Local Magnetometry of Superconducting Mo8Ga41 and Mo7VGa41: Vortex Pinning Study

Endohedral gallide cluster superconductor Mo8Ga41 indicated some unusual superconducting properties that deviated from BCS theory. This was ascribed to possible multi-gap superconductivity. Moreover, these properties seem to vanish after the substitution of vanadium atom for molybdenum. Here, we present a local magnetization study of both compounds, Mo8Ga41 and Mo7VGa41. An array of miniature Hall probes was used to study magnetic profile which reflects vortex distribution inside the sample. The vortex pinning observed in both materials is strong. Calculated critical current density values suggest, that vortex pinning in Mo8Ga41 manifests itself to a greater extent than in Mo7VGa41.