Superconductivity in novel Ge-based skutterudites: {Sr,Ba}Pt_4Ge_{12}

TL;DR

This study reports the discovery of superconductivity in novel Ge-based skutterudites SrPt_4Ge_{12} and BaPt_4Ge_{12}, where electron-phonon interactions within the Ge framework lead to superconductivity below approximately 5.1-5.4 K.

Contribution

The paper introduces a new class of superconducting skutterudites stabilized by Sr or Ba atoms within a Ge framework, combining experimental and ab initio methods.

Findings

Superconducting transition temperatures of 5.35 K for BaPt_4Ge_{12} and 5.10 K for SrPt_4Ge_{12}

Superconductivity driven by electron-phonon coupling in the Ge framework

Ge-p states dominate the electronic structure at the Fermi level

Abstract

Combining experiments and ab initio models we report on $\rm SrPt_4Ge_{12}$ and $\rm BaPt_4Ge_{12}$ as members of a novel class of superconducting skutterudites, where Sr or Ba atoms stabilize a framework entirely formed by Ge-atoms. Below $T_c=5.35$ K, and 5.10 K for $\rm BaPt_4Ge_{12}$ and $\rm SrPt_4Ge_{12}$, respectively, electron-phonon coupled superconductivity emerges, ascribed to intrinsic features of the Pt-Ge framework, where Ge-$p$ states dominate the electronic structure at the Fermi energy.