Superconducting-like behaviour of the layered Chalcogenides CuS and CuSe below 40 K

The investigation of strongly sintered “quasi molten” CuS and CuSe chalcogenides shows that they exhibit a sharp diamagnetic transition and a resistivity drop around 40 K. The reminiscence of such high temperature superconductivity features, never observed to date for these phases, is strongly supported by two chemical characteristics: bidimensionality of the structure and mixed valency of copper. The absence of zero resistance suggests that the internal chemical pressure in the samples has a key role in the existence of superconductivity: the S–S or Se–Se interlayer distances are very sensitive to the pressure, so that the critical distance for the percolation can be reached in the core of the samples, but not at the vicinity of the surface, where relaxation may appear.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Superconducting-like behaviour in “quasi molten” CuS and CuSe chalcogenides. ► Sharp diamagnetic transition and resistivity drop ∼40 K ► Supported by bidimensionality of the structure and mixed valency of copper. ► Release of internal chemical pressure at the surface. ► Results in absence of zero resistance.