Meissner Effect and Nonreciprocal Charge Transport in Non-Topological 1T-CrTe2/FeTe Heterostructures

TL;DR

This study reports the discovery of superconductivity, Meissner effect, and nonreciprocal charge transport in 1T-CrTe2/FeTe heterostructures, revealing new insights into interface-induced superconductivity and magnetically controllable diode effects.

Contribution

It demonstrates the emergence of superconductivity and nonreciprocal charge transport in non-topological heterostructures, highlighting a new platform for superconducting diode applications.

Findings

Superconductivity with T_c ~12 K observed in 1T-CrTe2/FeTe heterostructures.

Meissner effect confirmed on the surface of the 1T-CrTe2 layer.

Large magneto-chiral anisotropy coefficient indicating nonreciprocal charge transport.

Abstract

Interface-induced superconductivity has recently been achieved by stacking a magnetic topological insulator layer on an antiferromagnetic FeTe layer. However, the mechanism driving this emergent superconductivity remains unclear. Here, we employ molecular beam epitaxy to grow a 1T-CrTe2 layer, a two-dimensional ferromagnet with a Curie temperature up to room temperature, on a FeTe layer. These 1T-CrTe2/FeTe heterostructures show superconductivity with a critical temperature of ~12 K. Through magnetic force microscopy measurements, we observe the Meissner effect on the surface of the 1T-CrTe2 layer. Our electrical transport measurements reveal that the 1T-CrTe2/FeTe heterostructures exhibit nonreciprocal charge transport behavior, characterized by a large magneto-chiral anisotropy coefficient. The enhanced nonreciprocal charge transport in 1T-CrTe2/FeTe heterostructures provides a promising platform for exploring the magnetically controllable superconducting diode effect.