Nanoscale lattice heterostructure in high Tc superconductors

TL;DR

This paper reviews the role of nanoscale lattice heterogeneity in high-temperature superconductors, emphasizing how complex lattice geometries and charge inhomogeneity are crucial for understanding and achieving superconductivity above 35 K.

Contribution

It highlights the importance of nanoscale lattice and charge heterogeneity in the mechanism of high-temperature superconductivity, offering insights into material design.

Findings

Nanoscale heterogeneity is intrinsic to high Tc superconductors.

Lattice geometry and charge inhomogeneity are key to quantum coherence.

Understanding these factors can guide the development of higher Tc materials.

Abstract

Low temperature superconductivity was known since 1957 to be described by BCS theory for an effective single band metals controlled by the density of states at the Fermi level, very far from band edges, the electron phonon coupling, and the energy of the boson in the pairing interaction w0, but BCS has failed to predict high temperature superconductivity in different materials above about 23 K. High temperature superconductivity above 35 K since 1986 has been a matter of materials science where manipulating the lattice complexity of high temperature superconducting ceramic oxides (HTSC) has driven material scientists to grow new HTSC quantum materials up to 138K in HgBa2Ca2Cu3O8 (Hg1223) at ambient pressure and near room temperature in pressurized hydrides. This perspective covers the major results of materials scientist in these last 39 years investigating the role of lattice inhomogeneity detected in these new quantum complex materials. We highlight the nanoscale heterogeneity in these complex materials and elucidate their special role played in the physics for HTSC. Especially, it is pointed out that the geometry of lattice and charge complex heterogeneity at nanoscale is essential and intrinsic in the mechanism of rising quantum coherence at high temperature