While iron-based and nickel-based [1] materials exhibit unconventional superconductivity with some similarities to cuprates, the latter still hold the record for ambient-conditions superconducting Tc. I will argue that mimicking cuprates requires a better partner matching between metal and ligand. I will discuss two such marriages that appear to be on the right track to match and even surpass cuprates. In particular, I review experimental and theoretical evidence showing that silver fluorides [2] can realize a spin‑1/2, charge‑transfer antiferromagnetic state with dd and charge‑transfer excitations strikingly similar to cuprates, as recently confirmed with resonant inelastic x-ray scattering[3]. We will show predictions of the possible maximum Tc attainable in this system by doping and strain engineering, and show that it can surpass cuprates. I then introduce ternary nickel hydrides MNiH2 (M=Li, Na), where theoretical work shows that reduced charge‑transfer energy, large bandwidths, and intrinsic self‑doping produce robust magnetism and cuprate‑like dx2−y2 pairing tendencies. Together, these systems define a broader materials platform to explore high‑temperature superconductivity beyond copper.

Work done in collaboration with M. Domański, W. Grochala, M. Moretti Sala, L. Di Gaspare, M. De Seta, P. Barone, G. Ghiringhelli, and authors of Refs [2-4].

[1]Danfeng Li et al, Nature 572, 624 (2019).
[2]J. Gawraczyński, et al. PNAS 116, 1495 (2019).
[3] Evaluating covalency using RIXS spectral weights: Silver fluorides vs. cuprates, I. Degtev, D. Jezierski, A. Gómez Pueyo, L. Di Gaspare, M. De Seta, P. Barone, G. Ghiringhelli, P. Glatzel, Z. Mazej, W. Grochala, M. Moretti Sala, J. Lorenzana, arXiv:2512.10219
[4] M. Domański et al, Phys. Rev. B 111, 165137 (2025).