Superconducting properties of the misfit-layer compound (SnSe)1.18(TiSe2)2

We report the superconducting properties in the misfit layered compound (SnSe)(1.18)(TiSe2)(2) with critical temperature T-c = 3.3K at ambient pressure. Even though this compound is a polycrystalline compound, it shows anisotropic properties from the X-ray diffraction, electrical transport, magnetization, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy measurements. The anisotropic parameter gamma Hc(2) of the compound is about 1.55 which is obtained from the superconducting parameters of the zero-temperature-limit upper critical field H-c2(0) and coherence length xi using the Werthamer-Helfand-Hohenberg (WHH) formula. The small values of specific heat jump Delta C/gamma T-c and electron-phonon coupling constant lambda(e-ph) indicate a weak-coupling BCS superconductor. The critical current density is exceptionally high (8000 Lambda cm(-2)) compared to other misfit-layer superconductors. Isothermal hysteresis of magnetization, and critical current density (inset), with respect to the applied magnetic field for various temperatures. (C) 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim