Superconducting properties and hydrostatic pressure effect on ABi3 (A=Ba,Sr) single crystals

Abstract: We report on the crystal growth and characterization of ABi3 (A=Ba,Sr) superconductors. Single crystals of both compounds were grown by the self-flux technique. BaBi3 crystallized in a tetragonal structure with space group P4/mmm and SrBi3 in a cubic structure with space group Pm-3m. Superconductivity at Tc = 6.0 K for BaBi3 and Tc = 5.6 K for SrBi3 have been confirmed through dc magnetic susceptibility and electrical transport measurements. The dc magnetic susceptibility under hydrostatic pressure shows a positive pressure coefficient of dTc/dP = 1.22 K/GPa for BaBi3 and a negative pressure coefficient of dTc/dP = -0.48 K/GPa for SrBi3. The normal state electrical resistivity shows that both compounds are highly metallic in nature. The upper critical fields Hc2 evaluated by resistivity under magnetic fields $\rho(T,H)$ are 22 kOe for BaBi3 and 2.9 kOe for SrBi3. A specific heat jump of $\Delta Ce/\gamma Tc = 1.05$ suggests weak coupling superconductivity in BaBi3, whereas $\Delta Ce/\gamma Tc = 2.08$ for SrBi3 is higher than the BCS theory value of 1.43, indicating a strong coupling superconductor.