Valence and Na content dependences of superconductivity in NaxCoO2.yH2O

Abstract

Various samples of sodium cobalt oxyhydrate with relatively large amounts of Na${}^{+}$ ions were synthesized by a modified soft-chemical process in which a NaOH aqueous solution was added in the final step of the procedure. From these samples, a superconducting phase diagram was determined for a section of a cobalt valence of $\sim$+3.48, which was compared with a previously obtained one of $\sim$+3.40. The superconductivity was significantly affected by the isovalent exchanger of Na${}^{+}$ and H${}_3$O${}^{+}$, rather than by variation of Co valence, suggesting the presence of multiple kinds of Fermi surface. Furthermore, the high-field magnetic susceptibility measurements for one sample up to 30 T indicated an upper critical field much higher than the Pauli limit supporting the validity of the spin-triplet pairing mechanism.

4 figures and 1 table