Single-interface superconductivity in two-layer semiconductor heterostructures

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of interface-induced superconductivity in two-layer semiconductor heterostructures, highlighting the role of interfaces in enabling superconductivity in otherwise non-superconducting materials.

Contribution

It demonstrates that superconductivity arises specifically at the interface between two semiconductors, supported by experimental data and a proposed theoretical model.

Findings

Superconductivity observed in PbTe/PbS, PbTe/PbSe, and PbTe/YbS heterostructures.

Superconductivity linked to the interface, not the bulk materials.

Evidence suggests the superconducting layer is low-dimensional.

Abstract

We have discovered superconductivity in the two-layer semiconducting monochalcogenide heterostrutures PbTe/PbS, PbTe/PbSe and PbTe/YbS. By comparing data from two-layer samples with data from single monochalcogenide films we conclude that the superconductivity is connected with the interface between the two semiconductors. Evidence for the low dimensional nature of the superconducting interlayer is presented and a model that explains the appearance of single-interface superconductivity is proposed.