Electronic-structure effects in the suppression of superconductivity in hydrogenated Zr{sub 2}Rh

Journal Article · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.53.12299· OSTI ID:371287

Salunke, H G; Das, G P ^[1]; Raj, P; Shashikala, K; Sathyamoorthy, A ^[2]; Dhar, S K ^[3]

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1. Solid State Physics Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Bombay 400085 (India)
2. Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Bombay 400085 (India)
3. Solid State Physics Group, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay 400005 (India)

The observed suppression of superconductivity on hydrogenation of the {ital C}16-structured intermetallic compound Zr{sub 2}Rh is explained qualitatively on the basis of the relationship between the electronic density of states at the Fermi level, the electron-phonon coupling constant, and {ital T}{sub {ital c}}. The density of states at the Fermi level obtained from our local density electronic structure calculations has been compared with that estimated from low-temperature specific heat data. In pure Zr{sub 2}Rh, a relatively large superconducting transition temperature ({ital T}{sub {ital c}}{approximately}11 K) arises due to the Fermi level lying at the peak of the density of states, while in case of hydrogenated Zr{sub 2}Rh the lowering of {ital T}{sub {ital c}} can be ascribed to the filling of bands and the shifting of the Fermi level either to a valley of the density of states (as in case of Zr{sub 2}RhH{sub 2}) or to a broad hump in the density of states (as in case of Zr{sub 2}RhH{sub 4}). {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}

• OSTI ID: 371287
• Journal Information: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter, Journal Name: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter Journal Issue: 18 Vol. 53; ISSN PRBMDO; ISSN 0163-1829
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE
ENERGY-LEVEL DENSITY
FERMI LEVEL
HYDRIDES
INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
RHODIUM ALLOYS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY
ZIRCONIUM BASE ALLOYS