Tailoring Superconductivity in Large-Area Single-Layer NbSe2 via Self-Assembled Molecular Adlayers
Journal article, 2021
Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) represent an ideal testbench for the search of materials by design, because their optoelectronic properties can be manipulated through surface engineering and molecular functionalization. However, the impact of molecules on intrinsic physical properties of TMDs, such as superconductivity, remains largely unexplored. In this work, the critical temperature (TC) of large-area NbSe2 monolayers is manipulated, employing ultrathin molecular adlayers. Spectroscopic evidence indicates that aligned molecular dipoles within the self-assembled layers act as a fixed gate terminal, collectively generating a macroscopic electrostatic field on NbSe2. This results in an ∼55% increase and a 70% decrease in TC depending on the electric field polarity, which is controlled via molecular selection. The reported functionalization, which improves the air stability of NbSe2, is efficient, practical, up-scalable, and suited to functionalize large-area TMDs. Our results indicate the potential of hybrid 2D materials as a novel platform for tunable superconductivity.
tunable superconductivity
self-assembly
monolayer TMD
transition metal dichalcogenide
large-area functionalization
NbSe2
Author
Francesco Calavalle
CIC nanoGUNE
Paul Dreher
Donostia International Physics Center
Ananthu Pullukattuthara Surendran
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Quantum Device Physics
Wen Wan
Donostia International Physics Center
Melanie Timpel
Institute of Materials for Electronics and Magnetism
Roberto Verucchi
Institute of Materials for Electronics and Magnetism
Celia Rogero
Donostia International Physics Center
Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
Thilo Bauch
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Quantum Device Physics
Floriana Lombardi
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Quantum Device Physics
Fèlix Casanova
Basque Foundation for Science (Ikerbasque)
CIC nanoGUNE
Marco Vittorio Nardi
Institute of Materials for Electronics and Magnetism
Miguel M. Ugeda
Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
Donostia International Physics Center
Basque Foundation for Science (Ikerbasque)
Luis E. Hueso
CIC nanoGUNE
Basque Foundation for Science (Ikerbasque)
Marco Gobbi
Basque Foundation for Science (Ikerbasque)
CIC nanoGUNE
Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
Nano Letters
1530-6984 (ISSN) 1530-6992 (eISSN)
Vol. 21 1 136-143Subject Categories (SSIF 2011)
Physical Chemistry
Other Chemistry Topics
Condensed Matter Physics
DOI
10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c03386
PubMed
33274947