Metallochloronitrides: Electronic pairing mechanism in a new class of superconductors

A new class of doped layered superconductors with Tc∼26 K has been discovered recently: the metal-intercalated halide nitrides. We show that the superconducting state of the electrons is essentially self-supported in these materials. That is, the dominant contribution to the pairing interaction is provided by collective excitations of the same particles as those forming pairs. We also discuss layered organic and cuprate superconductors within this phonon-plasmon mechanism. © 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.