Proximity induced superconductivity within the insulating (Li$_{0.84}$Fe$_{0.16}$)OH layers in (Li$_{0.84}$Fe$_{0.16}$)OHFe$_{0.98}$Se

TL;DR

This study reveals that the insulating (Li$_{0.84}$Fe$_{0.16}$)OH layers in (Li$_{0.84}$Fe$_{0.16}$)OHFe$_{0.98}$Se become superconducting through proximity effects and enhance interlayer coupling, with filamentary superconductivity and small energy gaps.

Contribution

It demonstrates that insulating layers can become superconducting via proximity effects and influence the overall superconducting properties of layered materials.

Findings

Insulating layers exhibit proximity-induced superconductivity.

Enhanced interlayer coupling occurs below approximately 10 K.

Superconducting gap in the layers is 1-1.5 meV.

Abstract

The role played by the insulating intermediate (Li$_{0.84}$Fe$_{0.16}$)OH layer on magnetic and superconducting properties of (Li$_{0.84}$Fe$_{0.16}$)OHFe$_{0.98}$Se was studied by means of muon-spin rotation. It was found that it is not only enhances the coupling between the FeSe layers for temperatures below $\simeq 10$ K, but becomes superconducting by itself due to the proximity to the FeSe ones. Superconductivity in (Li$_{0.84}$Fe$_{0.16}$)OH layers is most probably filamentary-like and the energy gap value, depending on the order parameter symmetry, does not exceed 1-1.5 meV.