Superconductivity at 7.4 K in Few Layer Graphene by Li-intercalation

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of superconductivity at 7.4 K in Li-intercalated few-layer graphene, highlighting the role of two-dimensional electronic properties in enabling superconductivity in graphene-based materials.

Contribution

It demonstrates superconductivity in Li-intercalated few-layer graphene, emphasizing the importance of 2D electronic structure, which was not observed in 3D Li-doped graphite.

Findings

Superconductivity at 7.4 K in Li-FLG.

Superconductivity absent in 3D Li-doped graphite.

Li-doping control is promising for device applications.

Abstract

Superconductivity in graphene has been highly sought after for its promise in various device applications and for general scientific interest. Ironically, the simple electronic structure of graphene, which is responsible for novel quantum phenomena, hinders the emergence of superconductivity. Theory predicts that doping the surface of the graphene effectively alters the electronic structure, thus promoting propensity towards Cooper pair instability. Here we report the emergence of superconductivity at 7.4 K in Li-intercalated few-layer-graphene (FLG). The absence of superconductivity in three-dimensional Li-doped graphite underlines that superconductivity in Li-FLG arises from the novel electronic properties of the two-dimensional graphene layer. These results are expected to guide future research on graphene-based superconductivity, both in theory and experiments. In addition, easy control of the Li-doping process holds promise for various device applications.