Discovery of a Superconducting Cu–Bi Intermetallic Compound by High‐Pressure Synthesis |
| |
| Authors: | Samantha M. Clarke Dr. James P. S. Walsh Dr. Maximilian Amsler Dr. Christos D. Malliakas Dr. Tony Yu Prof. Stefan Goedecker Dr. Yanbin Wang Prof. Chris Wolverton Prof. Danna E. Freedman |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, IL, 60208, USA;2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA;3. Center for Advanced Radiation Sources, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA;4. Department of Physics, Universit?t Basel, Basel, Switzerland |
| |
| Abstract: | A new intermetallic compound, the first to be structurally identified in the Cu?Bi binary system, is reported. This compound is accessed by high‐pressure reaction of the elements. Its detailed characterization, physical property measurements, and ab initio calculations are described. The commensurate crystal structure of Cu11Bi7 is a unique variation of the NiAs structure type. Temperature‐dependent electrical resistivity and heat capacity measurements reveal a bulk superconducting transition at Tc=1.36 K. Density functional theory calculations further demonstrate that Cu11Bi7 can be stabilized (relative to decomposition into the elements) at high pressure and temperature. These results highlight the ability of high‐pressure syntheses to allow for inroads into heretofore‐undiscovered intermetallic systems for which no thermodynamically stable binaries are known. |
| |
| Keywords: | bismuth copper high-pressure synthesis intermetallics superconductivity |
|
|
