Abstract
Copper oxide compounds have dominated superconductivity research since 1986 because of their very high transition temperatures (Tcs). In contrast, no new families of high-Tc intermetallic compounds have been discovered since the A15-type Nb3X compounds were first reported in 19531. The intermetallies with highest Jcs have all been based on niobium, with the highest Tcs being 20.7 K for bulk Nb3Ga and 23.2 K for sputtered films of Nb3Ge (refs 2, 3). Here we report the observation of superconductivity at 23 K in a multiple-phase bulk sample of a quaternary intermetallic, yttrium palladium boride carbide. This is higher than any Tc reported previously for a bulk intermetallic compound. Although the materials are not yet single-phase, the superconducting volume fraction is large. We propose that this compound may represent the first of a new family of superconducting intermetallics with relatively high T cs.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 146-148 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Nature |
Volume | 367 |
Issue number | 6459 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1994 |
Externally published | Yes |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- General