COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF WEAK ANTILOCALIZATION IN PDXBI₂SE₃ WHISKERS AND RELATED TOPOLOGICAL STRUCTURES

Михайло Петрович Микитюк, Ігор Петрович Островський

Abstract


This paper presents a comprehensive comparative review and detailed analysis of the weak antilocalization (WAL) effect observed in PdxBi₂Se₃ whiskers in comparison with well-established results for Bi₂Se₃ single crystals and thin films, which serve as benchmark systems for the study of topological insulators. The literature review highlights the influence of sample morphology, the nature of doping elements, structural disorder, and strong spin–orbit coupling on the parameters that govern coherent quantum transport in these materials. Special emphasis is placed on the unique combination of whisker-like morphology, Pd doping, and the observation of residual surface superconductivity in our samples, which makes these structures promising candidates for further research in the field of topological quantum matter. For comparison, three representative studies were selected: one describing WAL in Pd-doped Bi₂Se₃ single crystals grown by the zone-melting technique, another reporting on a detailed analysis of WAL and Shubnikov–de Haas (SdH) oscillations in undoped Bi₂Se₃ thin films, and a third study examining WAL and quantum oscillations in pure Bi₂Se₃ single crystals without any intentional doping. The comparative analysis shows that the phase coherence length in our whisker samples is lower than in massive single crystals and thin films, yet the unique combination of whisker morphology and Pd doping favors the coexistence of WAL with residual surface superconductivity, a feature not observed in previous Bi₂Se₃ systems. In addition, our measurements indicate the presence of weak nematic anisotropy, visible as a slight directional asymmetry of the upper critical magnetic field. Such a combination of features opens up new possibilities for studying the interaction between topologically protected surface states and superconducting phases, which is highly relevant for the design of novel quantum devices and spintronic applications. The results expand the current understanding of how topological surface states can be tuned and controlled through targeted engineering of the material's morphology, chemical composition, and growth conditions. This research provides a foundation for future experimental efforts aimed at optimizing the properties of nanostructured superconducting topological materials based on Bi₂Se₃ whiskers.

Keywords


Bi₂Se₃, whiskers, weak antilocalization, spin–orbit interaction, Pd doping, residual superconductivity, nematicity, magneresistance

References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.32620/oikit.2025.105.11

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