The crucial role of substrate in FeSe/STO: new insights to interface-driven superconductivity from first-principles

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Main Authors: Reho, Riccardo, Kole, Arnold H., Wittemeier, Nils, Botello-Méndez, Andrés R., Zanolli, Zeila
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Reho, Riccardo
Kole, Arnold H.
Wittemeier, Nils
Botello-Méndez, Andrés R.
Zanolli, Zeila
author_facet Reho, Riccardo
Kole, Arnold H.
Wittemeier, Nils
Botello-Méndez, Andrés R.
Zanolli, Zeila
contents We investigate the superconducting properties of monolayer FeSe, both freestanding (ML FeSe) and on SrTiO$_3$ (STO), by simultaneously solving the Kohn-Sham Density Functional Theory and Bogoliubov--de Gennes equations. Our results demonstrate that the substrate profoundly alters both the normal-state and superconducting properties of FeSe. We identify proximity-induced superconductivity in the interfacial TiO$_2$ layer of STO, due to hybridization between Fe $d$ and O $p$ orbitals. This hybridization results in a fivefold increase in the superconducting gap width and confines superconducting states to the $M$ point in the Brillouin Zone. This is in contrast to ML FeSe, where superconductivity emerges at both the $Γ$ and $M$ points. Furthermore, the substrate modifies the orbital character of the states responsible for superconductivity, which change from Fe $d_{z^2}$ in ML FeSe to Fe $d_{xz}/d_{yz}$ in FeSe/STO. In both systems, we demonstrate an anisotropic superconducting gap with multiple coherence peaks, originating at different k-points in the Brillouin Zone. Additionally, in FeSe/STO, we identify emerging states unique to the superconducting phase arising from electron-hole hybridization at $M$, in agreement with experiments. Our findings highlight the decisive impact of substrate (hybridization, strain, charge transfer, magnetic order) on the superconducting properties of FeSe. We suggest potential pathways for engineering novel high-temperature FeSe-based superconductors by leveraging interfacial interactions in substrates with high electron affinity.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2503_15025
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle The crucial role of substrate in FeSe/STO: new insights to interface-driven superconductivity from first-principles
Reho, Riccardo
Kole, Arnold H.
Wittemeier, Nils
Botello-Méndez, Andrés R.
Zanolli, Zeila
Superconductivity
Materials Science
We investigate the superconducting properties of monolayer FeSe, both freestanding (ML FeSe) and on SrTiO$_3$ (STO), by simultaneously solving the Kohn-Sham Density Functional Theory and Bogoliubov--de Gennes equations. Our results demonstrate that the substrate profoundly alters both the normal-state and superconducting properties of FeSe. We identify proximity-induced superconductivity in the interfacial TiO$_2$ layer of STO, due to hybridization between Fe $d$ and O $p$ orbitals. This hybridization results in a fivefold increase in the superconducting gap width and confines superconducting states to the $M$ point in the Brillouin Zone. This is in contrast to ML FeSe, where superconductivity emerges at both the $Γ$ and $M$ points. Furthermore, the substrate modifies the orbital character of the states responsible for superconductivity, which change from Fe $d_{z^2}$ in ML FeSe to Fe $d_{xz}/d_{yz}$ in FeSe/STO. In both systems, we demonstrate an anisotropic superconducting gap with multiple coherence peaks, originating at different k-points in the Brillouin Zone. Additionally, in FeSe/STO, we identify emerging states unique to the superconducting phase arising from electron-hole hybridization at $M$, in agreement with experiments. Our findings highlight the decisive impact of substrate (hybridization, strain, charge transfer, magnetic order) on the superconducting properties of FeSe. We suggest potential pathways for engineering novel high-temperature FeSe-based superconductors by leveraging interfacial interactions in substrates with high electron affinity.
title The crucial role of substrate in FeSe/STO: new insights to interface-driven superconductivity from first-principles
topic Superconductivity
Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.15025