Large gap, a pseudogap and proximity effect in the Bi2Te3/Fe1+yTe interfacial superconductor

TL;DR

This study investigates the superconducting properties of a Bi2Te3/Fe1+yTe heterostructure, revealing a large twin-gap, pseudogap, and signs of unconventional pairing, with implications for topological superconductivity.

Contribution

It provides detailed spectroscopic evidence of a large proximity-induced gap and pseudogap in a novel heterostructure, highlighting potential unconventional superconductivity at the interface.

Findings

Large twin-gap structure exceeding bulk FeSe by a factor of 4

Presence of a pseudogap up to 40 K

Zero-bias conductance peak indicating possible unconventional pairing

Abstract

We report directional point-contact spectroscopy data on the novel Bi2Te3/Fe1+yTe interfacial superconductor for a Bi2Te3 thickness of 9 quintuple layers, bonded by van der Waals epitaxy to a Fe1+yTe film at an atomically sharp interface. Our data show a very large superconducting twin-gap structure with an energy scale exceeding that of bulk FeSe or FeSe1-xTex by a factor of 4. While the larger gap is isotropic and attributed to a thin FeTe layer in proximity of the interface, the smaller gap has a pronounced anisotropy and is associated with proximity-induced superconductivity in the topological insulator Bi2Te3. Zero resistance is lost above 8 K, but superconducting fluctuations are visible up to at least 12 K and the large gap is replaced by a pseudogap that persists up to 40 K. The spectra show a pronounced zero-bias conductance peak in the superconducting state, which may be a signature of an unconventional pairing mechanism.