Superconductivity in CaBi2

Superconductivity is observed with critical temperature Tc = 2.0 K in self-flux-grown single crystals of CaBi2. This material adopts the ZrSi2 structure type with lattice parameters a = 4.696(1) Å, b = 17.081(2) Å and c = 4.611(1) Å. The crystals of CaBi2 were studied by means of magnetic susceptibi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP 2016-08, Vol.18 (31), p.21737-21745
Main Authors: Winiarski, M J, Wiendlocha, B, Gołąb, S, Kushwaha, S K, Wiśniewski, P, Kaczorowski, D, Thompson, J D, Cava, R J, Klimczuk, T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Coupling
Crystal lattices
Crystal structure
Debye temperature
Electronics
Specific heat
Superconductivity
Superconductors
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Summary:Superconductivity is observed with critical temperature Tc = 2.0 K in self-flux-grown single crystals of CaBi2. This material adopts the ZrSi2 structure type with lattice parameters a = 4.696(1) Å, b = 17.081(2) Å and c = 4.611(1) Å. The crystals of CaBi2 were studied by means of magnetic susceptibility, specific heat and electrical resistivity measurements. The heat capacity jump at Tc is ΔC/γTc = 1.41, confirming bulk superconductivity; the Sommerfeld coefficient γ = 4.1 mJ mol(-1) K(-2) and the Debye temperature ΘD = 157 K. The electron-phonon coupling strength is λel-ph = 0.59, and the thermodynamic critical field Hc is low, between 111 and 124 Oe CaBi2 is a moderate coupling type-I superconductor. Results of electronic structure calculations are reported and charge densities, electronic bands, densities of states and Fermi surfaces are discussed, focusing on the effects of spin-orbit coupling and electronic property anisotropy. We find a mixed quasi-2D + 3D character in the electronic structure, which reflects the layered crystal structure of the material.
ISSN:1463-9076
1463-9084
DOI:10.1039/c6cp02856j