Superconductivity near 70 K in boron-carbon clathrates MB$_2$C$_8$ (M = Na, K, Rb, Cs) at ambient pressure

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Hauptverfasser: Li, Bin, Cheng, Yulan, Zhu, Cong, Cheng, Jie, Liu, Shengli
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Veröffentlicht: 2024
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author Li, Bin
Cheng, Yulan
Zhu, Cong
Cheng, Jie
Liu, Shengli
author_facet Li, Bin
Cheng, Yulan
Zhu, Cong
Cheng, Jie
Liu, Shengli
contents Inspired by the first boron-carbon (B-C) clathrate SrB$_3$C$_3$ and the ternary borohydride KB$_2$H$_8$ [Miao et al., Phys. Rev. B 104 L100504 (2021)], we have performed first-principles density functional theory calculations of the electronic and phonon band structures for B-C compounds MB$_2$C$_8$ (M = Na, K, Rb, Cs). Our calculations reveal that these materials are dynamically stable and can potentially exhibit superconductivity at ambient pressure. However, only the K, Rb, and Cs compounds exhibit thermodynamic stability below 50 GPa, while NaB$_2$C$_8$ remains thermodynamically unstable at all pressures considered. Based on the Allen and Dynes modified McMillan equation, we predict the superconducting transition temperature $T_c$ of these compounds to be over 65 K at ambient pressure, with $T_c$ decreasing under higher pressures. Remarkably, we find CsB$_2$C$_8$ possesses the highest predicted $T_c$ of 68.76 K. Our findings demonstrate the possibility of high temperature superconductivity in cubic MB$_2$C$_8$ at ambient pressure, expanding the B-C clathrate superconductor family. These results provide valuable insights to guide the identification of new atmospheric pressure superconductors.
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id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2405_13752
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Superconductivity near 70 K in boron-carbon clathrates MB$_2$C$_8$ (M = Na, K, Rb, Cs) at ambient pressure
Li, Bin
Cheng, Yulan
Zhu, Cong
Cheng, Jie
Liu, Shengli
Superconductivity
Inspired by the first boron-carbon (B-C) clathrate SrB$_3$C$_3$ and the ternary borohydride KB$_2$H$_8$ [Miao et al., Phys. Rev. B 104 L100504 (2021)], we have performed first-principles density functional theory calculations of the electronic and phonon band structures for B-C compounds MB$_2$C$_8$ (M = Na, K, Rb, Cs). Our calculations reveal that these materials are dynamically stable and can potentially exhibit superconductivity at ambient pressure. However, only the K, Rb, and Cs compounds exhibit thermodynamic stability below 50 GPa, while NaB$_2$C$_8$ remains thermodynamically unstable at all pressures considered. Based on the Allen and Dynes modified McMillan equation, we predict the superconducting transition temperature $T_c$ of these compounds to be over 65 K at ambient pressure, with $T_c$ decreasing under higher pressures. Remarkably, we find CsB$_2$C$_8$ possesses the highest predicted $T_c$ of 68.76 K. Our findings demonstrate the possibility of high temperature superconductivity in cubic MB$_2$C$_8$ at ambient pressure, expanding the B-C clathrate superconductor family. These results provide valuable insights to guide the identification of new atmospheric pressure superconductors.
title Superconductivity near 70 K in boron-carbon clathrates MB$_2$C$_8$ (M = Na, K, Rb, Cs) at ambient pressure
topic Superconductivity
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.13752