Soft-mode enhanced type-I superconductivity in <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:mi>LiP</mml:mi><mml:msub><mml:mi mathvariant="normal">d</mml:mi><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msub><mml:mi>Ge</mml:mi></mml:mrow></mml:math>

Abstract

Although Heusler compounds were discovered more than 100 years ago, research in this family of materials continues to reveal remarkable phenomena. Here, the authors describe a solid-state synthesis method for making LiPd${}_{2}M$ ($M$=Si, Ge, Sn) and report superconductivity in LiPd${}_{2}$Ge with ${T}_{c}$=1.96 K. LiPd${}_{2}$Ge appears to be the first example of type-I superconductivity among Heusler compounds. Theoretical calculations reveal the presence of soft modes that enhance the electron-phonon coupling and can be responsible for the observed superconductivity.

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