Tuning of superconductivity by Ni substitution into noncentrosymmetric ThCo1-xNixC2

Author(s)

Grant, T. W. ; Cigarroa, O. V. ; Rosa, P. F. S. ; Machado, A. J. S. ; Fisk, Z.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PHYSICAL REVIEW B; v. 96, n. 1, p. 7-pg., 2017-07-10.

Abstract

The recently discovered noncentrosymmetric superconductor ThCoC2 was observed to show unusual superconducting behavior with a critical temperature of T-c = 2.65 K. Here we investigate the effect of nickel substitution on the superconducting state in ThCo1-x NixC2. Magnetization, resistivity, and heat capacity measurements demonstrate Ni substitution has a dramatic effect with critical temperature increased up to T-c = 12.1 K for x = 0.4 Ni concentration, which is a rather high transition temperature for a noncentrosymmetric superconductor. In addition, the unusual superconducting characteristics observed in pure ThCoC2 appear to be suppressed or tuned with Ni substitution towards a more conventional fully gapped superconductor. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/25241-3 - Investigation of new superconductors with multiband behavior in transition metal diborides.
• Grantee: Ted William Grant
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral