2001/02/14 by J. S. Slusky, Joanna S.G. Slusky, Slusky, J. S. +25
Materials Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Boron and Carbon Nanomaterials Research #FOS: Physical sciences #Iron-based superconductors research #Superconductivity (cond-mat.supr-con) #Superconductivity in MgB2 and Alloys #cond-mat.supr-con
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.cond-mat/0102262
4 pages, 3 figures
arxiv created 2001/02/14 · openalex publication_date 2001/02/14 · arxiv updated 2009/11/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The basic magnetic and electronic properties of most binary compounds have been well known for decades. Therefore the recent announcement of superconductivity at 39 K in the simple binary ceramic compound MgB2 is surprising. This compound, available from common chemical suppliers, and used as a starting material for chemical metathesis reactions, has been known and structurally characterized since the mid 1950's. Here we show that the addition of electrons to MgB2 through partial substitution of Al for Mg results in the loss of superconductivity. Associated with the Al substitution is a subtle but distinct structural transition, reflected in the partial collapse of the spacing between boron layers near 10% Al content. This indicates that superconducting MgB2 is poised very near a structural instability at slightly higher electron concentrations.