[Physics] The requirements for superconductivity

material-sciencesuperconductivity

Which properties are sufficient evidence for a material to be not superconducting?
I am looking for a set of statements like

If the material is semiconducting, it is not superconducting

Edit:
I am not looking for a definition of superconductivity, or for introductional literature like the famous W. Buckel.

I am looking for properties, that would forbid superconductivity. If you have a source for it i would be very glad. As far I remember magnetic atoms will forbid superconductivity too, but i could not find a source yet.

Best Answer

This question has a semi-canonical answer; Matthias' rules for superconductivity. This was a real set of empirical criteria proposed well before the cuprates were discovered, but here is the tongue-in-cheek version (I'm not sure who to attribute this presentation to, however -- comments appreciated).

  1. Symmetric lattices (i.e. cubic),
  2. Avoid oxygen,
  3. Avoid magnetism,
  4. Avoid insulators,
  5. Avoid theorists ;)

Obviously the cuprates are a knock against all of those, except the bit about theorists. But this should serve as a warning. There are some aspects of superconductivity that are very well understood, but trying to predict its presence or absence in a given material is not a productive activity.

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