Anisotropic superconducting properties of the misfit layer compound ( SnS ) 1.15 ( TaS 2 )

Misfit layer compound composed of alternately stacked rock-salt and transition metal dichalcogenides layers has attracted attention as a platform to study two-dimensional superconductivity. We successfully synthesized (${\mathrm{SnS})}_1.15({\mathrm{TaS}}₂$) single crystal and performed magnetic susceptibility measurements to reveal the superconducting properties. The lower and upper critical fields in the directions parallel and perpendicular to the layers are consistent with the GL description. The latter has a linear dependence on temperature, indicating (${\mathrm{SnS})}_1.15({\mathrm{TaS}}₂$) being an anisotropic three-dimensional superconductor. The hysteresis loop of the magnetization curve is observed in all three directions. The vortex pinning appears to be significant for the motion along the incommensurate axis, reflecting the crystalline structure.