Classical linear magnetoresistance in exfoliated <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:msub><mml:mrow><mml:mi>NbTe</mml:mi></mml:mrow><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msub></mml:math> nanoflakes
Siyao Gu, Kaixuan Fan, Yang Yang, Hong Wang, Yongkai Li, Fanming Qu, Guangtong Liu, Zian Li, Zhiwei Wang, Yugui Yao, Jianqi Li, Lü Li, Fan Yang
Abstract
Recently, the transition metal dichalcogenide ${\mathrm{NbTe}}_{2}$ was predicted to be a candidate material of topological semimetal. Here we report the magnetotransport data measured in two devices fabricated from ${\mathrm{NbTe}}_{2}$ 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 ${\mathrm{NbTe}}_{2}$ is most likely a classical magnetoresistance induced by disorders and inhomogeneities. This speculation is supported by the abundant domain structures observed in ${\mathrm{NbTe}}_{2}$ crystals in transmission electron microscopy measurements.