Electron-Doping by Different Alkali Azides in Layer-Structured Crystals of β-MNCl(M=Zr,Hf)

Layer-structured crystals of β-MNCl (M=Zr,Hf) could be electron-doped by reactions with different alkali metal azides RN3 (R=Li,Na,K,Rb), and controlling the amounts with the molar ratios of azides to β-MNCl. All the prepared compounds show superconductivity with the same transition temperatures at 13.5 K for β-ZrNCl and 23.5 K for β-HfNCl. However the different alkali metal azides RN3 show different reactivity with β-MNCl, and the properties of the products such as superconducting fractions, the lattice constant, and stability against thermal or air, are very dependent on the kinds of alkali metals used. Based on the the results of SQUID measurements, it can be concluded that NaN3 and KN3 are the best react agents for β-ZrNCl and β-HfNCl respectively.