Superconductivity and weak ferromagnetism in inclination bicrystal interfaces of bismuth and antimony

Abstract

Using Quantum Design SQUID magnetometer and Physical Property Measuring System (PPMS), we studied the magnetic and superconducting properties of high-quality inclination crystallite interfaces (CIs) of bicrystals of Sb and Bi. It was found that the CIs with a higher carrier density than single crystalline samples exhibit a superconducting transition with respectively Tc ≤ 10 K for Sb and Tc ≤ 21 K for Bi interfaces; the Sb CIs also manifest ferromagnetic hysteresis loops against a paramagnetic background, thereby indicating occurrence of superconductivity and weak ferromagnetism.