Superconductivity in self-flux-synthesized single crystalline R_2Pt_3Ge_5(R=La,Ce,Pr)

In order to study the basic superconductivity properties of R_2Pt_3Ge_5, we synthesized the single crystalline samples by the Pt–Ge self-flux method. R_2Pt_3Ge_5(R = La, Ce) were also grown for a systematic study. Zero-resistivity was observed in both the La-and Pr-based samples below the reported superconducting transition temperatures. However, magnetic susceptibility measurements showed low superconductivity volume fractions in both La_2Pt_3Ge_5 and R_2Pt_3Ge_5(less than2%). Ce_2Pt_3Ge_5 did not show any signature of superconductivity. From the specific heat measurements, we did not observe a superconducting transition peak in R_2Pt_3Ge_5, suggesting that it is not a bulk superconductor. The magnetic susceptibility and heat capacity measurements revealed two antiferromagnetic(AFM) orders in R_2Pt_3Ge_5 at T_(N1)= 4.2 K and T_(N2)= 3.5K, as well as a single AFM transition at TN= 3.8 K in Ce_2Pt_3Ge_5.