Phase and stoichiometry control in superconducting FeSe layers on SrTiO<sub>3</sub>

Phase and stoichiometry control are crucial to employ the superconducting properties of FeSe thin films, and with it the previously reported interfacial boost in superconductivity promoted by the SrTiO3 surface. This work investigates how growth parameters influence the phase and chemical composition in FeSe layers on SrTiO3(001) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy. In the first part, the influence of substrate surface preparation on the stabilization of the respective FeSe phase and film morphology is evaluated by atomic force microscopy (AFM), reflection high energy-electron diffraction (RHEED), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Continuous, phase-pure β-FeSe layers were observed on non-ideally prepared substrates only at high growth temperatures, whereas optimized surface preparation yielded similar results at much reduced temperatures. Although RHEED indicated atomically smooth film topography, AFM revealed pronounced island growth. In the second part, the stoichiometry of phase-pure β-FeSe films grown under different growth conditions is evaluated by XRD and structural calculations. Supporting transport measurements identified a narrow growth window to satisfy the stoichiometric requirement for superconducting β-FeSe thin films.

This version of the article has been accepted for publication, after peer review (when applicable) and is subject to Springer Nature’s AM terms of use, but is not the Version of Record and does not reflect post-acceptance improvements, or any corrections. The Version of Record is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10853-024-09344-7

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Work Title Phase and stoichiometry control in superconducting FeSe layers on SrTiO<sub>3</sub>
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Open Access
Creators
  1. Maria Hilse
  2. Forrest Brown
  3. Joseph Roth
  4. Simon Munyan
  5. Roman Engel-Herbert
License In Copyright (Rights Reserved)
Work Type Article
Publisher
  1. Journal of Materials Science
Publication Date February 1, 2024
Publisher Identifier (DOI)
  1. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-024-09344-7
Deposited February 03, 2025

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  • Created
  • Added 10853_2024_9344_OnlinePDF.pdf
  • Added Creator Maria Hilse
  • Added Creator Forrest Brown
  • Added Creator Joseph Roth
  • Added Creator Simon Munyan
  • Added Creator Roman Engel-Herbert
  • Published
  • Updated