The discovery of pressure-induced superconducting electrides has sparked a intense wave of interest in novel superconductors.However,opinions vary regarding the relationship between non-nuclear attractors(NNAs)and sup...The discovery of pressure-induced superconducting electrides has sparked a intense wave of interest in novel superconductors.However,opinions vary regarding the relationship between non-nuclear attractors(NNAs)and superconductivity,with two opposing views currently represented by the materials Li_(6)P and Li_(6)C.Here,we choose the ternary Li–C–P as a model system and reveal the underlying mechanism by which NNAs contribute to superconductivity.The loosely bound NNAs in the superlithide Li_(14)CP covalently bond with Li and form unique satellite interstitial electrons(SIEs)around Li near the Fermi level,dominating the superconductivity.First-principles calculations show that the SIEs progressively increase in number and couple strongly with phonons at high pressure.Moreover,the Fermi surface nesting associated with SIEs induces phonon softening,further enhancing the electron–phonon coupling and giving the superlithide Li_(14)CP a T_(c)of 10.6 K at 300 GPa.The leading role of SIEs in superconductivity is a general one and is also relevant to the recently predicted Li_(6)P and Li_(6)C.Our work presented here reshapes the understanding of NNA-dominated superconductivity and holds promise for guiding future discoveries and designs of novel high-temperature superconductors.展开更多
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2023YFA1406200)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.12374004 and 12174141)the High Performance Computing Center of Jilin University,China。
文摘The discovery of pressure-induced superconducting electrides has sparked a intense wave of interest in novel superconductors.However,opinions vary regarding the relationship between non-nuclear attractors(NNAs)and superconductivity,with two opposing views currently represented by the materials Li_(6)P and Li_(6)C.Here,we choose the ternary Li–C–P as a model system and reveal the underlying mechanism by which NNAs contribute to superconductivity.The loosely bound NNAs in the superlithide Li_(14)CP covalently bond with Li and form unique satellite interstitial electrons(SIEs)around Li near the Fermi level,dominating the superconductivity.First-principles calculations show that the SIEs progressively increase in number and couple strongly with phonons at high pressure.Moreover,the Fermi surface nesting associated with SIEs induces phonon softening,further enhancing the electron–phonon coupling and giving the superlithide Li_(14)CP a T_(c)of 10.6 K at 300 GPa.The leading role of SIEs in superconductivity is a general one and is also relevant to the recently predicted Li_(6)P and Li_(6)C.Our work presented here reshapes the understanding of NNA-dominated superconductivity and holds promise for guiding future discoveries and designs of novel high-temperature superconductors.
