Mean field superconductivity approach in two dimensions: Hydrogen in Graphite

Abstract

Within the BCS theory of superconductivity we calculate the superconducting gap at zero temperature for metallic hydrogen-graphene system in order to estimate the superconducting critical temperature of quasi two dimensional highly oriented pyrolytic graphite. The obtained results are given as a function of the hydrogen-induced density of carriers $n$ and their effective mass $m^{\star }$. The obtained gap shows a Maxwell-like distribution with a maximum of $\sim 60$K at $n\sim 3\times 10^{14}$cm${}^{-2}$ and $m^{\star }/m=1$. The theoretical results are discussed taking into account recent experimental evidence for granular superconductivity in graphite.

5 pages and three figures