Structural classification and a binary structure model for superconductors
Dong Cheng(董成)†
National Laboratory for Superconductivity, Institute of Physics & Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, China
Abstract Based on structural and bonding features, a new classification scheme of superconductors is proposed to classify them into three classes: three-dimensional, two-dimensional and molecule-assembled superconductors. The sandwich model' for the high-Tc cuprates is extended to a `binary structure model': i.e., the crystal structure of most superconductors can be partitioned into two parts, a superconducting active component and a supplementary component. Partially metallic covalent bonding is found to be a common feature in all superconducting active components, and the electron states of the atoms in the active components usually make a dominant contribution to the energy band near the Fermi surface. Possible directions to explore new superconductors are discussed based on the structural classification and the binary structure model.
Received: 14 June 2006
Revised: 03 August 2006
Accepted manuscript online:
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