Superconductivity in Novel Ge-Based Skutterudites: {Sr,Ba}Pt₄Ge₁₂

Combining experiments and ab initio models we report on SrPt₄Ge₁₂ and BaPt₄Ge₁₂ as members of a novel class of superconducting skutterudites, where Sr or Ba atoms stabilize a framework entirely formed by Ge atoms. Below Tc=5.35 and 5.10 K forBaPt₄Ge₁₂ and SrPt₄Ge₁₂, 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.