Robust Weyl Semimetal and Pressure-induced Superconductivity in Quasi-One-Dimensional (NbSe4)2I

TL;DR

This study identifies (NbSe4)2I as a rare quasi-one-dimensional Weyl semimetal that exhibits pressure-induced superconductivity and topological phase transitions, combining theoretical predictions and experimental validation.

Contribution

It demonstrates the coexistence of topological Weyl semimetal properties and superconductivity in (NbSe4)2I under pressure, revealing a new phase with potential quantum device applications.

Findings

(NbSe4)2I is a chiral Weyl semimetal with symmetry-related Weyl points.

Pressure tunes the net chiral charge and induces superconductivity.

Superconductivity persists despite iodine sub-lattice amorphization.

Abstract

A search for the single material system that simultaneously exhibits topological phase and intrinsic superconductivity has been largely limited, although such a system is far more favorable especially for the quantum device applications. Except artificially engineered topological superconductivity in heterostructure systems, another alternative is to have superconductivity arising from the topological materials by pressure or other clean technology. Here, based on first-principles calculations, we first show that quasi-one-dimensional compound (NbSe4)2I represents a rare example of a chiral Weyl semimetal in which the set of symmetry-related Weyl points (WPs) exhibit the same chiral charge at a certain energy. The net chiral charge (NCC) of the below Fermi level EF (or a certain energy) can be tuned by pressure. In addition, a partial disorder induced by pressure accompanied with superconductivity emerges. Although amorphization of the iodine sub-lattice under high pressure, the one-dimensional NbSe4 chains in (NbSe4)2I remain intact and provide a superconducting channel in one dimension. Our combined theoretical and experimental research provide critical insight into a new phase of the one-dimensional system, in which distinctive phase transitions and correlated topological states emerge upon compression.