Electron-doped phosphorene: A potential monolayer superconductor

TL;DR

First-principles calculations suggest that electron-doped phosphorene could be a monolayer superconductor with a maximum critical temperature exceeding 10 K, due to strong electron-phonon coupling induced by doping.

Contribution

This study predicts the potential of electron-doped phosphorene as a superconductor using first-principles calculations, highlighting its doping-dependent superconducting properties.

Findings

Superconductivity emerges at electron densities above 1.3×10^14 cm^-2.

Maximum critical temperature predicted to be higher than 10 K.

Strong electron-phonon coupling caused by softened phonon modes.

Abstract

We predict by first-principles calculations that the electron-doped phosphorene is a potential BCS-like superconductor. The stretching modes at the Brillouin-zone center are remarkably softened by the electron-doping, which results in the strong electron-phonon coupling. The superconductivity can be introduced by a doped electron density ($n_{2D}$) above $1.3 \times10^{14}$ cm$^{-2}$, and may exist over the liquid helium temperature when $n_{2D}>2.6 \times10^{14}$ cm$^{-2}$. The maximum critical temperature is predicted to be higher than 10 K. The superconductivity of phosphorene will significantly broaden the applications of this novel material.