Superconductivity at 7.8 K in the ternary LaRu2As2 compound

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of superconductivity at 7.8 K in the ternary compound LaRu2As2, with detailed structural, resistivity, and magnetic measurements confirming its superconducting nature.

Contribution

It is the first report of superconductivity in LaRu2As2, including synthesis, structural analysis, and characterization of its superconducting properties.

Findings

Superconducting transition at 7.8 K observed in resistivity.

LaRu2As2 is a type-II superconductor with an upper critical field of 1.6 T.

Bulk superconductivity confirmed by Meissner effect at 7.0 K.

Abstract

Here we report the discovery of superconductivity in the ternary LaRu2As2 compound. The polycrystalline LaRu2As2 samples were synthesized by the conventional solid state reaction method. Powder X-ray diffraction analysis indicates that LaRu2As2 crystallizes in the ThCr2Si2-type crystal structure with the space group I4/mmm (No. 139), and the refined lattice parameters are a = 4.182(6) {\AA} and c = 10.590(3) {\AA}. The temperature dependent resistivity measurement shows a clear superconducting transition with the onset Tc (critical temperature) at 7.8 K, and zero resistivity happens at 6.8 K. The upper critical field at zero temperature m0Hc2(0) was estimated to be 1.6 T from the resistivity measurement. DC magnetic susceptibility measurement shows a bulk superconducting Meissner transition at 7.0 K, and the isothermal magnetization measurement indicates that LaRu2As2 is a type-II superconductor.