Remarkable class of materials: Band structures and optical properties of non-superconducting and superconducting MAX phases

Abstract

The MAX phases, due to their nanolaminated crystal structure, are found to be exciting materials which combine certain best attributes of metals (good electrical and thermal conductivity, low hardness, machinability, damage tolerance and thermal shock resistance) with those of ceramics (high temperature strength, high elastic moduli, oxidation and corrosion resistance). Over 70 MAX phases are in existence, amongst which there are eight low-temperature superconductors. Thus a vast majority of the MAX phases are not superconductors. In the present review, emphasis will be made on the theoretical works conducted in recent years in our laboratory to understand the band structure and optical properties of several non-superconducting (particularly Zr-metal based phases) and the available superconducting MAX phases.