Type-I superconductivity in a quasi-2D topologically nontrivial YbBi$_2$

Abstract

Intrinsic superconductivity in stoichiometric materials with nontrivial electronic topology remains uncommon, limiting opportunities to investigate how these two phenomena coexist within a single electronic system. Here, we report bulk type-I superconductivity below $T_c$ $\sim$ 0.9~K in YbBi$_2$, a layered rare-earth compound with a nonsymmorphic crystal structure and a quasi-two-dimensional Fermi surface. Thermodynamic and transport measurements establish the superconducting ground state, while quantum oscillations reveal exceptionally light carriers, with a cyclotron mass as low as 0.07 $m_e$, and a nonzero Berry phase of approximately 0.82 $\pi$. The latter closely matches the calculated value of the corresponding Wilson phase 0.99 $\pi$ for the corresponding orbit near a symmetry-protected band degeneracy. ARPES measurements show good agreement with key features of the calculated electronic structure, providing complementary experimental constraints on the normal-state band structure. The combination of intrinsic type-I superconductivity, light quasi-two-dimensional carriers, and signatures of nontrivial electronic topology identifies YbBi$_2$ as a distinct stoichiometric platform for investigating superconductivity in a topologically nontrivial electronic environment.