Superconductivity of cerium at quasihydrostatic pressure up to 54 GPa

Abstract

Cerium is a fascinating element due to its diverse physical properties, which include forming various crystal structures (γ, α, α′, α′′, and ε), mixed valence behavior, and superconductivity, making it an ideal platform for investigating the interplay between different electronic states. Here, we present a comprehensive transport study of cerium under quasihydrostatic pressures up to 54 GPa. Upon applying pressure, cerium undergoes the α→α′′ transition at around 4.9 GPa, which is accompanied by the appearance of superconductivity with Tc of 0.4 K, and Tc slightly increases to 0.5 K at 11.4 GPa. At 14.3 GPa, Tc suddenly increases when the α′′ phase transforms into the ε phase, reaching a maximum value of 1.25 K at around 17.2 GPa. Upon further increasing the pressure, Tc monotonically decreases. Together with the results of previous studies, our findings suggest that the evolution of superconductivity in cerium is closely correlated with the multiple pressure-induced structural transitions and corresponding unusual electronic structures.

Source-reported materials — not catalogue approval

Similar papers