Abstract
We have prepared a polycrystalline sample of YPd(2)Al(3) - a so far unknown member of the well-known group of intermetallic compounds REPd(2)Al(3) (RE = rare earth elements). The XRPD analysis revealed that the YPd(2)Al(3) compound crystallizes in the hexagonal crystal structure adopted by the entire REPd(2)Al(3) family, too.
For the new material we have measured the magnetization. AC susceptibility, specific heat and electrical resistivity with respect to temperature and magnetic field.
We have observed superconductivity with T(sc) approximate to 2.2 K in well-annealed samples and Pauli paramagnetism in normal state. We have also performed ab initio electronic structure calculations and found reasonable agreement between experimental findings and corresponding results of theoretical calculations. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V.
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