Superconductivity in Dense Rashba Semiconductor BiTeCl

TL;DR

This study discovers pressure-induced superconductivity in BiTeCl, a layered non-centrosymmetric bismuth tellurohalide, revealing potential topological order and expanding the family of topological superconductors.

Contribution

It demonstrates the emergence of superconductivity in BiTeCl under high pressure and links it to possible topological order, providing new insights into topological superconductivity in bismuth tellurohalides.

Findings

Superconductivity appears in high-pressure phases of BiTeCl.

Superconductivity persists up to 51 GPa pressure.

Resistivity increases by three orders of magnitude, indicating topological order.

Abstract

Layered non-centrosymmetric bismuth tellurohalides are being examined as candidates for topological insulators. Pressure is believed to be essential for inducing and tuning topological order in these systems. Through electrical transport and Raman scattering measurements, we find superconductivity in two high-pressure phases of BiTeCl with the different normal state features, carrier characteristics, and upper critical field behaviors. Superconductivity emerges when the resistivity maximum or charge density wave is suppressed by the applied pressure and then persists till the highest pressure of 51 GPa measured. The huge enhancement of the resistivity with three magnitude of orders indicates the possible achievement of the topological order in the dense insulating phase. These findings not only enrich the superconducting family from topological insulators but also pave the road on the search of topological superconductivity in bismuth tellurohalides.