Signatures of quasi-two-dimensional superconductivity with in-plane anisotropy in nonsymmorphic
Phys. Rev. Materials 10, 094803 – Published 23 September, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/13qn-xzr2
Abstract
Anisotropic superconductivity accompanied by spontaneous symmetry breaking provides key insights into unconventional pairing. Recently, the noble metal alloy has attracted great interest due to the coexistence of superconductivity, topological band structures, and strong spin-orbit interaction. However, the nature of the superconductivity remains elusive. Here, we report signatures of quasi-two-dimensional superconductivity with in-plane anisotropy in a tetragonal crystal, which crystallizes in a geometrically frustrated Shastry-Sutherland (SS) lattice with a unique nonsymmorphic symmetry. Through polar angular-dependent transport measurements, we uncover pronounced out-of-plane anisotropy in the superconducting state, accompanied by evidence of a Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless transition, indicative of quasi-two-dimensional superconducting behavior. Furthermore, azimuthal angular-dependent measurements reveal a striking in-plane twofold symmetry in both the superconductivity and upper critical field, which disappears in the normal state, suggesting a possible unconventional pairing. Our findings establish a promising platform for further exploring exotic superconducting states such as nematic or topological superconductivity.