Anomalous Quantum Transport Properties in Semimetallic Black Phosphorus

TL;DR

This study investigates the magnetoresistance behavior of black phosphorus under varying pressures, revealing transitions from semiconducting to semimetallic states with distinct quantum oscillations and high mobility properties.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the pressure-induced electronic phase transitions and quantum transport phenomena in black phosphorus.

Findings

Periodic magneto-phonon resonance in semiconducting state

Superposed Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations in metallic state

High mobility and small Fermi surfaces comparable to elemental semimetals

Abstract

Magnetoresistance in single crystals of black phosphorus is studied at ambient and hydrostatic pressures. In the semiconducting states at pressures below 0.71 GPa, the magnetoresistance shows periodic oscillations, which can be ascribed to the magneto-phonon resonance that is characteristic of high mobility semiconductors. In the metallic state above 1.64 GPa, the both transverse and longitudinal magnetoresistance show titanic increase with exhibiting superposed Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations. The observed small Fermi surfaces, high mobilities and light effective masses of carriers in semimetallic black phosphorus are comparable to those in the representative elemental semimetals of bismuth and graphite.