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Title: Dependence of superconductivity in Cu x Bi 2 Se 3 on quenching conditions

Abstract

Topological superconductivity, implying gapless protected surface states, has recently been proposed to exist in the compound CuxBi₂Se₃. Unfortunately, low diamagnetic shielding fractions and considerable inhomogeneity have been reported in this compound. In an attempt to understand and improve on the finite superconducting volume fractions, we have investigated the effects of various growth and post-annealing conditions. With a melt-growth (MG) method, diamagnetic shielding fractions of up to 56% in Cu₀̣₃Bi₂Se₃ have been obtained, the highest value reported for this method. We investigate the efficacy of various quenching and annealing conditions, finding that quenching from temperatures above 560°C is essential for superconductivity, whereas quenching from lower temperatures or not quenching at all is detrimental. A modified floating zone (FZ) method yielded large single crystals but little superconductivity. Even after annealing and quenching, FZ-grown samples had much less chance of being superconducting than MG-grown samples. Thus, from the low shielding fractions in FZ-grown samples and the quenching dependence, we suggest that a metastable secondary phase having a small volume fraction in most of the samples may be responsible for the superconductivity.

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [2]
  1. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States); Stony Brook Univ., Stony Brook, NY (United States)
  2. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States); Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Center for Emergent Superconductivity (CES)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
OSTI Identifier:
1193223
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1178485
Report Number(s):
BNL-108107-2015-JA
Journal ID: ISSN 1098-0121; PRBMDO; R&D Project: PO010; KC0201060
Grant/Contract Number:  
SC0012704; SC00112704
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 91; Journal Issue: 14; Journal ID: ISSN 1098-0121
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY

Citation Formats

Schneeloch, J. A., Zhong, R. D., Xu, Z. J., Gu, G. D., and Tranquada, J. M. Dependence of superconductivity in CuxBi2Se3 on quenching conditions. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.91.144506.
Schneeloch, J. A., Zhong, R. D., Xu, Z. J., Gu, G. D., & Tranquada, J. M. Dependence of superconductivity in CuxBi2Se3 on quenching conditions. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.91.144506
Schneeloch, J. A., Zhong, R. D., Xu, Z. J., Gu, G. D., and Tranquada, J. M. 2015. "Dependence of superconductivity in CuxBi2Se3 on quenching conditions". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.91.144506. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1193223.
@article{osti_1193223,
title = {Dependence of superconductivity in CuxBi2Se3 on quenching conditions},
author = {Schneeloch, J. A. and Zhong, R. D. and Xu, Z. J. and Gu, G. D. and Tranquada, J. M.},
abstractNote = {Topological superconductivity, implying gapless protected surface states, has recently been proposed to exist in the compound CuxBi₂Se₃. Unfortunately, low diamagnetic shielding fractions and considerable inhomogeneity have been reported in this compound. In an attempt to understand and improve on the finite superconducting volume fractions, we have investigated the effects of various growth and post-annealing conditions. With a melt-growth (MG) method, diamagnetic shielding fractions of up to 56% in Cu₀̣₃Bi₂Se₃ have been obtained, the highest value reported for this method. We investigate the efficacy of various quenching and annealing conditions, finding that quenching from temperatures above 560°C is essential for superconductivity, whereas quenching from lower temperatures or not quenching at all is detrimental. A modified floating zone (FZ) method yielded large single crystals but little superconductivity. Even after annealing and quenching, FZ-grown samples had much less chance of being superconducting than MG-grown samples. Thus, from the low shielding fractions in FZ-grown samples and the quenching dependence, we suggest that a metastable secondary phase having a small volume fraction in most of the samples may be responsible for the superconductivity.},
doi = {10.1103/PhysRevB.91.144506},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1193223}, journal = {Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics},
issn = {1098-0121},
number = 14,
volume = 91,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Apr 20 00:00:00 EDT 2015},
month = {Mon Apr 20 00:00:00 EDT 2015}
}

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Cited by: 28 works
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Works referencing / citing this record:

Electrical and Magnetic Properties of Copper-Intercalated Topological Insulator Bi2Se3 Single Crystal
journal, August 2019


Unusual upper critical field behavior in Nb-doped bismuth selenides
journal, May 2017


Fermiology and Superconductivity of Topological Surface States in PdTe 2
journal, April 2018


Zero Cu valence and superconductivity in high-quality C u x B i 2 S e 3 crystal
journal, November 2019


Direction and symmetry transition of the vector order parameter in topological superconductors CuxBi2Se3
journal, January 2020


Microscopic characterization of the superconducting gap function in Sn 1 x In x Te
journal, January 2020


Identification of nematic superconductivity from the upper critical field
journal, September 2016