de Haas-van Alphen effect and the first-principles study of the possible topological stannide Cu3Sn

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds 2022-12, Vol.928, p.167017, Article 167017
• Main Authors: Liu, Chengxu, Li, Bin, Ge, Yongheng, Xi, Chuanying, Liu, Yi, Xu, Chunqiang, Lu, Qi, Li, Yunlong, Qiu, Hang-Qiang, Zhu, Qin-Qing, Li, Yu-Ke, Ren, Zhi, Zhu, Ziming, Qian, Dong, Ke, Xianglin, Xu, Xiaofeng, Jiao, Wen-He
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: De Haas-Van Alphen effect; De Haas-van Alphen oscillations; Fermions; First principles; Intermetallic compounds; Intermetallic stannide; Magnetoresistance; Magnetoresistivity; Mathematical analysis; Oscillations; Physical properties; Quantum mechanics; Topological Dirac fermions; Topology
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2022.167017

The search for quantum materials with various symmetry-protected topological states has been the focus of recent research interest, primarily due to their fascinating physical properties and the potential technological utility. In this work, we report on the magnetotransport, de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) oscillations, and the first-principles calculations of the stannide Cu3Sn that is isostructural with the recently reported topological semimetal Ag3Sn. The magnetoresistance was found to vary quasi-linearly in field. Clear dHvA oscillations were observed under a field as low as 1 Tesla at 2 K, with three major oscillation frequencies Fα = 8.74 T, Fβ = 150.19 T and Fγ = 229.66 T and extremely small effective masses. The analysis of dHvA quantum oscillations revealed a possible nonzero Berry phase, suggestive of the nontrivial band topology. The corroborating evidence for the nontrivial electronic topology also comes from the first-principles calculations which yield a nonzero Z2 topological index. These results collectively suggest that Cu3Sn, in analogy to its homolog Ag3Sn, may be another intermetallic stannide hosting topological Dirac fermions. [Display omitted] •The high-quality single crystals of the intermetallic Cu3Sn are synthesized. The topological properties have been revealed for the first time.•We report on the anomalous magnetotransport, quantum de Haas-van Alphen oscillations, and the first-principles calculations of the stannide Cu3Sn.•By multiple techniques, we provide the thermodynamic and computational evidence for the existence of topological carriers in this stannide.