Superconductivity of some transition metal compounds

Single crystals of niobium carbonitride were made by zone melting growth methods and single crystals of γ-NbN and δ-NbN by zone annealing crystal growth. The crystals are nonstoichiometric in contrast to the niobium carbonitride or niobium nitride prepared in reaction with nitrogen gas and niobium-niobium carbide mixtures and niobium metal, respectively. The transition temperature for superconductivity (T_c) decreases with increasing deviation from stoichiometry, and a determination of T_c is a nondestructive determination of this deviation. An instrument using the Wheatstone bridge principle is described and T_c values are listed for some nonstoichiometric single crystals of niobium carbonitride and niobium nitride.