Electron-phonon coupling in Mn+1 A Xn -phase carbides

We have investigated the electrical resistivity, magnetotransport, and heat capacity in several compounds of the type Mn+1 A Cn. The temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity and the electronic contribution to the heat capacity of this family of materials are strongly influenced by electron-phonon coupling. We have extracted two independent values for the electron-phonon coupling parameter λ from the experimental data and find consistency between the two sets. We use λ to predict the superconducting transition temperature Tc of these materials. In agreement with those predictions, Nb2 AsC has a superconducting transition near 2 K.