# Superconductivity in the $\eta$-carbide-type oxides Zr4Rh2Ox

## TL;DR

This study reports the synthesis of Zr4Rh2Ox compounds with an η-carbide structure, demonstrating their superconductivity at low temperatures and highlighting the structure's stability and potential for exploring interstitial doping effects.

## Contribution

It is the first to show superconductivity in Zr4Rh2Ox η-carbide compounds and details their structural stability and superconducting properties.

## Key findings

- Zr4Rh2O0.7 and Zr4Rh2O are bulk superconductors.
- Critical temperatures are approximately 2.8 K and 4.7 K.
- Both compounds are strongly type-II superconductors.

## Abstract

We report on the synthesis and the superconductivity of Zr$_4$Rh$_2$O$_{x}$ ($x$ = 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 1.0). These compounds crystallize in the $\eta$-carbide structure, which is a filled version of the complex intermetallic Ti$_2$Ni structure. We find that in the system Zr$_4$Rh$_2$O$_{x}$, already a small amount ($x$ $\geq$ 0.4) of oxygen addition stabilizes the $\eta$-carbide structure over the more common intermetallic CuAl$_2$ structure-type, in which Zr$_2$Rh crystallizes. We show that Zr$_4$Rh$_2$O$_{0.7}$ and Zr$_4$Rh$_2$O are bulk superconductors with critical temperatures of $T_c \approx$ 2.8 K and 4.7 K in the resistivity, respectively. Our analysis of the superconducting properties reveal both compounds to be strongly type-II superconductors with critical fields up to $\mu_0 H_{c1}$(0) $\approx$ 8.8 mT and $\mu_0 H_{c2}$(0) $\approx$ 6.08 T. Our results support that the $\eta$-carbides are a versatile family of compounds for the investigation of the interplay of interstitial doping on physical properties, especially for superconductivity.