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Electrically tunable low-density superconductivity in a monolayer topological insulator

Journal Article · · Science
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Turning on superconductivity in a topologically nontrivial insulator may provide a route to search for non-Abelian topological states. However, existing demonstrations of superconductor-insulator switches have involved only topologically trivial systems. Here we report reversible, in situ electrostatic on-off switching of superconductivity in the recently established quantum spin Hall insulator monolayer tungsten ditelluride (WTe2). Fabricated into a van der Waals field-effect transistor, the monolayer’s ground state can be continuously gate-tuned from the topological insulating to the superconducting state, with critical temperaturesTcup to ~1 kelvin. Our results establish monolayer WTe2as a material platform for engineering nanodevices that combine superconducting and topological phases of matter.

Research Organization:
Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Center for Excitonics (CE); Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
DOE Contract Number:
SC0001088
OSTI ID:
1566717
Journal Information:
Science, Vol. 362, Issue 6417; ISSN 0036-8075
Publisher:
AAAS
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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