Enhanced weak superconductivity in trigonal γ-PtBi2

Abstract

Abstract Electrical resistivity experiments show superconductivity at T c = 1.1 K in a high-quality single crystal of trigonal γ-PtBi2, with an enhanced critical magnetic field μ 0 H c 2 ( 0 ) ≳ 1.5 Tesla and a low critical current-density J c ( 0 ) ≈ 40  A cm−2 at H = 0. Both Tc and H c 2 ( 0 ) are the highest reported values for stoichiometric bulk samples at ambient pressure. We found a weak H c 2 anisotropy with Γ = H c 2 a b / H c 2 c < 1 , which is unusual among superconductors. Under a magnetic field, the superconducting transition becomes broader and asymmetric. Along with the low critical currents, this observation suggests an inhomogeneous superconducting state. In fact, no trace of superconductivity is observed through field-cooling–zero-field-cooling magnetization experiments.