Superconductivity of Ni-Nb-Zr-H glassy alloys with nanoclusters

We investigated the hydrogen effect on superconductivity in the (Ni0.36Nb0.24Zr0.40)(100-x)H(x)(0 < or = x < or = 6.4) glassy alloys with nanoclusters, as a function of temperature. The resistivity of these alloys started to drop from onset temperature of around 9.5 K. The (Ni0.36Nb0.24Zr0.40)98.6H1.6 showed zero resistance at 2.1 K. However, the application of a magnetic field > 4.6 T arrested the drop of resistivity, showing the existence of superconductivity of type II. The maximum onset temperature of 11.3 K was observed at 4.4 at% H. The superconducting behavior of the glassy alloys would be associated with electron pair transport along zigzag paths, which link the shortened atomic -Ni-Ni-Ni- array in the Zr5Ni5Nb3 clusters, and tunneling among the clusters.