Superconductivity at 5.4 K in β-Bi2Pd

We investigate bulk superconductivity in a high-quality single crystal of Bi2Pd (beta-Bi2Pd; space group: I4/mmm) with a superconducting transition temperature of 5.4 K, by exploring its electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, and specific heat. The temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity shows convex-upward behavior at temperatures greater than 40-50 K, which can be explained using a parallel-resistor model. In addition, the temperature dependences of the upper critical magnetic field and the specific heat suggest that beta-Bi2Pd is a multiple-band/multiple-gap superconductor.