Preprint FZJ-2023-05764

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Atomic diffusion-induced polarization and superconductivity in topological insulator-based heterostructures

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2023
arXiv

arXiv () [10.48550/ARXIV.2311.16590]

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Abstract: The proximity effect at a highly transparent interface of an s-wave superconductor (S) and a topological insulator (TI) provides a promising platform to create Majorana zero modes in artificially designed heterostructures. However, structural and chemical issues pertinent to such interfaces are poorly explored so far. Here, we report the discovery of Pd diffusion induced polarization at interfaces between superconductive Pd$_{1+x}$(Bi$_{0.4}$Te$_{0.6}$)$_2$ (xPBT, $0\le x \le 1$) and Pd-intercalated Bi$_2$Te$_3$ by using atomic-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy. Our quantitative image analysis reveals that nanoscale lattice strain and QL polarity synergistically suppress and promote the Pd diffusion at the normal and parallel interfaces, formed between Te-Pd-Bi triple layers (TLs) and Te-Bi-Te-Bi-Te quintuple layers (QLs), respectively. Further, our first-principles calculations unveil that the superconductivity of xPBT phase and topological nature of Pd-intercalated Bi$_2$Te$_3$ phase are robust against the broken inversion symmetry. These findings point out the necessity of considering coexistence of electric polarization with superconductivity and topology in such S-TI systems.

Keyword(s): Materials Science (cond-mat.mtrl-sci) ; Superconductivity (cond-mat.supr-con) ; FOS: Physical sciences


Contributing Institute(s):
  1. ER-C 2.0 (ER-C)
  2. Halbleiter-Nanoelektronik (PGI-9)
  3. Quanten-Theorie der Materialien (PGI-1)
  4. Quanten-Theorie der Materialien (IAS-1)
Research Program(s):
  1. 5211 - Topological Matter (POF4-521) (POF4-521)
  2. DFG project 390534769 - EXC 2004: Materie und Licht für Quanteninformation (ML4Q) (390534769) (390534769)

Appears in the scientific report 2023
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 Record created 2023-12-20, last modified 2024-02-26


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