Superconducting and magnetic interactions in La1.2−xEuxMo6S8 pseudoternary compounds

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Abstract
Superconducting and magnetic properties of La1.2−xEuxMo6S8 pseudoternary compounds were investigated by means of low‐frequency ac and dc magnetic susceptibility measurements under hydrostatic pressure up to 20 kbar and in magnetic fields up to 10 T. At atmospheric pressure, the superconducting transition temperature Tc is a weak function of Eu concentration x for 0?x?0.2, and decreases smoothly with x for x≳0.2, until it vanishes for x≳0.95. Hydrostatic pressure was found to lower Tc in the La‐rich compounds and to increase Tc in the Eu‐rich compounds. Pressure also induces superconductivity in compounds with x≳0.95 which are not superconducting at atmospheric pressure with maximum Tc’s that are quite high (∼8 K, midpoint) and comparable to the Tc values of other ternary molybdenum sulfides with divalent metal atoms. Magnetization data (dc) on a La0.2Eu1.0Mo6S8 compound revealed a sizable Meissner effect for pressures ≳7 kbar. At atmospheric pressure, the upper critical magnetic field Hc2 for 01.2Mo6S8.