Direct spectroscopic evidence for mixed-valence Tl in the low carrier-density superconductor Pb$_{1-x}$Tl$_x$Te

TL;DR

This study provides direct spectroscopic evidence of mixed-valence thallium in Pb$_{1-x}$Tl$_x$Te, linking valence fluctuations to superconductivity and Kondo-like phenomena in this low carrier-density material.

Contribution

It is the first to directly observe multiple valences of Tl in PbTe using photoemission spectroscopy, supporting valence fluctuation models over self-compensation explanations.

Findings

Detection of Tl$^+$ and Tl$^{3+}$ valences in the material

Carrier density suppression explained by mixed valency

Possible identification of an intermediate charge state

Abstract

Upon doping with Tl the narrow band-gap semiconductor PbTe exhibits anomalously high temperature superconductivity despite a very low carrier density as well as signatures of the Kondo effect despite an absence of magnetic moments. These phenomena have been explained by invoking 2$e$ fluctuations of the valence of the Tl dopants but a direct measurement of the mixed-valency implied by such a mechanism has not been reported to date. In this work we present the unambiguous observation of multiple valences of Tl in Tl-doped PbTe via photo emission spectroscopy measurements. It is shown via our quantitative analysis that the suppression of the carrier density at compositions exhibiting superconductivity and Kondo-like behaviour is fully accounted for by mixed valency, thus arguing strongly against a self-compensation scenario proposed elsewhere for this material and strengthening the case for valence fluctuation models. In addition to the identification of Tl$^+$ and Tl$^{3+}$ a possible third intermediate local charge-density is tentatively suggested by full fits to the data, the implications of which are discussed in the context of the charge-Kondo effect.