The effect of strain and pressure on the electron-phonon coupling and superconductivity in MgB2—Benchmark of theoretical methodologies and outlook for nanostructure design

Different theoretical methodologies are employed to investigate the effect of hydrostatic pressure and anisotropic stress strain on superconducting transition temperature ( Tc) MgB2. This is done both by studying Kohn anomalies in phonon dispersions alone explicit calculation electron–phonon coupling. It found that increasing suppresses Tc all cases, whereas isotropic enhances superconductivity. In contrast trialed epitaxial growth limited amount achievable lattice strain, we propose a different path co-deposition with ternary diborides thermodynamically avoid mixing suggested promote columnar can introduce directions.