Superconductivity in the ternary rare-earth (Y, La, and Lu) compounds RPd2Si2 and RRh2Si2

We have investigated the superconducting and metallurgical properties of the ternary compounds RPd2Si2 and RRh2Si2 with R = Y, La, and Lu. All RPd2Si2 compounds and LaRh2Si2 were found to be type-I superconductors below 1 K. A detailed metallurgical analysis shows that segregation of second phases can easily mask the intrinsic (stoichiometric ratio 1:2:2) intermetallic-compound properties. Two sample-preparation techniques, viz., single crystals and off-stoichiometry, were utilized to establish where bulk superconductivity occurs. The type-I behavior of these compounds is explained with an analogous model as is used for the heavy-fermion superconductors CeCu2Si2 and URu2Si2.