Superconductivity in a New High-Pressure Phase of Scandium

Abstract
A phase transformation is observed in scandium metal at a pressure of approximately 170 kbar as seen from a rise of the electrical resistance by a factor of 4. The high-pressure phase (Sc II) is a superconductor. Tc is found to increase with pressure from ≃ 50 mK at 186 kbar to ≃ 0.35 K at 210 kbar. Experimentally, sintered diamond anvils have been used in a six-lead Bridgman setup with internal manometer.