Electronic structure of the new high-Tc superconductors Tl2Ba2CuO6, Tl2Ba2CaCu2 O8, Tl2Ba2Ca2 Cu3O10, and Tl2Ba2Ca3 Cu4O12

We discuss the electronic structure of the first four members of the high-Tc superconductor family Tl2Ba2CaL-1CuLO4+2L, where L is the number of CuO2 layers. Using a simplified BCS-type model, we relate Tc to L using the partial density of states of the CuO2 layers as the physical link. According to our model, the pure phase of Tl2Ba2Ca3 Cu4O12 (L=4) would have a value of Tc in the range 135 to 165 K. © 1988 The American Physical Society.