using first-principles calculations, we investigate the structural, electronic and superconducting properties of Mg intercalated bilayer borophenes BxMgBx (x = 2-5). Remarkably, B2MgB2 and B4MgB4 are predicted to exhibit good phonon-mediated superconductivity with a high transition temperature (Tc) of 23.2 K and 13.3 K, respectively, while B4MgB4 is confirmed to be more practical based on the analyses of its stability. The densities of states of in-plane orbitals at the Fermi level are found to be dominant at the superconducting transition temperature in Mg intercalated bilayer borophenes, providing an effective avenue to explore Mg-B systems with high Tcs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Hai Liao
- Department of Physics, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, P. R. China.
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46
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Shang J, Ma Y, Gu Y, Kou L. Two dimensional boron nanosheets: synthesis, properties and applications. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 20:28964-28978. [DOI: 10.1039/c8cp04850a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
As a material generating increasing interest, boron nanosheets have been reviewed from the perspective of their synthesis, properties, application and possible research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Shang
- School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering Faculty
- Queensland University of Technology
- QLD 4001
- Australia
| | - Yandong Ma
- School of Physics
- State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials
- Shandong University
- Jinan 250100
- People's Republic of China
| | - Yuantong Gu
- School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering Faculty
- Queensland University of Technology
- QLD 4001
- Australia
| | - Liangzhi Kou
- School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering Faculty
- Queensland University of Technology
- QLD 4001
- Australia
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47
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Arita R, Koretsune T, Sakai S, Akashi R, Nomura Y, Sano W. Nonempirical Calculation of Superconducting Transition Temperatures in Light-Element Superconductors. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2017; 29. [PMID: 28060417 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201602421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2016] [Revised: 08/05/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Recent progress in the fully nonempirical calculation of the superconducting transition temperature (Tc ) is reviewed. Especially, this study focuses on three representative light-element high-Tc superconductors, i.e., elemental Li, sulfur hydrides, and alkali-doped fullerides. Here, it is discussed how crucial it is to develop the beyond Migdal-Eliashberg (ME) methods. For Li, a scheme of superconducting density functional theory for the plasmon mechanism is formulated and it is found that Tc is dramatically enhanced by considering the frequency dependence of the screened Coulomb interaction. For sulfur hydrides, it is essential to go beyond not only the static approximation for the screened Coulomb interaction, but also the constant density-of-states approximation for electrons, the harmonic approximation for phonons, and the Migdal approximation for the electron-phonon vertex, all of which have been employed in the standard ME calculation. It is also shown that the feedback effect in the self-consistent calculation of the self-energy and the zero point motion considerably affect the calculation of Tc . For alkali-doped fullerides, the interplay between electron-phonon coupling and electron correlations becomes more nontrivial. It has been demonstrated that the combination of density functional theory and dynamical mean field theory with the ab initio downfolding scheme for electron-phonon coupled systems works successfully. This study not only reproduces the experimental phase diagram but also obtains a unified view of the high-Tc superconductivity and the Mott-Hubbard transition in the fullerides. The results for these high-Tc superconductors will provide a firm ground for future materials design of new superconductors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryotaro Arita
- RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
- JST ERATO Isobe Degenerate π-Integration Project, Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8577, Japan
| | - Takashi Koretsune
- RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
- JST-PRESTO, 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi, Saitama, 332-0012, Japan
| | - Shiro Sakai
- RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Akashi
- Department of Physics, University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Yusuke Nomura
- Centre de Physique Théorique, École Polytechnique, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91128, Palaiseau, France
| | - Wataru Sano
- RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
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48
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Formation of novel transition metal hydride complexes with ninefold hydrogen coordination. Sci Rep 2017; 7:44253. [PMID: 28287143 PMCID: PMC5347150 DOI: 10.1038/srep44253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 02/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Ninefold coordination of hydrogen is very rare, and has been observed in two different hydride complexes comprising rhenium and technetium. Herein, based on a theoretical/experimental approach, we present evidence for the formation of ninefold H- coordination hydride complexes of molybdenum ([MoH9]3−), tungsten ([WH9]3−), niobium ([NbH9]4−) and tantalum ([TaH9]4−) in novel complex transition-metal hydrides, Li5MoH11, Li5WH11, Li6NbH11 and Li6TaH11, respectively. All of the synthesized materials are insulated with band gaps of approximately 4 eV, but contain a sufficient amount of hydrogen to cause the H 1s-derived states to reach the Fermi level. Such hydrogen-rich materials might be of interest for high-critical-temperature superconductivity if the gaps close under compression. Furthermore, the hydride complexes exhibit significant rotational motions associated with anharmonic librations at room temperature, which are often discussed in relation to the translational diffusion of cations in alkali-metal dodecahydro-closo-dodecaborates and strongly point to the emergence of a fast lithium conduction even at room temperature.
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Wu L, Wan B, Liu H, Gou H, Yao Y, Li Z, Zhang J, Gao F, Mao HK. Coexistence of Superconductivity and Superhardness in Beryllium Hexaboride Driven by Inherent Multicenter Bonding. J Phys Chem Lett 2016; 7:4898-4904. [PMID: 27934060 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.6b02444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Unique multicenter bonding in boron-rich materials leads to the formation of complex structures and intriguing properties. Here global structural searches are performed to unearth the structure of beryllium hexaboride (BeB6) synthesized decades ago. Three BeB6 phases (α, β, and γ) were predicted to be stable at ambient and high pressures. The ground state at ambient pressure, α-BeB6, consists of a strong and uniformly distributed covalent B-B network, which results in exceptional elastic properties and a hardness of 46 GPa comparable to γ-B. Even more surprisingly, α-BeB6 retains credible electron phonon coupling in the boron sublattice, and is predicted to be superconducting at 9 K. Above 4 GPa, β-BeB6 is stabilized with alternating boron slabs and triangular beryllium layers analogous to the structure of MgB2. The β-BeB6 is predicted to be superconducting at 24 K, similar to Nb3(Al,Ge). The γ-BeB6 is stable above 340 GPa. The understanding of intrinsic multicenter-bonding mechanism and related properties demonstrated in the very example of BeB6 provides new insights for the design of tunable multifunctional materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lailei Wu
- Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, College of Material Science and Engineering, Yanshan University , Qinhuangdao 066004, China
| | - Biao Wan
- Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, College of Material Science and Engineering, Yanshan University , Qinhuangdao 066004, China
- Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research , Beijing 100094, China
| | - Hanyu Liu
- Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington , 5251 Broad Branch Road NW, Washington, D.C. 20015, United States
| | - Huiyang Gou
- Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research , Beijing 100094, China
- Key Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, College of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Yanshan University , Qinhuangdao 066004, China
| | - Yansun Yao
- Department of Physics and Engineering Physics, University of Saskatchewan , Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, Canada
- Canadian Light Source , Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 2V3, Canada
| | - Zhiping Li
- Key Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, College of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Yanshan University , Qinhuangdao 066004, China
| | - Jingwu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, College of Material Science and Engineering, Yanshan University , Qinhuangdao 066004, China
| | - Faming Gao
- Key Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, College of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Yanshan University , Qinhuangdao 066004, China
| | - Ho-Kwang Mao
- Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research , Beijing 100094, China
- Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington , 5251 Broad Branch Road NW, Washington, D.C. 20015, United States
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50
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Abstract
Two-dimensional boron is expected to exhibit various structural polymorphs, all being metallic. Additionally, its small atomic mass suggests strong electron-phonon coupling, which in turn can enable superconducting behavior. Here we perform first-principles analysis of electronic structure, phonon spectra, and electron-phonon coupling of selected 2D boron polymorphs and show that the most stable structures predicted to feasibly form on a metal substrate should also exhibit intrinsic phonon-mediated superconductivity, with estimated critical temperature in the range of Tc ≈ 10-20 K.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgeni S Penev
- Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University , Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Alex Kutana
- Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University , Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Boris I Yakobson
- Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University , Houston, Texas 77005, United States
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