Rattling-enhanced superconductivity in MV2Al20(M=Sc,Lu,Y) intermetallic cage compounds

M. J. Winiarski; B. Wiendlocha; M. Sternik; P. Wiśniewski; J. R. O’Brien; D. Kaczorowski; T. Klimczuk

doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.93.134507

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Rattling-enhanced superconductivity in MV2Al20(M=Sc,Lu,Y) intermetallic cage compounds

M. J. Winiarski, B. Wiendlocha, M. Sternik, P. Wiśniewski, J. R. O’Brien, D. Kaczorowski, T. Klimczuk

DOI 10.1103/PhysRevB.93.134507 · Physical Review B

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Abstract

Polycrystalline samples of four intermetallic compounds: MV2Al20 (M=Sc, Y, La, and Lu) were synthesized using an arc-melting technique. The crystal structures were analyzed by means of powder x-ray diffraction and Rietveld analysis, and the physical properties were studied by means of heat capacity, electrical resistivity, and magnetic susceptibility measurements down to 0.4 K. For ScV2Al20, LuV2Al20, and YV2Al20, superconductivity was observed with critical temperatures Tc=1.00, 0.57, and 0.60 K, respectively. Superconductivity for the Lu compound is reported. Theoretical calculations of the electronic and phonon structures were conducted in order to analyze the superconductivity and dynamics in ScV2Al20, YV2Al20, and LuV2Al20 and to explain the lack of a superconducting transition in LaV2Al20 down to 0.4 K. The results of the experimental and theoretical studies show that all the compounds are weakly coupled type-II BCS superconductors, and reveal the importance of the M-atom anharmonic “rattling” modes for the superconductivity in these materials, which seem to enhance Tc, especially for ScV2Al20.

Source-reported materials — not catalogue approval

Formula	Reported Tc (K)	Pressure (GPa)	Type
ScV2Al20 Archive — visibility unverified Source-occurrence policy only; no material identity or catalogue acceptance is inferred from the formula.	1	Pressure not reported	onset
YV2Al20 Archive — visibility unverified Source-occurrence policy only; no material identity or catalogue acceptance is inferred from the formula.	0.6	Pressure not reported	onset
LuV2Al20 Archive — visibility unverified Source-occurrence policy only; no material identity or catalogue acceptance is inferred from the formula.	0.58	Pressure not reported	onset
ScV2Al20 Archive — visibility unverified Source-occurrence policy only; no material identity or catalogue acceptance is inferred from the formula.	1	Pressure not reported	unknown
LuV2Al20 Archive — visibility unverified Source-occurrence policy only; no material identity or catalogue acceptance is inferred from the formula.	0.57	Pressure not reported	unknown
YV2Al20 Archive — visibility unverified Source-occurrence policy only; no material identity or catalogue acceptance is inferred from the formula.	0.6	Pressure not reported	unknown
KOs2O6 Archive — visibility unverified Source-occurrence policy only; no material identity or catalogue acceptance is inferred from the formula.	9.6	Pressure not reported	unknown
RbOs2O6 Archive — visibility unverified Source-occurrence policy only; no material identity or catalogue acceptance is inferred from the formula.	6.4	Pressure not reported	unknown
CsOs2O6 Archive — visibility unverified Source-occurrence policy only; no material identity or catalogue acceptance is inferred from the formula.	3.25	Pressure not reported	unknown
ZrB12 Archive — visibility unverified Source-occurrence policy only; no material identity or catalogue acceptance is inferred from the formula.	6	Pressure not reported	unknown
LuB12 Archive — visibility unverified Source-occurrence policy only; no material identity or catalogue acceptance is inferred from the formula.	0.44	Pressure not reported	unknown