Superconductivity in High-Entropy Antimonide M_1-PtSb (M = Equimolar Ru, Rh, Pd, and Ir)

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Solid State Chemistry

Background:

• The high-entropy concept, typically applied to alloys, is explored for synthesizing complex inorganic compounds.
• Transition-metal antimonides are investigated for their potential functional properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize high-entropy transition-metal antimonides (M$_{1-x}$Pt$_x$Sb).
• To investigate the phase behavior and superconducting properties of these novel materials.

Main Methods:

• Conventional solid-state reaction and quenching techniques were employed for synthesis.
• X-ray diffraction, electrical resistivity, magnetization, and heat capacity measurements were used for characterization.

Main Results:

• High-entropy antimonide samples (M = Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir) were successfully synthesized with a pseudo-hexagonal NiAs-type structure.
• A reversible, entropy-driven phase transition between multiphase and single-phase solid solutions was observed.
• Bulk superconductivity was detected in single-phase M$_{1-x}$Pt$_x$Sb (x = 0.2) samples at a transition temperature of 2.15(2) K.

Conclusions:

• The high-entropy concept is a viable strategy for designing new functional materials.
• This work demonstrates the potential for discovering novel superconductors through high-entropy material design.