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As-Li electrides under high pressure: Superconductivity, plastic, and superionic states

Zhongyu Wan1, Wenjun Xu1, Tianyi Yang1, and Ruiqin Zhang1,2,*

  • 1Department of Physics, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, People's Republic of China
  • 2Beijing Computational Science Research Center, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China

  • *aprqz@cityu.edu.hk

Phys. Rev. B 106, L060506 – Published 24 August, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.106.L060506

Abstract

Inorganic electrides are a new class of compounds catering to the interest of scientists due to the multiple usages exhibited by interstitial electrons in the lattice. However, the influence of the shape and distribution of interstitial electrons on physical properties and new forms of physical states is still unknown. In this work, crystal structure search algorithms are employed to explore the possibility of forming unique electrides in the As-Li system, where interstitial electrons behave as one-dimensional (1D) electron chains (1D electride) in the Pmmm phase of AsLi7 and transform into zero-dimensional (0D) electron clusters (0D electride) in the P6/mmm phase at 80 GPa. The P6/mmm phase has relatively high superconductivity at 150 GPa (Tc=38.4K) compared to classical electrides, even at moderate pressure with Tc=16.6K. In addition, a Dirac cone in the band has been observed, expanding the sources of Dirac materials. The survival of AsLi7 at room temperature is confirmed by molecular dynamics simulation at 300 K. At 1000 K, the As atoms in the system act like a solid, while a portion of the Li atoms cycle around the As atoms, and another portion of the Li atoms flow freely like a liquid, showing the unusual physical phenomenon of the coexistence of the plastic and superionic states. This suggests that the superionic and plastic states cannot only be found in hydrides but also in the electride. Our results indicate that superconducting electride AsLi7 with superionic and plastic states can exist in Earth's interior.

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