Superconductivity in transition metal-silicide W5Si3

Abstract

We report here the superconducting properties of the tungsten silicide W5Si3. Electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements as functions of temperature and magnetic field show a bulk superconductivity with Tc 2.7 K. The magnetization versus magnetic field (M - H) curve shows a typical type-II superconducting behavior. Furthermore, we present the H - T phase diagram and estimate the upper critical field HC2(0) to be about 5200 Oe. We also discuss the superconducting properties in a Ginzburg-Landau framework and estimate the lower critical magnetic field HC1 (T), penetration depth λ and coherence length ξ to be about 33 Oe, 450 nm, and 25 nm, respectively. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.