Pressure-induced superconductivity in kagome single crystal Pd3P2S8

TL;DR

This study reports pressure-induced superconductivity in kagome lattice Pd3P2S8, with superconductivity emerging at high pressure and persisting upon decompression, linked to amorphization of the crystal structure.

Contribution

It demonstrates for the first time that pressure can induce and stabilize superconductivity in kagome lattice Pd3P2S8, revealing a new pathway for tuning quantum states in such materials.

Findings

Superconductivity appears at ~11 GPa with Tc up to 7.7 K.

Superconductivity persists after pressure release due to amorphization.

Pressure induces a semiconducting to metallic transition in Pd3P2S8.

Abstract

Kagome lattice offers unique opportunities for the exploration of unusual quantum states of correlated electrons. Here, we report on the observation of superconductivity in a kagome single crystal Pd3P2S8 when a semiconducting to metallic transition is driven by pressure. High-pressure resistance measurements show that the metallization and superconductivity are simultaneously observed at about 11 GPa. With increasing pressure, the superconducting critical temperature Tc is monotonously enhanced from 2.6 K to a maximum 7.7 K at ~52 GPa. Interestingly, superconductivity retains when the pressure is fully released. Synchrotron XRD and Raman experiments consistently evidence that the emergence of superconductivity is accompanied with an amorphization and the retainability of superconductivity upon decompression can be attributed to the irreversibility of the amorphization.