Superconductivity in layered BiS2-based compounds

•A novel family of BiS2-based superconductors was recently discovered in 2012.•The structures are composed of stacking of BiS2 double layers and a blocking layer.•Superconductivity is induced when electrons are doped into these BiS2 layers.•The reported TcTc are as high as Tc∼10Tc∼10 K for LaO0.5F0.5BiS2.

A novel family of superconductors based on BiS2-based superconducting layers were discovered in 2012. In short order, other BiS2-based superconductors with the same or related crystal structures were discovered with superconducting critical temperatures TcTc of up to 10 K. Many experimental and theoretical studies have been carried out with the goal of establishing the basic properties of these new materials and understanding the underlying mechanism for superconductivity. In this selective review of the literature, we distill the central discoveries from this extensive body of work, and discuss the results from different types of experiments on these materials within the context of theoretical concepts and models.

Graphical abstractComparison of the crystal structures of (a) Bi4O4S3 and (b) LaO1−xFxBiS2. A box with dashed boundaries indicates the superconducting BiS2 layers, which are common to both crystal structures.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide