Quantum oscillation with nontrivial Berry phase is one of the characteristics of topological materials. As a Dirac semimetal candidate, zirconium pentatelluride (ZrTe5) stands out as an intriguing material for investigating topological phase transitions and Dirac fermion physics; however, the extreme sensitivity of its electronic properties to stoichiometric variations and crystalline defects has hindered consistent experimental observation. Here, we report an optimized Te-flux synthesis method designed to produce centimeter-scale, high-quality single crystals meanwhile minimizing extrinsic carrier contamination. Comprehensive morphology, structural and chemical characterizations, including scanning electron microscopy, Laue backscattering and Rietveld refinement, confirm a high-purity Cmcm phase with excellent crystallinity. Furthermore, magnetotransport measurements reveal a remarkably low Shubnikov-de Haas oscillation onset field (Bint≈0.38 T) with an ultra-high mobility of 5.58×105cm2V−1s−1 and access to the the quantum limit at B≈1.3 T, attesting to the superior crystalline quality and the efficacy of this growth optimization. These results demonstrate that growth control is crucial for stabilizing intrinsic electronic behavior in ZrTe5, establishing a robust platform for exploring topological phase transitions and exotic quantum phenomena in topological semimetals.
@article{arxiv.2603.12822,
title = {Optimized growth of large-size, high quality $\text{ZrTe}_5$ single crystals enabling clear quantum oscillations in electrical transport},
author = {Hong Du and Yu Cao and Jiahao Chen and Tian Liang and Liang Liu and Ruidan Zhong},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2603.12822},
year = {2026}
}