Single crystal growth and transport properties of Cu-doped topological insulator Bi2Se3

We report on the growth of high quality single crystals of CuxBi2Se3 with x=0, 0.12 and 0.15, using Bridgman method. A study of crystal structure shows that the c-lattice parameter slightly decreases with an increasing level of Cu-doping. STM images indicate that both Cu-intercalation between Se-Se layers and Cu-substitution in Bi-layer sites are present. With dc magnetization measurements, superconducting transitions in Cu-intercalated Bi2Se3 have been found with a T-C of 3.5 K for x similar to 0.12 and approximately 3.6 K for x similar to 0.15, respectively. The resistivity data show metallic behavior in the Bi2Se3 crystals and paramagnetic features are observed in the low temperature region of the Cu-doped samples. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier B. V. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of the Guest Editors.