Modular assembly of high temperature superconductors from dimensionally reduced iron-based chalcogenide blocks

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High temperature superconductivity above 100 K in three-atoms-thick layer of FeSe on a SrTiO3 substrate is an ultimate example of how dimensionality can play a transformative role in electronic and magnetic structure of a solid. Whether it is a unique effect of the two-dimensionality or the high temperature superconductivity emerges due to the strain or doping from a substrate this discovery offers a viable building block for a modulated growth of high temperature superconductors - monolayer of FeSe. The assembly of functional materials from discrete building blocks gives competitive advantage for synthesis of solids with specific properties and structure. In this case reactions often can be carried out at ambient conditions when the structure, functionality and chemical integrity of each building block is preserved so they can act as set of modules to be re-connected retrospectively into a global functional network. This programme of work is designed to isolate monolayered FeSe species and to explore chemistry assisted pathways for integrating them as building blocks in conjunction with other 2D systems. In this capacity the functionality of the FeSe layer could be modulated on demand in an open-type synthetic platform simply by changing the layers sequence. This will be achieved by employing a unique ability of the layered 3D chalcogenides to be rendered to 2D atomically thin blocks and then be re-assembled into artificial architectures. We foresee that this research will shed light on the mechanism of superconductivity in single unit cell FeSe that is of fundamental scientific interest and, taking to account that there some hints that superconductivity in FeSe of is conventional in nature, may become a key to room temperature superconductivity. From more practical perspective the proposed research could help create a large-scale solution-based platform for manufacturing of high T superconducting films at ambient temperature and to address an important challenge associated with wider adaptation of current state-of-the-art high T superconductors: how to process brittle ceramics into high quality films on a conducting substrate at ambient temperature. Coupling FeSe layers with other inorganic monolayers of specific properties (e.g. ferromagnetic, semiconductor, insulator) can trigger interesting quantum proximity effects at interfaces. This creates opportunities for adaptation in quantum communication, quantum computing and photonics.