Session T23: Focus Session: Search for New Superconductors III: Reduced Dimensionality

2:30 PM–5:30 PM, Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Room: D165

Sponsoring Unit: DMP
Chair: Ray Baughman, University of Texas at Dallas

Abstract ID: BAPS.2011.MAR.T23.7

Abstract: T23.00007 : Search for new superconductors in the La-Si-C system

4:06 PM–4:18 PM

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Authors:

  Jose De la Venta
    (University of California, San Diego)

  Ali C. Basaran
    (University of California, San Diego)

  Ted Grant
    (University of California, Irvine)

  Antonio Jefferson S. Machado
    (University of California, Irvine)

  Zachary Fisk
    (University of California, Irvine)

  Ivan K. Schuller
    (University of California, San Diego)

We have searched for the presence of superconductivity in the La-Si-C system in bulk and thin film samples. This system has some of the common features that are present in high T$_{C}$ superconducting materials. It is a multi-element compound and also incorporates a light element, Carbon. Furthermore, one of the binary phases, La$_{5}$Si$_{3}$ exhibits a tetragonal layered structure. This system exhibits the presence of a possible new superconducting compound with T$_{C}$'s ranging from 6.1 K to 8.5 K. In the binary La-Si system there are five inter-metallic phases. Among these phases, those that exhibit superconductivity are: LaSi$_{2}$ with T$_{C}$ of 2.3 K, La$_{3}$Si$_{2}$ with a T$_{C}$ of 2.1 K and La$_{5}$Si$_{3}$ with a T$_{C}$ of 1.6 K. A careful analysis of several physical properties (SQUID, Modulated Microwave Absorption) and x-ray powder diffraction, (using Rietveld refinement) shows that superconductivity in this system could be ascribed to intermediate binary (La$_{2}$C$_{3})$ and single (La-\textit{$\beta $}) phases of the system.

To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2011.MAR.T23.7