Enhancement of the superconducting transition temperature by Re doping in Weyl semimetal MoTe${}_2$

Abstract

This work presents the emergence of superconductivity in Re substituted topological Weyl semimetal MoTe${}_2$. Re substitution for Mo sites lead to a sizable enhancement in the superconducting transition temperature (T${}_c$). A record high T${}_c$ at ambient pressure in a 1T${}^{\prime }$-MoTe${}_2$ (room temperature structure) related sample is observed for the Mo${}_{0.7}$Re${}_{0.3}$Te${}_2$ composition (T${}_c$ = 4.1 K, in comparison MoTe${}_2$, shows a T${}_c$ of 0.1 K). The experimental and theoretical studies indicate that Re substitution is doping electrons and facilitates the emergence of superconductivity by enhancing the electron-phonon coupling and density of states at the Fermi level. Our findings, therefore, open a new way to further manipulate and enhance the superconducting state together with the topological states in 2D van der Waals materials.

7 Pages, 10 figures