Superconductivity in electron doped PbBi2Te4

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of superconductivity in In-doped PbBi2Te4, a topological material, with a maximum Tc of 2.06 K, highlighting its potential for topological superconductivity research.

Contribution

It demonstrates that doping PbBi2Te4 with indium induces bulk superconductivity at ambient pressure, a novel finding in the AM2X4 family.

Findings

Superconductivity observed with Tc ~2.06 K

Type-II superconductivity confirmed with Hc2 ~1.55 T

Bulk superconductivity consistent with BCS weak coupling

Abstract

Single crystals of In-doped PbBi2Te4 are synthesized via a conventional solid-state method. Chemical analysis and hall measurements indicate that In replaces Pb, introducing n-type carriers, creating Pb1-xInxBi2Te4. A superconducting transition is observed with a maximum transition temperature around 2.06 K for Pb1-xInxBi2Te4. Field dependent transport measurements reveal type-II superconductivity and yield a maximum upper critical field around 1.55 T. Thermodynamic data indicates bulk superconductivity in the BCS weak coupling limit. Our findings establish an ambient-pressure superconducting system in the AM2X4 family, and doped PbBi2Te4 as a promising platform for the study of topological superconductivity.