Superconducting property of Zr-Co and Zr-Co-Al alloys fabricated by rapid solidification

The superconducting property of Zr(1−x)Cox (x = 10-50 at.%) alloys and a Zr55Co30Al15 bulk metallic glass fabricated using techniques of rapid solidification was investigated. The Zr55Co30Al15 alloy crystallized by heat treatment in a vacuum atmosphere exhibited superconductivity of Tc,on = 2.4 K. This was attributable to the superconducting property of a crystalline Zr-Co alloy precipitated in the Zr55Co30Al15 alloy. The Tc,on of the crystalline Zr(1−x)Cox alloy was sensitive to the Co content. The increase of Co content for the Zr(1−x)Cox alloy led to the decrease of Tc,on. The Zr(1−x)Cox alloy exhibited superconductivity of a maximum Tc,on = 3.9 K for the Zr80Co20 alloy with superconducting nanocrystal particles embedded in the amorphous matrix.