Electronic structures, hole-doping, and superconductivity of the s = 1, 2, 3, and 4 members of the (Cu,Mo)-12s2 homologous series of superconductive copper oxides.

We demonstrate that the T(c) value of superconductive copper oxides does not depend on the distance between two adjacent CuO(2) planes as long as the hole-doping level and the immediate (crystal) chemical surroundings of the planes are kept the same. Experimental evidence is accomplished for the homologous series of (Cu,Mo)-12s2, the member phases of which differ from each other by the number (s) of cation layers in the fluorite-structured (Ce,Y)-[O(2)-(Ce,Y)](s-1) block between the CuO(2) planes. X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy is employed as a probe for the hole states of these phases. The s = 1 member appears to be more strongly doped with holes than other phases of the series and accordingly to possess the highest T(c) value of 87 K. For s > or = 2, unexpectedly, both the CuO(2) plane hole concentration and the value of T(c) (approximately 55 K) remain constant, being independent of s.