Investigation on the reported superconductivity in intercalated black phosphorus

ORAL

Abstract

Superconductivity intrinsic to the intercalated black phosphorus (BP) with a transition temperature Tc of 3.8 K, independent of the intercalant, whether an alkali or an alkaline earth element, has been reported by R. Zhang et al. (2017). However, the reported Tc and the field effect on the superconducting (SC) transition both appear to be similar to those for the pure Sn, which is commonly used for BP synthesis under the vapor transport (VP) method. We decided to determine if a minute amount of Sn is present in the starting BP and if it is the culprit for the small SC signal detected. EDS results confirmed the existence of Sn in the starting BP purchased from the same company as in R. Zhang et al. We have reproduced the SC transition at 3.8 K in Li- and Na-intercalated BP that contain minute amounts of Sn when prepared by the VP method but not in BP that are free of Sn when prepared by the high-pressure method. We therefore concluded the SC transition reported by R. Zhang et al. is associated with the Sn but not intrinsic to the intercalated BP crystals.


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Presenters

  • Hanming Yuan

    Texas Center for Superconductivity and Department of Physics, University of Houston, Texas 77204, USA, University of Houston

Authors

  • Hanming Yuan

    Texas Center for Superconductivity and Department of Physics, University of Houston, Texas 77204, USA, University of Houston

  • Liangzi Deng

    Texas Center for Superconductivity and Department of Physics, University of Houston, Texas 77204, USA, Texas Center for Superconductivity and Department of Physics, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA, University of Houston

  • Bing Lv

    University of Texas at Dallas

  • Zheng Wu

    Texas Center for Superconductivity and Department of Physics, University of Houston, Texas 77204, USA, Texas Center for Superconductivity and Department of Physics, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA, University of Houston

  • Ze Yang

    University of Houston

  • Sheng Li

    University of Texas at Dallas

  • Shuyuan Huyan

    Texas Center for Superconductivity and Department of Physics, University of Houston, Texas 77204, USA, University of Houston

  • Yizhou Ni

    University of Houston

  • Jingying Sun

    University of Houston

  • Fei Tian

    University of Houston

  • Dezhi Wang

    University of Houston

  • Hui Wang

    University of Houston

  • Shuo Chen

    University of Houston

  • Zhifeng Ren

    University of Houston

  • C. W. Paul Chu

    Texas Center for Superconductivity and Department of Physics, University of Houston, Texas 77204, USA, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA, Department of Physics and Texas Center for Superconductivity, University of Houston, University of Houston, University of Houston, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory