Superconductivity in Ternary Mg₄Pd₇As₆

Abstract The synthesis and characterization of a new compound Mg 4 Pd 7 As 6 , which is found to be a superconductor with T c = 5.45 K is reported. Powder X‐ray diffraction confirms the U 4 Re 7 Si 6 structure (space group Im ‐3 m , no. 229) with the lattice parameter a = 8.2572(1) Å. Magnetization, specific heat, and electrical resistivity measurements indicate that it is a moderate‐coupling (λ = 0.72) type‐II superconductor. The electronic and phonon structures are calculated, highlighting the importance of antibonding Pd–As interactions in determining the properties of this material. The calculated electron–phonon coupling parameter λ = 0.76 agrees very well with the experimental finding, which confirms the conventional pairing mechanism in Mg 4 Pd 7 As 6 .