Superconductivity in CaSn3 single crystals with a AuCu3-type structure. Issue 43 (12th October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Luo, X.; Shao, D. F.; Pei, Q. L.; Song, J. Y.; Hu, L.; Han, Y. Y.; Zhu, X. B.; Song, W. H.; Lu, W. J.; Sun, Y. P.
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 3:Issue 43(2015)
• Page Start: 11432
• Page End: 11438
• Publication Date: 2015-10-12
• Subjects: Materials -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Optical materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Electronics -- Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/c5tc02373d
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7526

Abstract

Abstract : We report the superconductivity of CaSn3 single crystals with a AuCu3 -type structure, namely cubic space group Pm 3̄ m . Abstract : We report the superconductivity of CaSn3 single crystals with a AuCu3 -type structure, namely cubic space group Pm 3̄ m . The superconducting transition temperature T C = 4.2 K is determined by the magnetic susceptibility, electrical resistivity, and heat capacity measurements. The magnetization versus magnetic field ( M – H ) curve at low temperatures shows a typical-II superconducting behavior. The estimated lower and upper critical fields are about 125 Oe and 1.79 T, respectively. The penetration depth λ (0) and coherence length ξ (0) are calculated to be approximately 1147 nm and 136 nm by the Ginzburg–Landau equations. The estimated Sommerfeld coefficient of the normal state γ N is about 2.9 mJ mol −1 K −2 . Δ C / γ N T C = 1.13 and λ ep = 0.65 suggest that the CaSn3 single crystal is a weakly coupled superconductor. Electronic band structure calculations show a complex multi-sheet Fermi surface formed by three bands and a low density of states (DOSs) at the Fermi level, which is consistent with the experimental results. Based on the analysis of electron–phonon coupling of AX3 compounds (A = Ca, La, and Y; X = Sn and Pb), we theoretically proposed a way to increase T C in the system.