A new layer‐structured nitride superconductor. Lithium‐intercalated β‐zirconium nitride chloride, Li_xZrNCl

Abstract

The first layered nitride superconductor is reported! The intercalation of lithium into the layered compound β‐ZrNCl (which is shown on the inside front cover of this issue) results in electron transfer from the lithium to the ZrN layers and the conversion of semiconducting β‐ZrNCl to a black metallic compound with a superconducting transition temperature of around 12.5 K. Interesting parallels with layered copper oxide superconductors and alkali‐metal doped fullerene superconductors should provide insight into the mechanism of high‐ T c superconductivity.