Intercalation route to novel superconducting nano-hybrids

We have adopted novel synthetic strategies, i.e. HSAB (hard-soft-acid-base) interaction and interlayer complexation concepts, to develop the superconducting nano-hybrids via intercalation technique. On the basis of these concepts, new series of inorganic-inorganic nano-hybrids, M-X-Bi₂Sr₂Ca_n-1Cu_nO_y (M = Hg, Ag, Au; X = Br, I; n = 1, 2, and 3) and of organic-inorganic ones, R₂HgI₄-Bi₂Sr₂Ca_n-1Cu_nO_y (R = organic cation) could be successfully prepared. The magnetic susceptibility measurements for these intercalates reveal that the intercalation of organic chain molecules has little influence on the superconducting transition temperature (T_c) of the pristine compounds, in spite of remarkable basal increments up to approximately 30 angstroms. It has been also demonstrated that the present organic intercalates can be used as effective precursor materials for fabricating the superconducting thin film and nano-particle.