Supercondutivity at 9K in Mo 5 PB 2 with evidence for multiple gaps
Superconductivity is observed with critical temperatures near 9 K in the tetragonal compound Mo 5 PB 2 . This material adopts the Cr 5 B 3 structure type common to superconducting Nb 5 Si 3–x Bx, Mo 5 SiB 2 , and W 5 SiB 2 , which have critical temperatures of 5.8–7.8 K. We have synthesized polycrystalline samples of the compound, made measurements of electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, and heat capacity, and performed first-principles electronic structure calculations. The highest T c value (9.2 K) occurs in slightly phosphorus rich samples, with composition near Mo 5 P 1.1 B 1.9 , and the upper critical field H c2 at T = 0 is estimated to be ≈17 kOe. Together, the measurements and band-structure calculations indicate intermediate coupling (λ=1.0), phonon mediated superconductivity. Here, the temperature dependence of the heat capacity and upper critical field H c2 below T c suggest multiple superconducting gaps may be present.