Superconductivity in novel Ge-based skutterudites: {Sr,Ba}Pt_4Ge_{12}

Combining experiments and ab initio models we report on \(\rm SrPt_4Ge_{12}\) and \(\rm BaPt_4Ge_{12}\) as members of a novel class of superconducting skutterudites, where Sr or Ba atoms stabilize a framework entirely formed by Ge-atoms. Below \(T_c=5.35\) K, and 5.10 K for \(\rm BaPt_4Ge_{12}\) and \(\rm SrPt_4Ge_{12}\), respectively, electron-phonon coupled superconductivity emerges, ascribed to intrinsic features of the Pt-Ge framework, where Ge-\(p\) states dominate the electronic structure at the Fermi energy.