Research Projects

Topological superconductors (TSCs) are a unique class of quantum materials that exhibit unconventional pairing mechanisms and can host exotic quasiparticles like Majorana fermions, making them highly promising for fault-tolerant quantum computing. However, despite extensive theoretical predications, the number of experimentally confirmed TSCs remains limited, largely due to significant challenges in their synthesis and characterization. Recently, unconventional superconductivity has been observed and predicted in various Kagome lattice systems such as AV₃Sb₅ (A = K, Rb, Cs), RT₃X₂ (R = Y, La, Lu, Th; T = Ru, Os, Rh, Ir; and X = B, Si, Ga), and AB₂ (A = Sc, Y, Lu, Zr, Hf; and B = Os, Re). The Kagome lattice compounds exhibit a rich variety of exotic quantum phenomena, including Dirac cones, flat bands, charge density wave order, strong spin-orbit coupling, enhances electronic correlations, van Hove singularities in the density of states, and unconventional superconductivity. The investigation of various Kagome lattice-based families including AB₃C₅, RT₃X₃, and AB₂ provides a valuable platform to explore unconventional superconductivity, owing to their diverse crystallographic symmetries, complex electronic structures, and emergent quantum phenomena. This proposed project aims to advance the understanding of TSCs by systematically investigating the physical properties of novel candidates across various Kagome lattice families such as AB₃C₅ (A = alkali metals; B = Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo; C = Ge, Sn, Pb, As, Sb, Bi), RT₃X₂ (R = Y, La, Lu, Th; T = Ru, Os, Rh, Ir; and X = B, Si, Ga), AB₂ (A = Sc, Y, Lu, Zr, Hf; and B = Os, Re), and LaTY (T = Cu, Zn; Y = In, Sn, Pb) compounds. High-quality single crystals will be grown using methods such as flux growth, chemical vapor transport, optical floating zone furnace, or tetra-arc melting, depending on the thermodynamic requirements of each compound. Comprehensive structural and compositional analysis will be conducted using x-ray diffraction and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, respectively. Physical properties will be explored through low-temperature measurements including magnetotransport, magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, heat capacity, Hall effect, and muon spin rotation/relaxation (μSR). These studies aim to reveal bulk superconductivity, time-reversal symmetry breaking, and unconventional superconducting behavior. A systematic and comparative study of these systems, integrating both experimental techniques and theoretical calculations is essential for advancing our understanding of unconventional pairing mechanisms in Kagome lattice families. These findings are expected to contribute significantly to the discovery and understanding of new TSCs, supporting advancements in next-generation quantum technologies and aligning with national priorities in advanced quantum materials research.