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Title: Intrinsic interfacial van der Waals monolayers and their effect on the high-temperature superconductor FeSe / SrTiO 3

Journal Article · · Physical Review B

The sensitive dependence of monolayer materials on their environment often gives rise to unexpected properties. It was recently demonstrated that monolayer FeSe on a SrTiO3 substrate exhibits a much higher superconducting critical temperature TC than the bulk material. Here, we examine the interfacial structure of FeSe / SrTiO3 and the effect of an interfacial Ti1+xO2 layer on the increased TC using a combination of scanning transmission electron microscopy and density functional theory. We find Ti1+xO2 forms its own quasi-two-dimensional layer, bonding to both the substrate and the FeSe film by van der Waals interactions. The excess Ti in this layer electron-dopes the FeSe monolayer in agreement with experimental observations. Moreover, the interfacial layer introduces symmetry-breaking distortions in the FeSe film that favor a TC increase. These results suggest that this common substrate may be functionalized to modify the electronic structure of a variety of thin films and monolayers.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Vanderbilt Univ., Nashville, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725; FG02-09ER46554
OSTI ID:
1598152
Journal Information:
Physical Review B, Journal Name: Physical Review B Journal Issue: 14 Vol. 100; ISSN 2469-9950; ISSN PRBMDO
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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