Superconductors continue to be at the forefront of condensed matter research due to their potential applications in quantum devices, high-field magnets, low-loss electronics and spintronics. Among these, PtSb is particularly intriguing because, while none of its constituent elements exhibit superconductivity individually, their combination gives rise to a superconducting ground state. This emergent behavior underscores the importance of crystal structure and electronic interactions in enabling superconductivity, and positions PtSb as a compelling subject for further investigation. To date, no studies have reported the synthesis or superconducting characterization of PtSb in thin film form. Thin films, however, are essential for practical applications and fundamental studies, enabling integration into devices, epitaxial strain tuning, and proximity effects in heterostructures. The fabrication and characterization of high-quality superconducting thin films thus remain a crucial step in realizing both applied and theoretical investigations. The only report about superconducting PtSb to this date can be found in Ref. [1], revealing a critical temperature of 𝑇_𝑐=2.1 K. In this seminar, I will present the first successful growth and characterization of PtSb(0001) thin films [2]. I will describe the synthesis method, structural properties evaluated via X-ray diffraction (XRD), and electrical transport measurements that reveal a superconducting transition at 1.72 K. Furthermore, upper critical fields in two field orientations and discussion of implications for future studies will be presented.
References:
[1] B. T. Matthias, Superconducting Compounds of Nonsuperconducting Elements, Phys. Rev. 90, 487 (1953)
[2] S. P. Bommanaboyena, Single-crystalline CrSb(0001) thin films grown by dc magnetron co-sputtering, Phys. Rev. Mater. 9, 064402 (2025)