Superconductivity from doping boron icosahedra

Abstract

We propose a new route to achieve the superconducting state in Boron-rich solids, the hole doping of B$_{12}$ icosahedra. For this purpose we consider a prototype metallic phase of B$_{13}$C$_2$. We show that in this compound the Boron icosahedral units are mainly responsible for the large phonon frequencies logarithmic average, 65.8 meV, and the moderate electron-phonon coupling 0.8. We suggest that this high critical temperature could be a general feature of hole doped boron icosahedral solids.