Raising the superconducting $T_\mathrm{c}$ of gallium: in-situ characterization of the transformation of $α$-Ga into $β$-Ga

Abstract

Gallium (Ga) displays several metastable phases. Superconductivity is strongly enhanced in the metastable $\mathrmβ$-Ga with a critical temperature $T_\mathrm{c}= 6.04(5)\,\mathrm{K}$, while stable $\mathrmα$-Ga has a much lower $T_\mathrm{c}<1.2\,\mathrm{K}$. Here we use a membrane-based nanocalorimeter to initiate the transition from $\mathrmα$-Ga to $\mathrmβ$-Ga on demand, as well as study the specific heat of the two phases on one and the same sample. The in-situ transformation is initiated by bringing the temperature to about $10\,\mathrm{K}$ above the melting temperature of $\mathrmα$-Ga. After such treatment, the liquid supercools down to $232\,\mathrm{K}$, where $\mathrmβ$-Ga solidifies. We find that $\mathrmβ$-Ga is a strong-coupling type-I superconductor with $Δ(0)/k_\mathrm{B}T_\mathrm{c} =2.00(5)$ and a Sommerfeld coefficient $γ_\mathrm{n} = 1.53(4)\,\mathrm{mJ/molK^2}$, 2.55 times higher than that in the $α$ phase. The results allow a detailed comparison of fundamental thermodynamic properties between the two phases.