Superconductivity at 9K in Mo5PB2 with evidence for multiple gaps

Abstract

Superconductivity is observed with critical temperatures near 9K in the tetragonal compound Mo5PB2. This material adopts the Cr5B3 structure type common to supercondcuting Nb5Si3-xBx, Mo5SiB2, and W5SiB2, which have critical temperatures of 5.8-7.8 K. We have synthesized polycrystalline samples of the compound, made measurements of electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, and heat capacity, and performed first principles electronic structure calculations. The highest Tc value (9.2 K) occurs in slightly phosphorus rich samples, with composition near Mo5P1.1B1.9, and the upper critical field Hc2 at T = 0 is estimated to be about 17 kOe. Together, the measurements and band structure calculations indicate intermediate coupling (lambda = 1.0), phonon mediated superconductivity. The temperature dependence of the heat capacity and upper critical field Hc2 below Tc suggest multiple superconducting gaps may be present.

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Cited by in corpus (5)

• Multigap superconductivity in the Mo${}_5$PB${}_2$ boron-phosphorus compound
• Strong-Coupling Superconductivity with $T_c$ $\sim$ 10.8 K Induced by P Doping in the Topological Semimetal Mo${}_5$Si${}_3$
• Type-II superconductivity in W5Si3-type Nb5Sn2Al
• Fully-gapped superconducting state in interstitial-carbon-doped Zr5Pt3
• Structural transition and possible pressure-induced superconductivity in a suboxide La${}_5$Pb${}_3$O