Pressure-induced superconductivity in quasi-one-dimensional semimetal $\mathrm{Ta}_2 \mathrm{PdSe}_6$

Abstract

Here we report the discovery of pressure-induced superconductivity in quasi-one-dimensional $\mathrm{Ta}_2 \mathrm{PdSe}_6$, through a combination of electrical transport, synchrotron x-ray diffraction, and theoretical calculations. Our transport measurements show that the superconductivity appears at a critical pressure $P_{\mathrm{c}} \sim 18.3$ GPa and is robust upon further compression up to $62.6$ GPa. The estimated upper critical field $\mu_0 H_{\mathrm{c} 2}(0)$ in the pressurized $\mathrm{Ta}_2 \mathrm{PdSe}_6$ is much lower than the Pauli limiting field, in contrast to the case in its isostructural analogs $M_2 \mathrm{Pd}_{\mathrm{x}} X_5$ $(M=\mathrm{Nb}$, Ta; $X=\mathrm{S}, \mathrm{Se})$. Concomitant with the occurrence of superconductivity, anomalies in pressuredependent transport properties are observed, including sign reversal of Hall coefficient, abnormally enhanced resistance, and dramatically suppressed magnetoresistance. Meanwhile, room-temperature synchrotron x-ray diffraction experiments reveal the stability of the pristine monoclinic structure (space group $C 2 / m$ ) upon compression. Combined with the density functional theory calculations, we argue that a pressure-induced Lifshitz transition could be the electronic origin of the emergent superconductivity in $\mathrm{Ta}_2 \mathrm{PdSe}_6$.