Abstract
Theoretical calculations about LiPdH predict that it may be a superconductor. Using the high-pressure synthesis technique up to 3 GPa, we have successfully fabricated the LiPdH compound. The sample looks quite pure judging from the refinement of the X-ray diffraction pattern. However, no superconductivity has been detected down to about 2 K. The specific heat measurement shows a small Sommerfeld constant
= 1.22 mJ mol
K
, which is a bit smaller than the theoretically predicted value. The magnetic susceptibility measured at 1 Tesla reveals a Curie–Weiss law behaviour in the low-temperature region with an estimate of the magnetic moment of 0.08
/Pd. The temperature dependence of resistivity has also been measured up to 25.2 GPa, but superconductivity is still not observed above 2 K. The large residual resistivity and small residual-resistivity ratio suggest that the quasiparticle scattering by impurities is quite strong, which might be induced by the hydrogen deficiency, and intimately hinders the occurrence of superconductivity in LiPdH
.
Notes
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.