Electron-phonon coupling in Mn+1AXn-phase carbides

We have investigated the electrical resistivity, magnetotransport, and heat capacity in several compounds of the type M(n+1)AC(n). 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 lambda from the experimental data and find consistency between the two sets. We use lambda to predict the superconducting transition temperature T-c of these materials. In agreement with those predictions, Nb2AsC has a superconducting transition near 2 K.