Electron pairing in designer materials: a novel strategy for a negative effective Hubbard U.

We propose a set of design rules with a model Hamiltonian that allows electrons to form attracting pairs through the exploitation of a new combination of resonant band alignment and Coulombic repulsion. The pair bands and single particle bands in various lattices are calculated and compared in energy, and regions of net attraction are identified. This work provides guidelines for the construction of molecular systems, nanocrystals, and nanoparticle arrays with the potential for superconductivity.