The suppression of superconductivity in Mn substituted MgCNi$_{3}$

TL;DR

This study investigates how doping Mn into MgCNi3 affects its superconductivity, revealing that Mn introduces localized magnetic moments and Kondo effects, leading to rapid suppression of superconductivity due to pair breaking.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the impact of Mn doping on superconductivity in MgCNi3, highlighting the role of magnetic moments and Kondo effects in suppressing superconductivity.

Findings

Mn doping induces localized magnetic moments and Kondo effects.

Superconductivity is rapidly suppressed with Mn doping (~ -21K/at.% Mn).

Pair breaking effects due to magnetic moments cause suppression.

Abstract

We report the effect of doping Mn in the isostructural MgCNi$_{3-x}$Mn$_{x}$ (x = 0-0.05) compounds. Magnetic susceptibility, resistivity, magneto-resistance, and specific heat studies show evidence of localized moments and Kondo effect in samples with x$\neq$0. The rapid suppression of superconductivity ($\sim$ -21K/at.% Mn) in these compounds is a consequence of pair breaking effects due to moment formation on Mn.