Studies of Compounds for Superconductivity.

A number of metal carbides, borides, nitrides, and a hydride, in the form of powders, have been examined for superconductivity down to 1.8 K using a magnetic method. The substances tested included TiC, VC, ZrC, TaC, WC, ZrB2, NbB2, TaB2, WB, MoB, TiB(x), ThB2, LaN, CeN, NbN, and LaH(2.45). All specimens were characterized by X-ray diffraction methods and, in most instances, by chemical analysis. Of these substances only NbN gave evidence for superconductivity.