Pressure-induced superconductivity in the nonsymmorphic topological insulator KHgAs

Abstract Recently, topological insulators (TIs) KHgX (X = As, Sb, Bi) with hourglass-shaped dispersion have attracted great interest. Different from the TIs protected by either time-reversal or mirror crystal symmorphic symmetry tested in previous experiments, these materials were proposed as the fi...

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Main Authors: Guangyang Dai, Yating Jia, Bo Gao, Yi Peng, Jianfa Zhao, Yanming Ma, Changfeng Chen, Jinlong Zhu, Quan Li, Runze Yu, Changqing Jin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2023-10-01
Series:NPG Asia Materials
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41427-023-00496-7
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author Guangyang Dai
Yating Jia
Bo Gao
Yi Peng
Jianfa Zhao
Yanming Ma
Changfeng Chen
Jinlong Zhu
Quan Li
Runze Yu
Changqing Jin
author_facet Guangyang Dai
Yating Jia
Bo Gao
Yi Peng
Jianfa Zhao
Yanming Ma
Changfeng Chen
Jinlong Zhu
Quan Li
Runze Yu
Changqing Jin
author_sort Guangyang Dai
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Recently, topological insulators (TIs) KHgX (X = As, Sb, Bi) with hourglass-shaped dispersion have attracted great interest. Different from the TIs protected by either time-reversal or mirror crystal symmorphic symmetry tested in previous experiments, these materials were proposed as the first material class whose band topology relies on nonsymmorphic symmetries. As a result, KHgX shows many exotic properties, such as hourglass-shaped electronic channels and three-dimensional doubled quantum spin Hall effects. To date, high-pressure experimental studies on these nonsymmorphic TIs are minimal. Here, we carried out high-pressure electrical measurements up to 55 GPa, together with high-pressure X-ray diffraction measurements and high-pressure structure prediction on KHgAs. We found a pressure-induced semiconductor-metal transition between ~16 and 20 GPa, followed by the appearance of superconductivity with a T c of ~3.5 K at approximately 21 GPa. The superconducting transition temperature was enhanced to a maximum of ~6.6 K at 31.8 GPa and then slowly decreased until 55 GPa. Furthermore, three high-pressure phases within 55 GPa were observed, and their crystal structures were established. Our results showed the high-pressure phase diagram of KHgAs and determined the pressure-induced superconductivity in nonsymmorphic TIs. Thus, our study can be used to facilitate further research on superconductivity and topologically nontrivial features protected by nonsymmorphic symmetries.
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spelling doaj.art-52091fed2ab0498488cce30228accbdf2024-03-05T19:29:46ZengNature PortfolioNPG Asia Materials1884-40572023-10-011511810.1038/s41427-023-00496-7Pressure-induced superconductivity in the nonsymmorphic topological insulator KHgAsGuangyang Dai0Yating Jia1Bo Gao2Yi Peng3Jianfa Zhao4Yanming Ma5Changfeng Chen6Jinlong Zhu7Quan Li8Runze Yu9Changqing Jin10Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Lab of Superhard Materials and Key Laboratory of Material Simulation Methods & Software of Ministry of Education, College of Physics, Jilin UniversityBeijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Lab of Superhard Materials and Key Laboratory of Material Simulation Methods & Software of Ministry of Education, College of Physics, Jilin UniversityDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, University of NevadaDepartment of Physics, Southern University of Science and TechnologyState Key Lab of Superhard Materials and Key Laboratory of Material Simulation Methods & Software of Ministry of Education, College of Physics, Jilin UniversityBeijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of SciencesAbstract Recently, topological insulators (TIs) KHgX (X = As, Sb, Bi) with hourglass-shaped dispersion have attracted great interest. Different from the TIs protected by either time-reversal or mirror crystal symmorphic symmetry tested in previous experiments, these materials were proposed as the first material class whose band topology relies on nonsymmorphic symmetries. As a result, KHgX shows many exotic properties, such as hourglass-shaped electronic channels and three-dimensional doubled quantum spin Hall effects. To date, high-pressure experimental studies on these nonsymmorphic TIs are minimal. Here, we carried out high-pressure electrical measurements up to 55 GPa, together with high-pressure X-ray diffraction measurements and high-pressure structure prediction on KHgAs. We found a pressure-induced semiconductor-metal transition between ~16 and 20 GPa, followed by the appearance of superconductivity with a T c of ~3.5 K at approximately 21 GPa. The superconducting transition temperature was enhanced to a maximum of ~6.6 K at 31.8 GPa and then slowly decreased until 55 GPa. Furthermore, three high-pressure phases within 55 GPa were observed, and their crystal structures were established. Our results showed the high-pressure phase diagram of KHgAs and determined the pressure-induced superconductivity in nonsymmorphic TIs. Thus, our study can be used to facilitate further research on superconductivity and topologically nontrivial features protected by nonsymmorphic symmetries.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41427-023-00496-7
spellingShingle Guangyang Dai
Yating Jia
Bo Gao
Yi Peng
Jianfa Zhao
Yanming Ma
Changfeng Chen
Jinlong Zhu
Quan Li
Runze Yu
Changqing Jin
Pressure-induced superconductivity in the nonsymmorphic topological insulator KHgAs
NPG Asia Materials
title Pressure-induced superconductivity in the nonsymmorphic topological insulator KHgAs
title_full Pressure-induced superconductivity in the nonsymmorphic topological insulator KHgAs
title_fullStr Pressure-induced superconductivity in the nonsymmorphic topological insulator KHgAs
title_full_unstemmed Pressure-induced superconductivity in the nonsymmorphic topological insulator KHgAs
title_short Pressure-induced superconductivity in the nonsymmorphic topological insulator KHgAs
title_sort pressure induced superconductivity in the nonsymmorphic topological insulator khgas
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41427-023-00496-7
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