Interface suppressed nematicity and enhanced superconductivity of FeSe/NdFeO3 in the low doping regime

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that FeSe interfaced with NdFeO$_3$ exhibits suppressed nematicity and enhanced superconductivity at low doping levels, expanding understanding of interface effects in FeSe-based superconductors.

Contribution

It introduces a new FeSe/NdFeO$_3$ interface with low doping, showing enhanced superconductivity and suppressed nematicity compared to other FeSe/oxide interfaces.

Findings

Larger superconducting gap in FeSe/NdFeO$_3$ compared to thick FeSe films.

Absence of nematic gap indicating suppressed nematicity.

Enhanced superconductivity at low doping levels.

Abstract

The discovery of interface-enhanced superconductivity in single-layer FeSe/oxides has generated intensive research interests. Beyond the family of FeSe interfaced with various TiO$_2$ terminated oxides, high pairing temperature up to 80~K has been recently observed in FeSe interfaced with FeO$_x$-terminated LaFeO$_3$. Here we successfully extend the FeSe/FeO$_x$ superconducting interface to FeSe/NdFeO$_3$, by constructing 1uc-FeSe/6uc-NdFeO$_3$/Nb:SrTiO$_3$ heterostructures. Intriguingly, well-annealed FeSe/NdFeO$_3$ exhibits a low doping level of 0.038$\sim$0.046 ~e$^-/$Fe which deviates universally magic doping level (0.10$\sim$0.12 e$^-/\rm{Fe}$) and provides a new playground for studying the FeSe/oxide interface in the low electron-doped regime. Comparing it with thick FeSe films at the comparable electron doping level induced by surface potassium dosing, FeSe/NdFeO$_3$ shows a larger superconducting gap and the absence of a nematic gap, indicating an enhancement of the superconductivity and suppression of nematicity by the FeSe/FeO$_x$ interface. These results not only expand the FeSe/FeO$_x$ superconducting family but also enrich the current understanding on the roles of the oxide interface.