Obtaining tetragonal FeAs layer and superconducting KxFe2As2 by molecular beam epitaxy

Cui Ding; Yuanzhao Li; Shuaihua Ji; Ke He; Lili Wang; Qi-Kun Xue

doi:10.1007/s12274-022-4956-4

Nano Research 2023, 16(2): 3040-3045 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-022-4956-4

Research Article | Issue | Published: 13 September 2022

Obtaining tetragonal FeAs layer and superconducting K_xFe₂As₂ by molecular beam epitaxy

Show Author's Information Hide Author's Information Cui Ding^{¹^,²}, Yuanzhao Li^¹, Shuaihua Ji^¹, Ke He^¹, Lili Wang^{¹^,³}(

), Qi-Kun Xue^{¹^,²^,⁴}(

)

1State Key Laboratory of Low-Dimensional Quantum Physics, Department of Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

2Beijing Academy of Quantum Information Sciences, Beijing 100193, China

3Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, Beijing 100084, China

4Department of Physics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China

Keywords:

molecular beam epitaxy, topotactic reaction, tetragonal FeAs, K_xFe₂As₂, interface enhanced superconductivity

Topics:

Epitaxial growth Film growth Monolayers Scanning tunneling microscopy Scanning tunneling microscopy

Cite this article:

Ding C, Li Y, Ji S, et al. Obtaining tetragonal FeAs layer and superconducting K_xFe₂As₂ by molecular beam epitaxy. Nano Research, 2023, 16(2): 3040-3045. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-022-4956-4

Download citation

EndNote(RIS)

BibTeX

844

Views

Downloads

Citations

Crossref

WoS

Scopus

CSCD

Abstract Full text About this article

Abstract

Atomic characterization on tetragonal FeAs layer and engineering FeAs superlattices is highly desirable to get deep insight into the multi-band superconductivity in iron-pnictides. We fabricate the tetragonal FeAs layer by topotactic reaction of FeTe films with arsenic and then obtain K_xFe₂As₂ upon potassium intercalation using molecular beam epitaxy. The in-situ low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy investigations demonstrate characteristic $\sqrt{2} \times \sqrt{2}$ reconstruction of the FeAs layer and stripe pattern of K_xFe₂As₂, accompanied by the development of a superconducting-like gap. The ex-situ transport measurement with FeTe capping layers shows a superconducting transition with an onset temperature of 10 K. This work provides a promising way to characterize the FeAs layer directly and explore rich emergent physics with epitaxial superlattice design.

Full text

Abstract

Full text

Outline

About this article

Obtaining tetragonal FeAs layer and superconducting K_xFe₂As₂ by molecular beam epitaxy

Show Author's information Hide Author's Information Cui Ding^{¹^,²}, Yuanzhao Li^¹, Shuaihua Ji^¹, Ke He^¹, Lili Wang^{¹^,³}(

), Qi-Kun Xue^{¹^,²^,⁴}(

)

1State Key Laboratory of Low-Dimensional Quantum Physics, Department of Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

2Beijing Academy of Quantum Information Sciences, Beijing 100193, China

3Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, Beijing 100084, China

4Department of Physics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China

Abstract

Keywords: molecular beam epitaxy, topotactic reaction, tetragonal FeAs, K_xFe₂As₂, interface enhanced superconductivity

References(50)

[1]

Takahashi, H.; Igawa, K.; Arii, K.; Kamihara, Y.; Hirano, M.; Hosono, H. Superconductivity at 43 K in an iron-based layered compound LaO_1−xF_xFeAs. Nature 2008, 453, 376–378.

DOI Google Scholar

[2]

Ren, Z. A.; Lu, W.; Yang, J.; Yi, W.; Shen, X. L.; Li, Z. C.; Che, G. C.; Dong, X. L.; Sun, L. L.; Zhou, F. et al. Superconductivity at 55 K in iron-based F-doped layered quaternary compound Sm[O_1−xF_x] FeAs. Chin. Phys. Lett. 2008, 25, 2215–2216.

DOI Google Scholar

[3]

Hsu, F. C.; Luo, J. Y.; Yeh, K. W.; Chen, T. K.; Huang, T. W.; Wu, P. M.; Lee, Y. C.; Huang, Y. L.; Chu, Y. Y.; Yan, D. C. et al. Superconductivity in the PbO-type structure α-FeSe. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2008, 105, 14262–14264.

DOI Google Scholar

[4]

McQueen, T. M.; Huang, Q.; Ksenofontov, V.; Felser, C.; Xu, Q.; Zandbergen, H.; Hor, Y. S.; Allred, J.; Williams, A. J.; Qu, D. et al. Extreme sensitivity of superconductivity to stoichiometry in Fe_1+δSe. Phys. Rev. B 2009, 79, 014522.

DOI Google Scholar

[5]

Medvedev, S.; McQueen, T. M.; Troyan, I. A.; Palasyuk, T.; Eremets, M. I.; Cava, R. J.; Naghavi, S.; Casper, F.; Ksenofontov, V.; Wortmann, G. et al. Electronic and magnetic phase diagram of β-Fe_1.01Se with superconductivity at 36. 7 K under pressure. Nat. Mater. 2009, 8, 630–633.

DOI Google Scholar

[6]

Garbarino, G.; Sow, A.; Lejay, P.; Sulpice, A.; Toulemonde, P.; Mezouar, M.; Núñez-Regueiro, M. High-temperature superconductivity (T_c onset at 34 K) in the high-pressure orthorhombic phase of FeSe. Europhys. Lett. 2009, 86, 27001.

DOI Google Scholar

[7]

Hanzawa, K.; Sato, H.; Hiramatsu, H.; Kamiya, T.; Hosono, H. Electric field-induced superconducting transition of insulating FeSe thin film at 35 K. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2016, 113, 3986–3990.

DOI Google Scholar

[8]

Shiogai, J.; Ito, Y.; Mitsuhashi, T.; Nojima, T.; Tsukazaki, A. Electric-field-induced superconductivity in electrochemically etched ultrathin FeSe films on SrTiO₃ and MgO. Nat. Phys. 2016, 12, 42–46.

DOI Google Scholar

[9]

Lin, P. H.; Texier, Y.; Taleb-Ibrahimi, A.; Le Fèvre, P.; Bertran, F.; Giannini, E.; Grioni, M.; Brouet, V. Nature of the bad metallic behavior of Fe_1.06Te inferred from its evolution in the magnetic state. Phys. Rev. Lett. 2013, 111, 217002.

DOI Google Scholar

[10]

Enayat, M.; Sun, Z. X.; Singh, U. R.; Aluru, R.; Schmaus, S.; Yaresko, A.; Liu, Y.; Lin, C. T.; Tsurkan, V.; Loidl, A. et al. Real-space imaging of the atomic-scale magnetic structure of Fe_1+yTe. Science 2014, 345, 653–656.

DOI Google Scholar

[11]

Trainer, C.; Yim, C. M.; Heil, C.; Giustino, F.; Croitori, D.; Tsurkan, V.; Loidl, A.; Rodriguez, E. E.; Stock, C.; Wahl, P. Manipulating surface magnetic order in iron telluride. Sci. Adv. 2019, 5, eaav3478.

DOI Google Scholar

[12]

Nie, Y. F.; Telesca, D.; Budnick, J. I.; Sinkovic, B.; Ramprasad, R.; Wells, B. O. Superconductivity and properties of FeTeO_x films. J. Phys. Chem. Solids 2011, 72, 426–429.

DOI Google Scholar

[13]

Zhang, Z. T.; Yang, Z. R.; Lu, W. J.; Chen, X. L.; Li, L.; Sun, Y. P.; Xi, C. Y.; Ling, L. S.; Zhang, C. J.; Pi, L. et al. Superconductivity in Fe_1.05Te:O_x single crystals. Phys. Rev. B 2013, 88, 214511.

DOI Google Scholar

[14]

Hosono, H.; Kuroki, K. Iron-based superconductors: Current status of materials and pairing mechanism. Phys. C:Supercond. Appl. 2015, 514, 399–422.

DOI Google Scholar

[15]

Wu, Y. P.; Zhao, D.; Wang, A. F.; Wang, N. Z.; Xiang, Z. J.; Luo, X. G.; Wu, T.; Chen, X. H. Emergent Kondo lattice behavior in iron-based superconductors AFe₂As₂ (A = K, Rb, Cs). Phys. Rev. Lett. 2016, 116, 147001.

DOI Google Scholar

[16]

Wang, Q. Y.; Li, Z.; Zhang, W. H.; Zhang, Z. C.; Zhang, J. S.; Li, W.; Ding, H.; Ou, Y. B.; Deng, P.; Chang, K. et al. Interface-induced high-temperature superconductivity in single unit-cell FeSe films on SrTiO₃. Chin. Phys. Lett. 2012, 29, 037402.

DOI Google Scholar

[17]

Zhang, W. H.; Sun, Y.; Zhang, J. S.; Li, F. S.; Guo, M. H.; Zhao, Y. F.; Zhang, H. M.; Peng, J. P.; Xing, Y.; Wang, H. C. et al. Direct observation of high-temperature superconductivity in one-unit-cell FeSe films. Chin. Phys. Lett. 2014, 31, 017401.

DOI Google Scholar

[18]

Lee, J. J.; Schmitt, F. T.; Moore, R. G.; Johnston, S.; Cui, Y. T.; Li, W.; Yi, M.; Liu, Z. K.; Hashimoto, M.; Zhang, Y. et al. Interfacial mode coupling as the origin of the enhancement of T_c in FeSe films on SrTiO₃. Nature 2014, 515, 245–248.

DOI Google Scholar

[19]

Song, Q.; Yu, T. L.; Lou, X.; Xie, B. P.; Xu, H. C.; Wen, C. H. P.; Yao, Q.; Zhang, S. Y.; Zhu, X. T.; Guo, J. D. et al. Evidence of cooperative effect on the enhanced superconducting transition temperature at the FeSe/SrTiO₃ interface. Nat. Commun. 2019, 10, 758.

DOI Google Scholar

[20]

Gong, G. M.; Yang, H. H.; Zhang, Q. H.; Ding, C.; Zhou, J. S.; Chen, Y. J.; Meng, F. Q.; Zhang, Z. Y.; Dong, W. F.; Zheng, F. W. et al. Oxygen vacancy modulated superconductivity in monolayer FeSe on SrTiO_3−δ. Phys. Rev. B 2019, 100, 224504.

DOI Google Scholar

[21]

Tan, S. Y.; Zhang, Y.; Xia, M.; Ye, Z. R.; Chen, F.; Xie, X.; Peng, R.; Xu, D. F.; Fan, Q.; Xu, H. et al. Interface-induced superconductivity and strain-dependent spin density waves in FeSe/SrTiO₃ thin films. Nat. Mater. 2013, 12, 634–640.

DOI Google Scholar

[22]

Zhang

S. Y.

Guan

J. Q.

Jia

Liu

Wang

W. H.

F. S.

Wang

L. L.

X. C.

Xue

Q. K.

Zhang

J. D.

Role of SrTiO₃ phonon penetrating into thin FeSe films in the enhancement of superconductivity

Phys. Rev. B201694081116(R)

10.1103/PhysRevB.94.08116

Zhang, S. Y.; Guan, J. Q.; Jia, X.; Liu, B.; Wang, W. H.; Li, F. S.; Wang, L. L.; Ma, X. C.; Xue, Q. K.; Zhang, J. D. et al. Role of SrTiO₃ phonon penetrating into thin FeSe films in the enhancement of superconductivity. Phys. Rev. B 2016, 94, 081116(R).

DOI Google Scholar

[23]

Sun, Y.; Zhang, W. H.; Xing, Y.; Li, F. S.; Zhao, Y. F.; Xia, Z. C.; Wang, L. L.; Ma, X. C.; Xue, Q. K.; Wang, J. High temperature superconducting FeSe films on SrTiO₃ substrates. Sci. Rep. 2014, 4, 6040.

DOI Google Scholar

[24]

Zhang, Z. C.; Wang, Y. H.; Song, Q.; Liu, C.; Peng, R.; Moler, K. A.; Feng, D. L.; Wang, Y. Y. Onset of the Meissner effect at 65 K in FeSe thin film grown on Nb-doped SrTiO₃ substrate. Sci. Bull. 2015, 60, 1301–1304.

DOI Google Scholar

[25]

Xu, Y.; Rong, H. T.; Wang, Q. Y.; Wu, D. S.; Hu, Y.; Cai, Y. Q.; Gao, Q.; Yan, H. T.; Li, C.; Yin, C. H. et al. Spectroscopic evidence of superconductivity pairing at 83 K in single-layer FeSe/SrTiO₃ films. Nat. Commun. 2021, 12, 2840.

DOI Google Scholar

[26]

Liu, C.; Zheng, F. W.; Shen, L.; Liao, M. H.; Wu, R.; Gong, G. M.; Ding, C.; Yang, H. H.; Li, W.; Song, C. L. et al. Anti-PbO-type CoSe film: A possible analog to FeSe superconductors. Supercond. Sci. Technol. 2018, 31, 115011.

DOI Google Scholar

[27]

Ding, C.; Gong, G. M.; Liu, Y. Z.; Zheng, F. W.; Zhang, Z. Y.; Yang, H. H.; Li, Z.; Xing, Y.; Ge, J.; He, K. et al. Signature of superconductivity in orthorhombic CoSb monolayer films on SrTiO₃ (001). ACS Nano 2019, 13, 10434–10439.

DOI Google Scholar

[28]

Chang, K.; Deng, P.; Zhang, T.; Lin, H. C.; Zhao, K.; Ji, S. H.; Wang, L. L.; He, K.; Ma, X. C.; Chen, X. et al. Molecular beam epitaxy growth of superconducting LiFeAs film on SrTiO₃ (001) substrate. Europhys. Lett. 2015, 109, 28003.

DOI Google Scholar

[29]

Kang, J. H.; Xie, L.; Wang, Y.; Lee, H.; Campbell, N.; Jiang, J. Y.; Ryan, P. J.; Keavney, D. J.; Lee, J. W.; Kim, T. H. et al. Control of epitaxial BaFe₂As₂ atomic configurations with substrate surface terminations. Nano Lett. 2018, 18, 6347–6352.

DOI Google Scholar

[30]

Tang

C. J.

Zhang

Zang

Y. Y.

Liu

Zhou

G. Y.

Zheng

X. P.

Song

C. L.

S. H.

Superconductivity dichotomy in K-coated single and double unit cell FeSe films on SrTiO₃

Phys. Rev. B201592180507(R)

10.1103/PhysRevB.92.18057

Tang, C. J.; Zhang, D.; Zang, Y. Y.; Liu, C.; Zhou, G. Y.; Li, Z.; Zheng, C.; Hu, X. P.; Song, C. L.; Ji, S. H. et al. Superconductivity dichotomy in K-coated single and double unit cell FeSe films on SrTiO₃. Phys. Rev. B 2015, 92, 180507(R).

DOI Google Scholar

[31]

Zhang, Z. M.; Cai, M.; Li, R.; Meng, F. Q.; Zhang, Q. H.; Gu, L.; Ye, Z. J.; Xu, G.; Fu, Y. S.; Zhang, W. H. Controllable synthesis and electronic structure characterization of multiple phases of iron telluride thin films. Phys. Rev. Mater. 2020, 4, 125003.

DOI Google Scholar

[32]

Zhang, L.; Singh, D. J.; Du, M. H. Density functional study of excess Fe in Fe_1+xTe: Magnetism and doping. Phys. Rev. B 2009, 79, 012506.

DOI Google Scholar

[33]

Wei, Z. X.; Ding, C.; Sun, Y. J.; Wang, L.; Xue, Q. K. Preparation of spatially uniform monolayer FeSe_xTe_1–x (0 < x ≤ 1) by topotactic reaction. Nano Res., in press, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-022-4718-3.

[34]

Gao, M.; Ma, F. J.; Lu, Z. Y.; Xiang, T. Surface structures of ternary iron arsenides AFe₂As₂ (A = Ba, Sr, or Ca). Phys. Rev. B 2010, 81, 193409.

DOI Google Scholar

[35]

Li, A.; Yin, J. X.; Wang, J. H.; Wu, Z.; Ma, J. H.; Sefat, A. S.; Sales, B. C.; Mandrus, D. G.; McGuire, M. A.; Jin, R. et al. Surface terminations and layer-resolved tunneling spectroscopy of the 122 iron pnictide superconductors. Phys. Rev. B 2019, 99, 134520.

DOI Google Scholar

[36]

Yin, J. X.; Wu, X. X.; Li, J.; Wu, Z.; Wang, J. H.; Ting, C. S.; Hor, P. H.; Liang, X. J.; Zhang, C. L.; Dai, P. C. et al. Orbital selectivity of layer-resolved tunneling in the iron-based superconductor Ba_0.6K_{0. 4}Fe₂As₂. Phys. Rev. B 2020, 102, 054515.

DOI Google Scholar

[37]

Sato, T.; Nakayama, K.; Sekiba, Y.; Richard, P.; Xu, Y. M.; Souma, S.; Takahashi, T.; Chen, G. F.; Luo, J. L.; Wang, N. L. et al. Band structure and fermi surface of an extremely overdoped iron-based superconductor KFe₂As₂. Phys. Rev. Lett. 2009, 103, 047002.

DOI Google Scholar

[38]

Richard

Shi

van Roekeghem

Qian

Razzoli

Rienks

Chen

G. F.

Ieki

Nakayama

Possible nodal superconducting gap and Lifshitz transition in heavily hole-doped Ba_0.1K_0.9Fe₂As₂

Phys. Rev. B201388220508(R)

10.1103/PhysRevB.88.220508

Xu, N.; Richard, P.; Shi, X.; van Roekeghem, A.; Qian, T.; Razzoli, E.; Rienks, E.; Chen, G. F.; Ieki, E.; Nakayama, K. et al. Possible nodal superconducting gap and Lifshitz transition in heavily hole-doped Ba_0.1K_0.9Fe₂As₂. Phys. Rev. B 2013, 88, 220508(R).

DOI Google Scholar

[39]

Hardy, F.; Böhmer, A. E.; Aoki, D.; Burger, P.; Wolf, T.; Schweiss, P.; Heid, R.; Adelmann, P.; Yao, Y. X.; Kotliar, G. et al. Evidence of strong correlations and coherence−incoherence crossover in the iron pnictide superconductor KFe₂As₂. Phys. Rev. Lett. 2013, 111, 027002.

DOI Google Scholar

[40]

Tafti, F. F.; Juneau-Fecteau, A.; Delage, M. È.; René de Cotret, S.; Reid, J. P.; Wang, A. F.; Luo, X. G.; Chen, X. H.; Doiron-Leyraud, N.; Taillefer, L. Sudden reversal in the pressure dependence of T_c in the iron-based superconductor KFe₂As₂. Nat. Phys. 2013, 9, 349–352.

DOI Google Scholar

[41]

Eilers, F.; Grube, K.; Zocco, D. A.; Wolf, T.; Merz, M.; Schweiss, P.; Heid, R.; Eder, R.; Yu, R.; Zhu, J. X. et al. Strain-driven approach to quantum criticality in AFe₂As₂ with A= K, Rb, and Cs. Phys. Rev. Lett. 2016, 116, 237003.

DOI Google Scholar

[42]

Backes, S.; Jeschke, H. O.; Valentí, R. Microscopic nature of correlations in multiorbital AFe₂As₂ (A = K, Rb, Cs): Hund's coupling versus Coulomb repulsion. Phys. Rev. B 2015, 92, 195128.

DOI Google Scholar

[43]

Nakajima

Wang

R. X.

Metz

Wang

X. F.

Wang

L. M.

Cynn

Weir

S. T.

Jeffries

J. R.

Paglione

High-temperature superconductivity stabilized by electron-hole interband coupling in collapsed tetragonal phase of KFe₂As₂ under high pressure

Phys. Rev. B201591060508(R)

10.1103/PhysRevB.91.060508

Nakajima, Y.; Wang, R. X.; Metz, T.; Wang, X. F.; Wang, L. M.; Cynn, H.; Weir, S. T.; Jeffries, J. R.; Paglione, J. High-temperature superconductivity stabilized by electron-hole interband coupling in collapsed tetragonal phase of KFe₂As₂ under high pressure. Phys. Rev. B 2015, 91, 060508(R).

DOI Google Scholar

[44]

Wang

B. S.

Matsubayashi

Cheng

J. G.

Terashima

Kihou

Ishida

Lee

C. H.

Iyo

Eisaki

Uwatoko

Absence of superconductivity in the collapsed tetragonal phase of KFe₂As₂ under hydrostatic pressure

Phys. Rev. B201694020502(R)

10.1103/PhysRevB.94.020502

Wang, B. S.; Matsubayashi, K.; Cheng, J. G.; Terashima, T.; Kihou, K.; Ishida, S.; Lee, C. H.; Iyo, A.; Eisaki, H.; Uwatoko, Y. Absence of superconductivity in the collapsed tetragonal phase of KFe₂As₂ under hydrostatic pressure. Phys. Rev. B 2016, 94, 020502(R).

DOI Google Scholar

[45]

Shen, S. D.; Zhang, X. W.; Wo, H. L.; Shen, Y.; Feng, Y.; Schneidewind, A.; Čermák, P.; Wang, W. B.; Zhao, J. Neutron spin resonance in the heavily hole-doped KFe₂As₂ superconductor. Phys. Rev. Lett. 2020, 124, 017001.

DOI Google Scholar

[46]

Mizuguchi, Y.; Hara, Y.; Deguchi, K.; Tsuda, S.; Yamaguchi, T.; Takeda, K.; Kotegawa, H.; Tou, H.; Takano, Y. Anion height dependence of T_c for the Fe-based superconductor. Supercond. Sci. Technol. 2010, 23, 054013.

DOI Google Scholar

[47]

Takeda, S.; Ueda, S.; Yamagishi, T.; Agatsuma, S.; Takano, S.; Mitsuda, A.; Naito, M. Molecular beam epitaxy growth of superconducting Sr_1–xK_xFe₂As₂ and Ba_1–xK_xFe₂As₂. Appl. Phys. Express 2010, 3, 093101.

DOI Google Scholar

[48]

Ueda, S.; Yamagishi, T.; Takeda, S.; Agatsuma, S.; Takano, S.; Mitsuda, A.; Naito, M. MBE growth of Fe-based superconducting films. Phys. C:Supercond. Appl. 2011, 471, 1167–1173.

DOI Google Scholar

[49]

Yamagishi, T.; Ueda, S.; Takeda, S.; Takano, S.; Mitsuda, A.; Naito, M. A study of the doping dependence of T_c in Ba_1–xK_xFe₂As₂ and Sr_1–xK_xFe₂As₂ films grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Phys. C:Supercond. Appl. 2011, 471, 1177–1180.

DOI Google Scholar

[50]

Lee, S.; Jiang, J.; Zhang, Y.; Bark, C. W.; Weiss, J. D.; Tarantini, C.; Nelson, C. T.; Jang, H. W.; Folkman, C. M.; Baek, S. H. et al. Template engineering of Co-doped BaFe₂As₂ single-crystal thin films. Nat. Mater. 2010, 9, 397–402.

DOI Google Scholar

About this article

Publication history

Acknowledgements

Publication history

Received: 30 June 2022

Revised: 18 August 2022

Accepted: 24 August 2022

Published: 13 September 2022

Issue date: February 2023

Copyright

Acknowledgements

This work is financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 12074210, 51788104, 11790311, and 12141403), the Basic and Applied Basic Research Major Programme of Guangdong Province of China (No. 2021B0301030003), and Jihua Laboratory (Project No. X210141TL210).