Sn₂Pd: a possible superconducting material with topological surface states

Abstract

In this article, we report the detailed magneto transport measurements of topological semimetal candidate, Sn2Pd. Single crystal of Sn2Pd is synthesized through self-flux method. Phase purity and crystalline morphology are confirmed through powder x-ray diffraction pattern and field emission scanning electron microscopy image. Signatures of superconducting transition are seen in both transport and magneto transport measurements, which are further supported by the AC magnetization studies. Sn2Pd is found to show superconductivity onset at below 2.8 K, but not the zero resistivity down to 2 K. Although, isothermal magneto resistivity measurements below superconducting onset (2.8 K) clearly exhibited superconductor like behavior, but is not observed in heat capacity measurements, indicating the same to be of weak nature. Magneto transport measurements performed in normal state of Sn2Pd show the presence of weak antilocalization effect, which is confirmed by modelling of low field magneto-conductivity through Hikami Larkin Nagaoka formalism. Here, it is worth mentioning that the present article is the first report on magneto transport measurements of Sn2Pd, which show the same to be a topological material with weak superconducting phase below around 2.8 K.