Graphite,Graphene, and the Flat Band Superconductivity

Superconductivity has been observed in bilayer graphene [1, 2]. The main factor that determines the mechanism of the formation of this superconductivity is the “magic angle” of twist of two graphene layers, at which the electronic band structure becomes nearly flat. The specific role played by twist and by the band flattening has been earlier suggested for explanations of the signatures of room-temperature superconductivity observed in the highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), when the quasi two-dimensional interfaces between the twisted domains are present. The interface contains the periodic array of misfit dislocations (analogs of the boundaries of the unit cell of the Moiré superlattice in bilayer graphene), which provide the possible source of the flat band. This demonstrates that it is high time for combination of the theoretical and experimental efforts in order to reach the reproducible room-temperature superconductivity in graphite or in similar real or artificial materials.     

Moiré flat bands of twisted few-layer graphite

We report that the twisted few layer graphite (tFL-graphite) is a new family of moiré heterostructures (MHSs), which has richer and highly tunable moiré flat band structures entirely distinct from all the known MHSs. A tFL-graphite is composed of two few-layer graphite (Bernal stacked multilayer graphene), which are stacked on each other with a small twisted angle. The moiré band structure of the tFL-graphite strongly depends on the layer number of its composed two van der Waals layers. Near the magic angle, a tFL-graphite always has two nearly flat bands coexisting with a few pairs of narrowed dispersive (parabolic or linear) bands at the Fermi level, thus, enhances the DOS at E_F . This coexistence property may also enhance the possible superconductivity as been demonstrated in other multiband superconductivity systems. Therefore, we expect strong multiband correlation effects in tFL-graphite. Meanwhile, a proper perpendicular electric field can induce several isolated nearly flat bands with nonzero valley Chern number in some simple tFL-graphites, indicating that tFL-graphite is also a novel topological flat band system.     

Novel superconducting semiconducting superlattices: dislocation-induced superconductivity?

Novel superconducting superlattices with transition temperature in the range 2.5-6.4 K consisting only of semiconducting materials are discovered. Among them there are multilayers, including a wide-gap semiconductor as one of the components. It is shown that superconductivity is connected with the interfaces between two semiconductors containing regular grids of the misfit dislocations. The possibility of the dislocation-induced superconductivity is discussed.     

Recent advances in superconductivity of covalent superconductors

A summary and critical analysis are given of recent results on superconductivity in diamond, Si, SiC, III–V and IV–VI semiconductors, as well as graphite and fullerites intercalated with alkali metals. Superconductivity in III–V semiconductors is questioned, and proposals are outlined for further enhancement of the transition temperature in diamond and intercalated graphite.     

Superconductivity of bulk CaC6

We have obtained bulk samples of the graphite intercalation compound, CaC6, by a novel method of synthesis from highly oriented pyrolytic graphite. The crystal structure has been completely determined showing that it is the only member of the MC6, metal-graphite compounds that has rhombohedral symmetry. We have clearly shown the occurrence of superconductivity in the bulk sample at 11.5 K, using magnetization measurements.     

纳米级光滑石墨表面的拉曼光谱表征

石墨微结构的表面一般为原子级光滑或纳米级光滑,是研究表面、界面物理性质的重要基础,对结构超润滑、微机电器件的研究和应用非常重要。为了解石墨微结构表面的状态和性质,其无损表征具有重要意义。通过微加工方法制备出石墨微结构,使用微纳机械手上的针尖推动石墨微结构上部可以得到原子级光滑或纳米级光滑的石墨表面。使用拉曼光谱对获得的石墨表面进行表征。通过与原子力显微镜和电子显微镜的表征结果进行对比发现,拉曼光谱能够准确反映石墨表面的缺陷程度,同时具有非接触、无损和快速的优点。这表明拉曼光谱在纳米级光滑石墨表面的表征中能够提供可靠表征信息,并且检测快速、不破坏样品,为石墨结构超润滑和MEMS器件的后续研究和应用奠定了基础。     

Absence of superconductivity down to 80 mK in graphite intercalated BaC6

Following recent theoretical and experimental investigations of superconductivity in the graphite intercalated compounds CaC₆ and SrC₆, we report on a very low temperature magnetisation study on BaC₆ down to 80 mK. The data show no trace of superconductivity even at fields as low as 0.7 Oe. Using a McMillan parametrisation of the BCS parameters, we conclude that the Coulomb pseudopotential is expected to be as large as 0.19 in both BaC₆ and SrC₆, i.e. 40% larger than in CaC₆. As an alternative scenario, we argue that extrinsic effects such as intercalant disorder may depress superconductivity in both BaC₆ and SrC₆, as in the case of CaC₆.     

Proximity Effect and Josephson Current in Superconducting Sandwich Systems near Transition Temperature

Near the superconducting transition temperature pairpotential behaviour and supercurrent in nonhomogeneous sandwich systems of SNS-and SINIS-types (S superconductor, N normal metal, I insulator) are theoretically investigated. The proximity effect is taken into account by using an extrapolation length which relates the order parameter value to its first derivative at interfaces. In frame of the microscopic theory of superconductivity this extrapolation length follows with the help of an appropriate variational principle which has been checked on systems which allow exact solutions. The resulting supercurrent expressions are discussed in detail with respect to temperature dependence and impurity influence.     

氩气电弧等离子体炬提纯大鳞片石墨研究

石墨材料作为一种工业原料,特别是纯度在99.9%以上的高纯石墨被应用在各大高科技领域,现有物理法和化学法的石墨提纯技术成本高、酸碱对设备和环境破坏严重、工艺流程复杂,因此开发一种优良有效的石墨提纯技术,已成为近年来国内外研究的热点。建立了一种利用非转移电弧等离子体炬提纯大鳞片石墨的方法,利用电弧可快速产生高温的特性,对黑龙江省鸡西市纯度为94.18%的大鳞片石墨样品进行高温处理。研究显示在本文电弧装置下提纯石墨的最佳放电参数范围气流量为25 L/min、电流为400 A、功率为10 kW,此时的电弧表面温度高达3350 ℃,利用扫描电子显微镜等对电弧处理前后石墨样品的微观结构对比发现石墨样品出现粉碎、断裂等特点,根据石墨化学分析方法国家标准GB/T 3521 2008对石墨纯度及其杂质进行研究分析,经电弧处理后石墨纯度提高到99.21%。     

单层FeSe薄膜/氧化物界面高温超导

单层FeSe/SrTiO₃界面增强超导的发现为理解高温超导机理提供了一个新的途径,也为实现新的高温超导体开拓了新思路.本文通过在SrTiO₃（001）表面高温沉积Mg进而沉积单层FeSe薄膜,制备出了FeSe/MgO双层/SrTiO₃异质结.利用扫描隧道显微镜研究了异质结的电学及超导特性,观测到约14–15 meV的超导能隙,比体相FeSe超导能隙值增大了5–6倍,与K掺杂双层FeSe/SrTiO₃的超导能隙值相当.这一结果可理解为能带弯曲造成的界面电荷转移和界面处电声耦合共同作用导致的超导增强.FeSe/MgO界面是继FeSe/TiO₂之后的一个新界面超导体系,为研究界面高温超导机理提供了新载体.     

Superconductive CaC6 prepared from flexible graphite sheets

The host graphite material of choice for most CaC₆ studies is highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), which can affect the resulting properties of prepared graphite intercalation compounds (GICs). In order to gain a better understanding of the superconductivity of CaC₆, we examined CaC₆ prepared from Grafoil and PGS. To confirm their superconductivity, the dependences of the magnetic moment on temperature under a constant magnetic field were measured over 2–20 K. The resulting CaC₆ transitioned to a superconducting state at around 11 K, independent of purity and homogeneity, while slight differences that depended on the host materials were observed. The transition to a superconducting state at 11.5 K occurred provided that a small amount of CaC₆ was present. The co-existence of LiC₆ and other GICs, and the residual Li atoms in the CaC₆ had little effect on the transition temperature. The transition temperature of the CaC₆ prepared from PGS was slightly lower than that of the CaC₆ prepared from HOPG and Grafoil.     

利用比热手段证明氧化物超导体正常态有电子库珀对存在

文章简单介绍了氧化物超导体机理问题研究中最核心的问题之一,即超导与赝能隙关系的最新进展状态.介绍了利用高精度比热测量所发现的在欠掺杂样品的正常态有电子配对存在的证据,指出超导凝聚过程是非BCS型.比热数据显示,在重过掺区域,超导转变温度附近的比热跳变非常之陡,超导凝聚所造成的熵变满足守恒规律.然后到欠掺杂区,这个比热跳变变得很矮,而且在正常态仍然测量到一个与磁场相关的比热部分,表现在比热系数有一个很长的尾巴拖到高温区.计算到Tc 附近的超导熵不满足守恒律,但是积分到高温后,即考虑到尾巴部分后,熵就接近守恒.这说明,在欠掺杂超导体的正常态已经有电子配对,但是没有建立起宏观超导相干态.氧化物超导体中的超导凝聚过程不是BCS型的．     

Double resonant Raman scattering in nanographite films

Experimental results are presented on Raman scattering in graphite films produced by DC plasmaenhanced chemical vapor deposition from a methane-hydrogen gas mixture. Scanning electron and probe microscopy data show that, depending on substrate material and deposition time, the deposited film is either a mesoporous material consisting of graphite nanocrystallites with basal planes oriented perpendicular to the substrate surface or an atomically flat, nanometer-thick stack of graphene layers parallel to the substrate. A comparative Raman spectroscopy analysis is performed for film samples deposited on nickel and silicon substrates for 5 and 60 min, as well as for highly ordered graphite samples. The Raman spectra of the examined samples correspond to the double resonant scattering mechanism. The behavior of Raman peak position and intensity as functions of excitation wavelength suggests a high degree of structural order in the graphite films deposited on nickel for 5 min. The results obtained are used to show that the thickness of these films is 1.5 ± 0.5 nm.     

Theoretical explanation of superconductivity in C6Ca

Using density functional theory, we demonstrate that superconductivity in C6Ca is phonon mediated with lambda = 0.83 and phonon frequency (omega)log = 24.7 meV. The calculated isotope exponents are alpha(Ca) = 0.24 and alpha(C) = 0.26. Superconductivity is due mostly to C vibrations perpendicular and Ca vibrations parallel to the graphite layers. Since the electron-phonon couplings of these modes are activated by the presence of an intercalant Fermi surface, the occurrence of superconductivity in graphite intercalated compounds requires a noncomplete ionization of the intercalant.     

Strain and high temperature superconductivity: unexpected results from direct electronic structure measurements in thin films

Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy reveals very surprising strain-induced effects on the electronic band dispersion of epitaxial La(2-x)Sr(x)CuO(4-delta) thin films. In strained films we measure a band that crosses the Fermi level (E(F)) well before the Brillouin zone boundary. This is in contrast to the flat band reported in unstrained single crystals and in our unstrained films, as well as in contrast to the band flattening predicted by band structure calculations for in-plane compressive strain. In spite of the density of states reduction near E(F), the critical temperature increases in strained films with respect to unstrained samples. These results require a radical departure from commonly accepted notions about strain effects on high temperature superconductors, with possible general repercussions on superconductivity theory.     

Interface transport properties in ion-gated nano-sheets

Recent advances in atomic-scale preparation of ultrathin nano-sheets and efficient field-effect gating mediated by movement of ions have provided a prolific paradigm for creating exotic states at interfaces of a new-type of device called electric-double layer transistors (EDLTs). We present a short review on these liquid/solid interfaces formed on nano-sheets prepared by micro cleaving a bulk layered single crystal, which can be electrostatically doped to a high carrier density of ～10¹⁴ cm^?2. Atomically flat surfaces prepared on various layered materials allowed ideal transport when they acted as transistor channels after accumulating dense carriers. The unique system combining these two advantages enabled observations of novel transport phenomena showing quantum phase transition of charge and spin states controlled by electric field. Examples include gate-induced metal-insulator transition, opening of new transport channels, and field-induced interface superconductivity, which present a rapidly growing field with emerging opportunities for science and technology.     

Synthesis and physical properties of alkaline earth metal graphite compounds

We report synthesis and search for superconductivity of Ba, Sr, Ca and Mg-GIC. We adopted conventional vapor phase reaction in order to prepare high quality GICs. No superconducting transition was found for Ba and Mg-GIC. As for Sr, Sr-GIC showed a sharp superconducting transition at T_c=1.65 K. Sr graphite compound SrC_x prepared from powder graphite by thermal treatment at higher temperature showed ferromagnetic character.     

Perturbation Theory in the Problem of Light Scattering by a Dielectric Body

In this letter, we describe the observation of a magnetic field dependent electronic gap, suggestive of local superconductivity, in the point-contact spectrum of microcrystalline graphite. Magnetic field dependent point-contact spectroscopy has been carried out at a temperature of 1.8 K using an etched aluminum tip. At zero field, a gap structure in the differential conductance is observed, showing a gap of Δ = 4.2 meV. On applying magnetic fields of up to 500 mT, this gap gradually closes, following the theoretical prediction by Ginzburg and Landau for a fully flux-penetrated superconductor. By applying BCS-theory, we infer a critical superconducting temperature of 14 K.     

系列退火条件下Bi2201相超导电性的进化

通过对Pb掺杂Bi2201相超导样品进行系列条件下的真空退火处理，固定退火时间，调节退火温度，使得样品氧含量随退火温度升高而降低，从而使样品载流子浓度随退火温度升高而依次降低，进而影响样品超导电性．我们系统研究了退火条件、正常态电阻率和超导电性之间的关联，确定了样品最高超导转变温度的退火条件，讨论了Bi2201相超导样品在系列退火条件下其超导电性的进化，并获得了该体系最高超导转变温度Tc^cnset=43K．     

Inversion of two-band superconductivity at the critical electron doping of (Mg, Al)B2

Electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) was combined with heat capacity measurements to probe changes of electronic structure and superconductivity in Mg(1-x)Al(x)B(2). A simultaneous decrease of EELS intensity from sigma-band hole states and the magnitude of the sigma gap was observed with increasing x, thus verifying that band filling results in the loss of strong superconductivity. These quantities extrapolated to zero at x approximately 0.33 as inferred from the unit cell volume. However, superconductivity was not quenched completely, but persisted with T(c) < 7 K up to about x approximately 55. Only the pi band had detectable density of states for 0.33 < or =x < or = 0.55, implying an inversion of the two-band hierarchy of MgB(2) in that regime. Since pi-band superconductivity is active in other materials such as intercalated graphite, implications for new materials with high T(c) are discussed.