Inverted V-shaped evolution of superconducting temperature in SrBC under pressure*

Abstract

Based on density functional first-principles calculations and anisotropic Eliashberg equations, we have investigated the electronic structure, lattice dynamics, and phonon-mediated superconductivity in newly synthesized layered compound SrBC under pressure. Different from LiBC and MgB2, our calculations surprisingly reveal that SrBC is isotropic in compressibility, due to the accumulation of substantial electrons in the interstitial region. We find that the Sr phonons strongly couple with B-2p z orbital and the interstitial states, giving rise to a two-gap superconductivity in SrBC, whose transition temperature shows an inverted V-shaped dependence on pressure. The maximal transition temperature is about 22 K at 50 GPa. On both sides of 50 GPa, the transition temperature exhibits quasi-linear variation with positive and negative slopes, respectively. Such a variation of transition temperature is infrequent among phonon-mediated superconductors. The competition between enhanced electron–phonon matrix element and hardened phonons plays an essential role in governing the behavior of the critical temperature.