Synthesis and Superconducting Properties of a Hexagonal Phosphide ScRhP

TL;DR

This paper reports the synthesis and characterization of the ternary phosphide ScRhP, which exhibits bulk superconductivity at 2 K, with detailed structural and electronic property analysis.

Contribution

The study presents the first synthesis and superconducting property analysis of the hexagonal phosphide ScRhP, expanding understanding of ternary phosphides with superconducting behavior.

Findings

ScRhP is a bulk superconductor with Tc of 2 K.

ScRhP has a larger electronic density of states at the Fermi level than ScIrP.

ScRhP exhibits a higher Debye temperature compared to ScIrP.

Abstract

We report the synthesis and superconducting properties of the ternary phosphide ScRhP. The crystal structure of ScRhP is determined to be the ordered Fe2P type with the hexagonal P-62m space group by powder X-ray diffraction experiments. Resistivity, magnetization, and heat capacity data indicate that ScRhP is a bulk superconductor with a transition temperature Tc of 2 K. This Tc is lower than that of its 5d analogue, ScIrP (Tc = 3.4 K), although ScRhP is found to have larger electronic density of states at the Fermi energy and a higher Debye temperature than those of ScIrP.