Leading role of satellite interstitial electrons in superconductivity in ternary superlithide Li<sub>14</sub>CP

Liu Yan; Cui Tian; Li Da

doi:10.1063/5.0252519

Volume 10 Issue 2

Mar. 2025

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Liu Yan, Cui Tian, Li Da. Leading role of satellite interstitial electrons in superconductivity in ternary superlithide Li14CP[J]. Matter and Radiation at Extremes, 2025, 10(2): 027802. doi: 10.1063/5.0252519

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Liu Yan, Cui Tian, Li Da. Leading role of satellite interstitial electrons in superconductivity in ternary superlithide Li₁₄CP[J]. Matter and Radiation at Extremes, 2025, 10(2): 027802. doi: 10.1063/5.0252519

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Leading role of satellite interstitial electrons in superconductivity in ternary superlithide Li₁₄CP

doi: 10.1063/5.0252519

Liu Yan^1
,,
Cui Tian^{2
,
,
,},
Li Da^{1
,
,
,}

1.
State Key Laboratory of High Pressure and Superhard Materials and Key Laboratory of Material Simulation Methods and Software of Ministry of Education, College of Physics, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, Jilin, China
2.
School of Physical Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, Zhejiang, China

More Information

Corresponding author: a)Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: cuitian@jlu.edu.cn and dali@jlu.edu.cn
Received Date: 2024-12-10
Accepted Date: 2025-02-10

Available Online: 2025-03-01

Publish Date: 2025-03-01

Abstract

Abstract

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 Li₆P and Li₆C. 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 Li₁₄CP 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 Li₁₄CP 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 Li₆P and Li₆C. 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.

The authors have no conflicts to disclose.
Conflict of Interest
Yan Liu: Data curation (equal); Investigation (equal); Writing – original draft (equal). Tian Cui: Resources (lead); Supervision (lead); Writing – review & editing (lead). Da Li: Conceptualization (equal); Writing – review & editing (equal).
Author Contributions
The data that support the findings of this study are available within the article and its supplementary material and from the corresponding authors upon reasonable request.

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References(58)

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