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

large-area functionalization

monolayer TMD

transition metal dichalcogenide

self-assembly

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

Centro de Física de Materiales (CSIC-UPV/EHU)

Donostia International Physics Center

Thilo Bauch

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Quantum Device Physics

Floriana Lombardi

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Quantum Device Physics

Fèlix Casanova

CIC nanoGUNE

Basque Foundation for Science (Ikerbasque)

Marco Vittorio Nardi

Institute of Materials for Electronics and Magnetism

Miguel M. Ugeda

Basque Foundation for Science (Ikerbasque)

Donostia International Physics Center

Centro de Física de Materiales (CSIC-UPV/EHU)

Luis E. Hueso

Basque Foundation for Science (Ikerbasque)

CIC nanoGUNE

Marco Gobbi

Centro de Física de Materiales (CSIC-UPV/EHU)

Basque Foundation for Science (Ikerbasque)

CIC nanoGUNE

Nano Letters

1530-6984 (ISSN) 1530-6992 (eISSN)

Vol. 21 1 136-143

Subject Categories

Physical Chemistry

Other Chemistry Topics

Condensed Matter Physics

DOI

10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c03386

PubMed

33274947

More information

Latest update

2/1/2021 1