Phys. Rev. B 104, 115203 (2021)
Classical linear magnetoresistance in exfoliated NbTe2 nanoflakes
Siyao Gu1,2, Kaixuan Fan1,2, Yang Yang1, Hong Wang2, Yongkai Li3,4, Fanming Qu2, Guangtong Liu2, Zi-an Li2, Zhiwei Wang3,4,*, Yugui Yao3,4, Jianqi Li2, Li Lu2, and Fan Yang1,†
1 Center for Joint Quantum Studies and Department of Physics, School of Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
2 Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
3 Key Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Quantum Architecture and Measurement, Ministry of Education, School of Physics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
4 Micronano Center, Beijing Key Lab of Nanophotonics and Ultrafine Optoelectronic Systems, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
* zhiweiwang@bit.edu.cn
† fanyangphys@tju.edu.cn
ABSTRACT
Recently, the transition metal dichalcogenide NbTe2 was predicted to be a candidate material of topological semimetal. Here we report the magnetotransport data measured in two devices fabricated from NbTe2 nanoflakes. A nonsaturating linear magnetoresistance was observed in both devices at various temperatures. A close analysis shows that the observed linear magnetoresistance is not consistent with the Abrikosov quantum theory; instead, it can be well explained in the framework of the effective-medium theory which describes the classical magnetoresistance of inhomogeneous systems. Our results indicate that the linear magnetoresistance of NbTe2 is most likely a classical magnetoresistance induced by disorders and inhomogeneities. This speculation is supported by the abundant domain structures observed in NbTe2 crystals in transmission electron microscopy measurements.
