Probing the topological surface states in superconducting Sn4Au single crystal: a magneto transport study

Abstract

Materials exhibiting bulk superconductivity along with magnetoresistance (MR) in their normal state have emerged as suitable candidates for topological superconductivity. In this article, we report a flux free method to synthesize single crystal of topological superconductor candidate Sn4Au. The phase purity and single crystalline nature are confirmed through various characterizations viz. x-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. Chemical states of the constituent element viz. Sn and Au are analysed through x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Superconductivity in synthesized Sn4Au single crystal is evident form ρ-T plot, for which the critical field (H c) is determined through ρ-H plot at 2 K i.e. just below critical temperature T c. A positive MR is observed in ρ-H measurements at different temperatures above T c, viz. at 3 K, 5 K, 10 K and 20 K. Further, the magnetoconductivity (MC) is analysed by using Hikami–Larkin–Nagaoka formalism, which signifies the presence of weak antilocalization (WAL) effect in Sn4Au. Angle dependent magneto-transport measurement has been performed to detect the origin of observed WAL effect in Sn4Au single crystal. Normalized MC vs Hcosθ plot shows presence of topological surface states in the studied system. It is evident that Sn4Au is a 2.6 K topological superconductor.