Pressure induced superconductivity bordering a charge-density-wave state in NbTe4 with strong spin-orbit coupling

Abstract

Transition-metal chalcogenides host various phases of matter, such as charge-density wave (CDW), superconductors, and topological insulators or semimetals. Superconductivity and its competition with CDW in low-dimensional compounds have attracted much interest and stimulated considerable research. Here we report pressure induced superconductivity in a strong spin-orbit (SO) coupled quasi-one-dimensional (1D) transition-metal chalcogenide NbTe4, which is a CDW material under ambient pressure. With increasing pressure, the CDW transition temperature is gradually suppressed, and superconducting transition, which is fingerprinted by a steep resistivity drop, emerges at pressures above 12.4 GPa. Under pressure p = 69 GPa, zero resistance is detected with a transition temperature Tc = 2.2 K and an upper critical field μ0Hc2 = 2 T. We also find large magnetoresistance (MR) up to 102% at low temperatures, which is a distinct feature differentiating NbTe4 from other conventional CDW materials.

Preparation, thermal analysis, and crystal structure refinement of the quaternary alloy (CuIn)2NbTe5

“…2 and 3, respectively. The values obtained for CuInTe 2 (x = 0) are in good agreement with those reported previously [30,31]. It can be observed in the heating curves that the congruent melting of CuInTe 2 decreases in temperature with the composition value x and becomes incongruently.…”

“…Moreover, a superconductor behavior observed in chalcopyrite alloys obtained by cationic substitution with transition metals (Nb and Co) has increased the attention on these versatile materials [11][12]. On the other hand, transition metal chalcogenides (TMC) based on Nb and Ta have caught the attention of the scientist for their topological crystal structure and unusual properties [13]. The latter includes charge density waves (CDW) [14] and superconductivity [15][16][17][18].…”

Pressure‐Induced Superconductivity in Topological Semimetal Candidate TaTe4

“…At 8.0 GPa, one can see that a small drop in the resistivity emerges upon cooling below ≈2.2 K, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 2c. Note that it is similar to the case of sister compound NbTe 4 under high pressure 29. The resistivity drop becomes more and more evident, and zero resistivity is finally observed at 17.7 GPa and below 1.9 K, signaling the pressure‐induced superconductivity in TaTe 4 .…”

Modulated Linear Tellurium Chains in Ba3ScTe5: Synthesis, Crystal Structure, Optical and Resistivity Studies, and Electronic Structure

“…[1][2][3][4][5] The ternary and quaternary compounds such as Ba2MnQ3, 6 (BaF)2Fe2−xQ3, 7 and AFeS2 (A = K and Rb) 8 are examples that show interesting magnetic behavior. Furthermore, layered structures such as K2Cu5Te5, 3 MQ2 (M = V, Nb, and Ta; Q = S, Se, and Te), 9 PtTe2 10 are metallic, and compounds like FeSe, 2 NbSe2, 11 NbTe4, 12 and MoTe2 13 are a few examples of superconducting chalcogenides. In the past few decades, metal chalcogenides with narrow band gaps and low thermal conductivities have been of interest for their promising thermoelectric properties.…”