  SnTe, an archetypical topological crystalline insulator, often shows a
transition from a highly symmetric cubic phase to a rhombohedral structure at
low temperatures. In order to achieve the highly symmetric cubic phase at low
temperatures suitable for quantum behaviour, we have employed the modified
Bridgman method to grow a high-quality single-crystalline sample of SnTe.
Analysis of the crystal structure using Laue diffraction and rocking curve
measurements show a very high degree of single crystallinity of the sample.
Resistivity and the specific heat data do not show the signature of structural
transition down to the lowest temperature studied. The magnetic susceptibility
shows diamagnetic behaviour. All these properties manifest the behaviour of a
typical bulk semiconductor with conducting surface states as expected in a
topological material. Detailed powder x-ray diffraction measurements show cubic
structure in the whole temperature range studied.
