Inorganic Chemistry, Vol.55, No.17, 8808-8815, 2016
Downscaling Effect on the Superconductivity of Pd3Bi2X2 (X = S or Se) Nanoparticles Prepared by Microwave-Assisted Polyol Synthesis
Pd3Bi2S2 and Pd3Bi2Se2 have been successfully prepared in the form of nanoparticles with diameters of similar to 50 run by microwave-assisted modified polyol synthesis at low temperatures. The composition and morphology of the samples have been studied by means of powder X-ray diffraction as well as electron microscopy methods, including X-ray intensity mapping on the nanoscale. Superconducting properties of the as-prepared samples have been characterized by electrical resistivity measurements down to low temperatures (similar to 0.2 K). Deviations from the bulk metallic behavior originating from the sub micrometer nature of the samples were registered for both phases. A significant critical-field enhancement up to 1.4 T, i.e., 4 times higher than the value of the bulk material, has been revealed for Pd3Bi2Se2. At the same time, the critical temperature is suppressed to 0.7 K from the bulk value of similar to 1 K. A superconducting transition at 0.4 K has been observed in nanocrystalline Pd3Bi2S2. Here, a zero-temperature upper critical field of similar to 0.5 T has been estimated. Further, spark plasma-sintered Pd3Bi2S2 and Pd3Bi2Se2 samples have been investigated. Their superconducting properties are found to lie between those of the bulk and nanosized samples.