EFFECTS OF MAGNETIC FIELD ON THE VALUE OF SPECIFIC HEAT JUMP ON LITHIUM TITANIUM OXIDE

Abstract

Superconductivity is an observable scientific fact exhibited by some materials at extremely low temperature approaching 0 K where their specific heat capacities (a thermodynamic bulk property) change as they transition to superconducting state from normal from normal. When the transition to the superconducting state is studied under a magnetic field, it is found that the specific heat difference or jump between the superconducting state (𝐶𝑠) and the normal state (𝐶𝑛) depends on the magnitude of the applied magnetic field. The specific heat jumps for conventional and unconventional superconductors occur at different applied magnetic fields in order to preserve the superconducting state of the material. The effects of the magnetic field on the value of specific heat jump for LiTi2O4 (usually refereed as LTO) were studied. This material is only one of its kinds in the midst of oxide superconductors in numerous features reminiscent of chemistry, crystal formation and superconducting properties. The consequence of applied magnetic field (H) on the specific heat jump and transition temperature of this material was established by deriving a correlation equation. The outcomes demonstrate that the existence of magnetic field enhances the superconducting state of the material since superconductivity in LTO is predominantly due to electronelectron interactions. The specific heat jump increases from the value 3.863745316mJmol-1 K-2 for H=2T to 55.09474118 mJmol-1 K-2 for H=32.8T. At 𝑇 = 𝑇𝑐 the value of specific heat jump was calculated to be 38.3mJmol-1K-2, and the corresponding magnetic field, H was 22.369246T. This value falls within the range that has been reported by several researchers regarding LTO.