Evidence for ferromagnetic order in the CoSb layer ofLaCoSb2

Abstract

The emergence of unconventional superconductivity is generally considered to be related to spin fluctuations. Unveiling the intriguing behaviors of spin fluctuations in parent compounds with layered transition-metal ions may shed light on the search for exotic unconventional superconductors. Here, based on the framework of the first-principles calculations, we theoretically propose that LaCoSb$_2$ is a weak antiferromagnetic layered metal with an in-plane ferromagnetic moment of 0.88 $\mu_B$ at the Co sites, as a candidate parent compound of the cobalt-based superconductors. Importantly, this theoretical finding is experimentally supported by our magnetization measurements on polycrystalline samples of LaCo$_{0.78}$Sb$_2$. Following the symmetry analysis, we suggest a possible $p$-wave superconductivity hosted in doped LaCoSb$_2$ emerging at the verge of ferromagnetic spin fluctuations, which implies potential applications in topological quantum computing in future.