Experimental and first-principles studies of superconductivity in topological nodal line semimetal SnTaS2

We report a detailed study of superconductivity in polycrystalline SnTaS2 using electrical transport, magnetization and heat capacity measurements. SnTaS2 crystallizes in centrosymmetric hexagonal structure with space group P6(3)/mmc. Electrical resistivity, magnetization and specific heat data suggest SnTaS2 to be a weakly coupled, type-II superconductor with T-c approximate to 2.8 K. First-principles calculations show signature for nodal line topology in the electronic band structure, protected by the spatial-inversion and time-reversal symmetries, that strongly gapped out by the inclusion of spin-orbit coupling. Superconductivity in layered SnTaS2 with nodal line topological state makes it a strong candidate to be considered for a 3D topological superconductor.

Automated summary

We conducted a detailed study on the superconductivity of polycrystalline SnTaS2 using electrical transport, magnetization, and heat capacity measurements. Our results suggest that SnTaS2 is a weakly coupled, type-II superconductor with a critical temperature of approximately 2.8 K. First-principles calculations reveal the presence of nodal line topology in the electronic band structure, which is protected by spatial-inversion and time-reversal symmetries but strongly suppressed by spin-orbit coupling. This makes layered SnTaS2 with nodal line topological state a strong candidate for a 3D topological superconductor.