Superconductivity of the new intermetallic compound TaPtSi

A new superconducting intermetallic compound with a chemical formula of TaP tSi was discovered in the Ta-Pt-Si system, and its crystallographic, magnet ic, and electric properties were investigated. TaPtSi crystallizes in an or thorhombic structure (space group Pnma) with the lattice constants of a = 0 .6388 nm, b = 0.3808 nm,and c = 0.7353 nm. A superconducting transition was observed at 3.54 and 3.43 K, respectively, in the electrical resistivity a nd magnetic susceptibility measurements. The magnetic susceptibility measur ement indicated that the superconducting volume fraction was about 100%, su ggesting the bulk superconductivity of TaPtSi, Superconducting parameters i ndicate that TaPtSi is a compound in the category of type-II superconductor s. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.