Pressure-induced superconductivity in topological parent compound Bi2Te3

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Jan 4;108(1):24-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1019040108. Epub 2010 Dec 20.

Abstract

We report a successful observation of pressure-induced superconductivity in a topological compound Bi(2)Te(3) with T(c) of ∼3 K between 3 to 6 GPa. The combined high-pressure structure investigations with synchrotron radiation indicated that the superconductivity occurred at the ambient phase without crystal structure phase transition. The Hall effects measurements indicated the hole-type carrier in the pressure-induced superconducting Bi(2)Te(3) single crystal. Consequently, the first-principles calculations based on the structural data obtained by the Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction patterns at high pressure showed that the electronic structure under pressure remained topologically nontrivial. The results suggested that topological superconductivity can be realized in Bi(2)Te(3) due to the proximity effect between superconducting bulk states and Dirac-type surface states. We also discuss the possibility that the bulk state could be a topological superconductor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Bismuth / chemistry*
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Electric Conductivity*
  • Pressure*
  • Synchrotrons
  • Tellurium / chemistry*
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • bismuth telluride
  • Tellurium
  • Bismuth