Linear non-saturating magnetoresistance and superconductivity in epitaxial thin films of YbSb$_{2}$

TL;DR

This paper reports the successful epitaxial growth of YbSb₂ thin films exhibiting large linear magnetoresistance and superconductivity, revealing a mixed superconducting state and enabling electronic ground state control via thin film engineering.

Contribution

It introduces the first epitaxial synthesis of YbSb₂ thin films and demonstrates their unique magnetoresistance and superconducting properties, expanding the understanding of rare-earth diantimonides.

Findings

Large, non-saturating, linear magnetoresistance observed.

Superconductivity with Tc ≈ 1.025 K and Hc ≈ 83.85 Oe confirmed.

Evidence of a mixed superconducting state in thin films.

Abstract

Rare-earth diantimonides display intriguing ground states often associated with structural order, which can be manipulated in thin film geometries. In this study, we report epitaxial synthesis of one such compound, YbSb$_{2}$, on III-V substrates using molecular-beam epitaxy. The synthesized thin films exhibit large, non-saturating, linear magnetoresistance across a wide magnetic field range. Additionally, they demonstrate superconducting properties, with a critical temperature of $\approx$ 1.025 K and a critical field of $\approx$ 83.85 Oe, consistent with the reports in bulk single crystals. While YbSb$_{2}$ has been classified as a Type-I superconductor in its bulk form, our findings provide evidence of a mixed state in the epitaxial thin films. This work paves the way for controlling the electronic ground state in this class of materials through thin film engineering.