Development of novel superconductivity with higherTcvia the suppression of magnetism in quasi-two-dimensional electrideY2Cunder high pressures.

Discovery of superconductivity in electride materials has been a topic of interest as their intrinsic electron-rich properties might suggest a considerable electron-phonon interaction. LayeredY2Cis a ferromagnetic quasi-two-dimensional electride with polarized anionic electrons confined in the interlayer space. In this theoretical study, we reportY2Cundergoes a series of structural phase transitions into two superconducting phases with estimatedTcof 9.2 and 21.0 K at 19 and 80 GPa, respectively, via the suppression of magnetism. Our extensive first-principles swarm structure searches identify that these two high-pressure superconducting phases possess an orthorhombicand a tetragonal4structures, respectively, where thephase is found to be a one-dimensional electride characterized by electron confinements in channel spaces of the crystal lattice, while the electride property in4phase has been completely destroyed. We attribute the development of an unprecedentedly highTcsuperconductivity in Y-C system to the destructions of magnetism and the delocalization of interlayered anionic electrons under pressures. This work provides a unique example of pressure-induced collapse of magnetism at the onset of superconductivity in electride materials, along with the dramatic changes of electron-confinement topology in crystal lattices.