Coexistence of superconductivity and topological band in a van der Waals Sn1-xInxBi2Te4 crystal

Abstract

The realization of topological surface states and superconductivity within a single material platform is a crucial step toward achieving topologically nontrivial superconductivity. This can be achieved at an interface between a superconductor and a topological insulator, or within a single material that intrinsically hosts both superconductivity and topological surface states. Here we use scanning tunneling microscopy to study Sn1-xInxBi2Te4 crystals. Spectroscopic evidence reveals the coexistence of topological surface states and superconductivity on the same surface of the crystals. The Te-terminated surface exhibits a single U-shaped superconducting gap with a size of up to 311 μeV, alongside Dirac bands outside the gap. Analysis of the vortex structure and differential conductance suggests weak-coupling s-wave superconductivity. The absence of observed zero modes suggests that shifting the Fermi level closer to the Dirac point of the topological bands is necessary to realize a topological superconducting state.