Pressure-induced superconductivity in weak topological insulator Bi2TeI and topological metal Bi3TeI

ORAL

Abstract

Using a newly developed system designed to rapidly screen materials for pressure-induced superconductivity we have performed a series of high pressure electrical transport and ac magnetic susceptibility measurements on single crystals of the weak topological insulator Bi2TeI and the topological metal Bi3TeI. Upon compression at low temperature, we find that Bi2TeI becomes superconducting at ∼13 GPa and Bi3TeI begins to superconduct at pressures above ∼11.5 GPa. The superconducting critical temperature Tc reaches maximum values of 7 K and 7.5 K for Bi2TeI and Bi3TeI, respectively. We observe distinct anomalies in the resistivity of both samples as a function of pressure, which may arise due to structural transitions.

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Presenters

  • James J. Hamlin

    Department of Physics, University of Florida

Authors

  • Derrick VanGennep

    Department of Physics, University of Florida, University of Florida

  • You Lai

    National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Florida State University, NHMFL-FSU, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and Florida State University

  • Yogesh Kumar Vohra

    Department of Physics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of Alabama at Birmingham

  • Samuel T Weir

    Physics Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Ryan Baumbach

    National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Florida State University, Florida State University, NHMFL-FSU, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and Florida State University, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory - Florida State University, NHMFL

  • James J. Hamlin

    Department of Physics, University of Florida