Abstract
The physical properties and structural evolution of the 122-type solid solution BaNi(GeP) are reported. The in-plane - ( GeP) dimer formation present in the end member BaNiGe, which results in a structural transition to orthorhombic symmetry, is completely suppressed to zero temperature on P substitution near , and a dome-shaped superconducting phase with a maximum K emerges. Clear indications of phonon softening and enhanced electron-phonon coupling are observed at the composition of the structural instability. Our findings show that dimer breaking offers possibilities as a tuning parameter of superconductivity.
- Received 14 July 2012
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.86.100505
©2012 American Physical Society