Abstract
A microscopic model is presented for the structure and superconductivity of AxT1+yC2 compounds, where A is a monovalent atom or radical, T is an even-valence transition metal, C is a chalcogenide, and the parameters x and y lie in the ranges 0.1<x0.3, 0<~y0.5. The model explains why the maximum superconducting transition temperature TSmax is higher than 12°K in bridge compounds with y=0.1, although the maximum value of TS observed in related layer compounds with y=0.0 is about 6°K.