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

SrTiO3衬底上三原子厚度的FeSe层在100 K以上的高温超导性是维度如何在固体的电子和磁性结构中发挥变革性作用的最终例子。无论是由于二维的独特效应，还是由于衬底的应变或掺杂而产生的高温超导性，这一发现为高温超导体的调制生长提供了一个可行的构建块-单层FeSe。从离散的构建块组装功能材料为合成具有特定性质和结构的固体提供了竞争优势。在这种情况下，反应通常可以在环境条件下进行，当每个构建块的结构、功能和化学完整性被保留时，它们可以作为一组模块，重新连接到一个全球性的功能网络中。这项工作计划旨在分离单层FeSe物种，并探索化学辅助途径，将它们整合为与其他二维系统相结合的构建块。在这种情况下，FeSe层的功能可以在开放式合成平台中根据需要进行调制，只需改变层序列。这将通过利用分层3D硫族化合物的独特能力来实现，将其渲染成2D原子薄块，然后重新组装成人工结构。我们预计，这项研究将揭示单细胞FeSe的超导机制，这是基础科学兴趣，并且考虑到FeSe中的超导性在本质上是常规的，可能成为室温超导的关键。从更实际的角度来看，所提出的研究可以帮助创建一个大规模的基于解决方案的平台，用于在环境温度下制造高T超导薄膜，并解决与当前最先进的高T超导体的更广泛适应相关的重要挑战：如何在环境温度下将脆性陶瓷加工成导电衬底上的高质量薄膜。将FeSe层与其他具有特定性质的无机单层（例如铁磁性，半导体，绝缘体）耦合可以在界面上触发有趣的量子接近效应。这为量子通信、量子计算和光子学的适应创造了机会。

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.