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High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are a class of multi-element materials that exhibit unique structural and functional properties. This study reports on the synthesis and characterization of a superconducting HEA, (NbTa)0.55(HfTiZr)0.45 fabricated using the vacuum arc melting technique. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy were employed to analyze the material's morphology and composition. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed a single-phase body-centered cubic (BCC) structure with a measured nanoindentation hardness of 6.4 GPa and Young's modulus of 132 GPa. This HEA superconductor was investigated by x-ray diffraction at Beamline 13BM-C, Advanced Photon Source, and the BCC phase was stable to the highest pressure of 50 GPa. Superconductivity was characterized by four-probe resistivity measurements in a quantum design physical property measurement system, yielding a superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of 7.2 K at ambient pressure and reaching a maximum of 10.1 K at the highest applied pressure of 23.6 GPa. The combination of high structural stability enhanced superconducting performance under pressure and superior mechanical properties highlights (NbTa)0.55(HfTiZr)0.45 as a promising superconductor under extreme environments.
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Dual-phase superconductivity in high-pressure high-temperature synthesized TaNbZrHfTi
We report on a novel TaNbZrHfTi-based high entropy alloy (HEA) which demonstrates distinctive dual-phase superconductivity. The HEA was synthesized under high pressures and high temperatures starting from a ball milled mixture of elemental metals in a large-volume Paris–Edinburgh cell with P ≈ 6 GPa and T = 2300 K. The synthesized HEA is a phase mixture of BCC (NbTa)0.45(ZrHfTi)0.55 with Tc1 = 6 K and FCC (NbTa)0.04(ZrHfTi)0.96 with Tc2 = 3.75 K. The measured magnetic field parameters for the HEA are lower critical field, Hc1(0) = 31 mT, and a relatively high upper critical field, Hc2(0) = 4.92 T. This dual-phase system is further characterized by the presence of a second magnetization peak, or the fishtail effect, observed in the virgin magnetization curves. This phenomenon, which does not distort the field-dependent magnetization hysteresis loops, suggests intricate pinning mechanisms that could be potentially tuned for optimized performance. The manifestation of these unique features in HEA superconductivity reinforces phase-dependent superconductivity and opens new avenues in the exploration of novel superconducting materials.
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- PAR ID:
- 10597198
- Publisher / Repository:
- American Institute of Physics
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- AIP Advances
- Volume:
- 14
- Issue:
- 6
- ISSN:
- 2158-3226
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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