Dirac-fermion-assisted interfacial superconductivity in epitaxial topological-insulator/iron-chalcogenide heterostructures

Hemian Yi, Lun-Hui Hu, Yi-Fan Zhao, Ling-Jie Zhou, Zi-Jie Yan, Ruoxi Zhang, Wei Yuan, Zihao Wang, Ke Wang, Danielle Reifsnyder Hickey, Anthony R. Richardella, John Singleton, Laurel E. Winter, Xianxin Wu, Moses H. W. Chan, Nitin Samarth, Chao-Xing Liu () and Cui-Zu Chang ()
Additional contact information
Hemian Yi: The Pennsylvania State University
Lun-Hui Hu: The Pennsylvania State University
Yi-Fan Zhao: The Pennsylvania State University
Ling-Jie Zhou: The Pennsylvania State University
Zi-Jie Yan: The Pennsylvania State University
Ruoxi Zhang: The Pennsylvania State University
Wei Yuan: The Pennsylvania State University
Zihao Wang: The Pennsylvania State University
Ke Wang: The Pennsylvania State University
Danielle Reifsnyder Hickey: The Pennsylvania State University
Anthony R. Richardella: The Pennsylvania State University
John Singleton: National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Laurel E. Winter: National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Xianxin Wu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Moses H. W. Chan: The Pennsylvania State University
Nitin Samarth: The Pennsylvania State University
Chao-Xing Liu: The Pennsylvania State University
Cui-Zu Chang: The Pennsylvania State University

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Over the last decade, the possibility of realizing topological superconductivity (TSC) has generated much excitement. TSC can be created in electronic systems where the topological and superconducting orders coexist, motivating the continued exploration of candidate material platforms to this end. Here, we use molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) to synthesize heterostructures that host emergent interfacial superconductivity when a non-superconducting antiferromagnet (FeTe) is interfaced with a topological insulator (TI) (Bi, Sb)2Te3. By performing in-vacuo angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and ex-situ electrical transport measurements, we find that the superconducting transition temperature and the upper critical magnetic field are suppressed when the chemical potential approaches the Dirac point. We provide evidence to show that the observed interfacial superconductivity and its chemical potential dependence is the result of the competition between the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida-type ferromagnetic coupling mediated by Dirac surface states and antiferromagnetic exchange couplings that generate the bicollinear antiferromagnetic order in the FeTe layer.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42902-2

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