Enhanced superconductivity accompanying a Lifshitz transition in electron-doped FeSe monolayer

Bulk and surface Dirac states accompanied by two superconducting domes in FeSe-based superconductors

Recent investigations of FeSe-based superconductors have revealed the presence of two superconducting domes and suggest possible distinct pairing mechanisms. Two superconducting domes are commonly found in unconventional superconductors and exhibit unique normal states and electronic structures. In this study, we conducted electromagnetic transport measurements to establish a complete phase diagram, successfully observing the two superconducting domes in FeSe1-xSx (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.25) and FeSe1-xTex (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) superconductors. The normal state resistivity on SC1 shows the strange metal state, with a power exponent approximately equal to 1 (ρ(T) ∝ Tn with n ~ 1), whereas the exponent on SC2 is less than 1. A bulk Dirac state observed on SC1, completely synchronized with the strange metal behavior, indicating a close relationship between them. While a topological surface Dirac state is witnessed on SC2 and undergoes a sign change near the pure nematic quantum critical point. The evolution of the Dirac states indicates that the appearance of the two superconducting domes may originate from the Fermi surface reconstruction. Our findings highlight distinct Dirac states and normal state resistivity across the two superconducting domes, providing convincing evidence for the existence of the two different pairing mechanisms in FeSe-based superconductors.

Iron Vacancy Tunable Superconductor-Insulator Transition in FeSe/SrTiO_{3} Monolayer

The Fe_{4}Se_{5} with a sqrt[5]×sqrt[5] Fe vacancy order is suggested to be a Mott insulator and the parent state of bulk FeSe superconductor. The iron vacancy ordered state has been considered as a Mott insulator and the parent compound of bulk FeSe-based superconductors. However, for the superconducting FeSe/SrTiO_{3} monolayer (FeSe/STO) with an interface-enhanced high transition temperature (T_{c}), the electronic evolution from its Fe vacancy ordered parent phase to the superconducting state, has not been explored due to the challenge to realize an Fe vacancy order in the FeSe/STO monolayer, even though important to the understanding of superconductivity mechanism. In this study, we developed a new method to generate Fe vacancies within the FeSe/STO monolayer in a tunable fashion, with the assistance of atomic hydrogen. As a consequence, an insulating sqrt[5]×sqrt[5] Fe vacancy ordered monolayer is realized as the parent state. By using scanning tunneling microscopy and scanning tunneling spectroscopy, the spectral evolution from superconductivity to insulator is fully characterized. Surprisingly, a prominent spectral weight transfer occurs, thus implying a strong electron correlation effect. Moreover, the Fe vacancy induced insulating gap exhibits no Mott gap-like features. This work provides new insights in understanding the high-T_{c} superconductivity in FeSe/STO monolayer.

Review of Single Crystal Synthesis of 11 Iron-Based Superconductors

The 11 system in the iron-based superconducting family has become one of the most extensively studied materials in the research of high-temperature superconductivity, due to their simple structure and rich physical properties. Many exotic properties, such as multiband electronic structure, electronic nematicity, topology and antiferromagnetic order, provide strong support for the theory of high-temperature superconductivity, and have been at the forefront of condensed matter physics in the past decade. One noteworthy aspect is that a high upper critical magnetic field, large critical current density and lower toxicity give the 11 system good application prospects. However, the research on 11 iron-based superconductors faces numerous obstacles, mainly stemming from the challenges associated with producing high-quality single crystals. Since the discovery of FeSe superconductivity in 2008, researchers have made significant progress in crystal growth, overcoming the hurdles that initially impeded their studies. Consequently, they have successfully established the complete phase diagrams of 11 iron-based superconductors, including FeSe_1-xTe_x, FeSe_1-xS_x and FeTe_1-xS_x. In this paper, we aim to provide a comprehensive summary of the preparation methods employed for 11 iron-based single crystals over the past decade. Specifically, we will focus on hydrothermal, chemical vapor transport (CVT), self-flux and annealing methods. Additionally, we will discuss the quality, size, and superconductivity properties exhibited by single crystals obtained through different preparation methods. By exploring these aspects, we can gain a better understanding of the advantages and limitations associated with each technique. High-quality single crystals serve as invaluable tools for advancing both the theoretical understanding and practical utilization of high-temperature superconductivity.

Temperature-Driven Twin Structure Formation and Electronic Structure of Epitaxially Grown Mg3Sb2 Films on Mismatched Substrates

Mg₃Sb₂-based compounds are one type of important room-temperature thermoelectric materials and the appropriate candidate of type-II nodal line semimetals. In Mg₃Sb₂-based films, compelling research topics such as dimensionality reduction and topological states rely on the controllable preparation of films with high crystallinity, which remains a big challenge. In this work, high quality Mg₃Sb₂ films are successfully grown on mismatched substrates of sapphire (000l), while the temperature-driven twin structure evolution and characteristics of the electronic structure are revealed in the as-grown Mg₃Sb₂ films by in situ and ex situ measurements. The transition of layer-to-island growth of Mg₃Sb₂ films is kinetically controlled by increasing the substrate temperature (T_sub), which is accompanied with the rational manipulation of twin structure and epitaxial strains. Twin-free structure could be acquired in the Mg₃Sb₂ film grown at a low T_sub of 573 K, while the formation of twin structure is significantly promoted by elevating the T_sub and annealing, in close relation to the processes of strain relaxation and enhanced mass transfer. Measurements of scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) elucidate the intrinsic p-type conduction of Mg₃Sb₂ films and a bulk band gap of ~0.89 eV, and a prominent Fermi level downshift of ~0.2 eV could be achieved by controlling the film growth parameters. As elucidated in this work, the effective manipulation of the epitaxial strains, twin structure and Fermi level is instructive and beneficial for the further exploration and optimization of thermoelectric and topological properties of Mg₃Sb₂-based films.

One-Step Exfoliation Method for Plasmonic Activation of Large-Area 2D Crystals

Advanced exfoliation techniques are crucial for exploring the intrinsic properties and applications of 2D materials. Though the recently discovered Au-enhanced exfoliation technique provides an effective strategy for the preparation of large-scale 2D crystals, the high cost of gold hinders this method from being widely adopted in industrial applications. In addition, direct Au contact could significantly quench photoluminescence (PL) emission in 2D semiconductors. It is therefore crucial to find alternative metals that can replace gold to achieve efficient exfoliation of 2D materials. Here, the authors present a one-step Ag-assisted method that can efficiently exfoliate many large-area 2D monolayers, where the yield ratio is comparable to Au-enhanced exfoliation method. Differing from Au film, however, the surface roughness of as-prepared Ag films on SiO₂ /Si substrate is much higher, which facilitates the generation of surface plasmons resulting from the nanostructures formed on the rough Ag surface. More interestingly, the strong coupling between 2D semiconductor crystals (e.g., MoS₂ , MoSe₂ ) and Ag film leads to a unique PL enhancement that has not been observed in other mechanical exfoliation techniques, which can be mainly attributed to enhanced light-matter interaction as a result of extended propagation of surface plasmonic polariton (SPP). This work provides a lower-cost and universal Ag-assisted exfoliation method, while at the same time offering enhanced SPP-matter interactions.

Spontaneous Gully-Polarized Quantum Hall States in ABA Trilayer Graphene

Bernal-stacked multilayer graphene is a versatile platform to explore quantum transport phenomena and interaction physics due to its exceptional tunability via electrostatic gating. For instance, upon applying a perpendicular electric field, its band structure exhibits several off-center Dirac points (so-called Dirac gullies) in each valley. Here, the formation of Dirac gullies and the interaction-induced breakdown of gully coherence is explored via magnetotransport measurements in high-quality Bernal-stacked (ABA) trilayer graphene. At zero magnetic field, multiple Lifshitz transitions indicating the formation of Dirac gullies are identified. In the quantum Hall regime, the emergence of Dirac gullies is evident as an increase in Landau level degeneracy. When tuning both electric and magnetic fields, electron-electron interactions can be controllably enhanced until, beyond critical electric and magnetic fields, the gully degeneracy is eventually lifted. The arising correlated ground state is consistent with a previously predicted nematic phase that spontaneously breaks the rotational gully symmetry.

Electronic Structure of Monolayer FeSe on Si(001) from First Principles

The huge increase in the superconducting transition temperature of FeSe induced by an interface to SrTiO3 remains unexplained to date. However, there are numerous indications of the critical importance of specific features of the FeSe band topology in the vicinity of the Fermi surface. Here, we explore how the electronic structure of FeSe changes when located on another lattice matched substrate, namely a Si(001) surface, by first-principles calculations based on the density functional theory. We study non-magnetic (NM) and checkerboard anti-ferromagnetic (AFM) magnetic orders in FeSe and determine which interface arrangement is preferred. Our calculations reveal interesting effects of Si proximity on the FeSe band structure. Bands corresponding to hole pockets at the Γ point in NM FeSe are generally pushed down below the Fermi level, except for one band responsible for a small remaining hole pocket. Bands forming electron pockets centered at the M point of the Brillouin zone become less dispersive, and one of them is strongly hybridized with Si. We explain these changes by a redistribution of electrons between different Fe 3d orbitals rather than charge transfer to/from Si, and we also notice an associated loss of degeneracy between dxz and dyz orbitals.

Two distinct superconducting states controlled by orientations of local wrinkles in LiFeAs

For iron-based superconductors, the phase diagrams under pressure or strain exhibit emergent phenomena between unconventional superconductivity and other electronic orders, varying in different systems. As a stoichiometric superconductor, LiFeAs has no structure phase transitions or entangled electronic states, which manifests an ideal platform to explore the pressure or strain effect on unconventional superconductivity. Here, we observe two types of superconducting states controlled by orientations of local wrinkles on the surface of LiFeAs. Using scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy, we find type-I wrinkles enlarge the superconducting gaps and enhance the transition temperature, whereas type-II wrinkles significantly suppress the superconducting gaps. The vortices on wrinkles show a C₂ symmetry, indicating the strain effects on the wrinkles. By statistics, we find that the two types of wrinkles are categorized by their orientations. Our results demonstrate that the local strain effect with different directions can tune the superconducting order parameter of LiFeAs very differently, suggesting that the band shifting induced by directional pressure may play an important role in iron-based superconductivity.

The evolution of superconductivity in LiFeAs with respect to pressure or strain remains elusive. Here, the authors observe different response of superconducting states due to different orientations of local wrinkles on the surface of LiFeAs.

Interfacial Electron-Phonon Coupling Constants Extracted from Intrinsic Replica Bands in Monolayer FeSe/SrTiO_{3}

The observation of replica bands by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy has ignited interest in the study of electron-phonon coupling at low carrier densities, particularly in monolayer FeSe/SrTiO_{3}, where the appearance of replica bands has motivated theoretical work suggesting that the interfacial coupling of electrons in the FeSe layer to optical phonons in the SrTiO_{3} substrate might contribute to the enhanced superconducting pairing temperature. Alternatively, it has also been recently proposed that such replica bands might instead originate from extrinsic final state losses associated with the photoemission process. Here, we perform a quantitative examination of replica bands in monolayer FeSe/SrTiO_{3}, where we are able to conclusively demonstrate that the replica bands are indeed signatures of intrinsic electron-boson coupling, and not associated with final state effects. A detailed analysis of the energy splittings and relative peak intensities between the higher-order replicas, as well as other self-energy effects, allows us to determine that the interfacial electron-phonon coupling in the system corresponds to a value of λ=0.19±0.02, providing valuable insights into the enhancement of superconductivity in monolayer FeSe/SrTiO_{3}. The methodology employed here can also serve as a new and general approach for making more rigorous and quantitative comparisons to theoretical calculations of electron-phonon interactions and coupling constants.

Magic Doping and Robust Superconductivity in Monolayer FeSe on Titanates

The enhanced superconductivity in monolayer FeSe on titanates opens a fascinating pathway toward the rational design of high-temperature superconductors. Utilizing the state-of-the-art oxide plus chalcogenide molecular beam epitaxy systems in situ connected to a synchrotron angle-resolved photoemission spectroscope, epitaxial LaTiO3 layers with varied atomic thicknesses are inserted between monolayer FeSe and SrTiO3, for systematic modulation of interfacial chemical potential. With the dramatic increase of electron accumulation at the LaTiO3/SrTiO3 surface, providing a substantial surge of work function mismatch across the FeSe/oxide interface, the charge transfer and the superconducting gap in the monolayer FeSe are found to remain markedly robust. This unexpected finding indicate the existence of an intrinsically anchored "magic" doping within the monolayer FeSe systems.

Recent Advances in 2D Superconductors

The emergence of superconductivity in 2D materials has attracted much attention and there has been rapid development in recent years because of their fruitful physical properties, such as high transition temperature (T_c ), continuous phase transition, and enhanced parallel critical magnetic field (B_c ). Tremendous efforts have been devoted to exploring different physical parameters to figure out the mechanisms behind the unexpected superconductivity phenomena, including adjusting the thickness of samples, fabricating various heterostructures, tuning the carrier density by electric field and chemical doping, and so on. Here, different types of 2D superconductivity with their unique characteristics are introduced, including the conventional Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer superconductivity in ultrathin films, high-T_c superconductivity in Fe-based and Cu-based 2D superconductors, unconventional superconductivity in newly discovered twist-angle bilayer graphene, superconductivity with enhanced B_c , and topological superconductivity. A perspective toward this field is then proposed based on academic knowledge from the recently reported literature. The aim is to provide researchers with a clear and comprehensive understanding about the newly developed 2D superconductivity and promote the development of this field much further.

Ultrafast dynamical Lifshitz transition

Fermi surface is at the heart of our understanding of metals and strongly correlated many-body systems. An abrupt change in the Fermi surface topology, also called Lifshitz transition, can lead to the emergence of fascinating phenomena like colossal magnetoresistance and superconductivity. While Lifshitz transitions have been demonstrated for a broad range of materials by equilibrium tuning of macroscopic parameters such as strain, doping, pressure, and temperature, a nonequilibrium dynamical route toward ultrafast modification of the Fermi surface topology has not been experimentally demonstrated. Combining time-resolved multidimensional photoemission spectroscopy with state-of-the-art TDDFT+U simulations, we introduce a scheme for driving an ultrafast Lifshitz transition in the correlated type-II Weyl semimetal T _d-MoTe₂ We demonstrate that this nonequilibrium topological electronic transition finds its microscopic origin in the dynamical modification of the effective electronic correlations. These results shed light on a previously unexplored ultrafast scheme for controlling the Fermi surface topology in correlated quantum materials.

Constructing Surface Plasmon Resonance on Bi2WO6 to Boost High-Selective CO2 Reduction for Methane

Plasmonic Bi₂WO₆ with strong localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) around the 500-1400 region is successfully constructed by electron doping. Oxygen vacancies on W-O-W (V1) and Bi-O-Bi (V2) sites are precisely controlled to obtain Bi₂WO₆-V₁ with LSPR and Bi₂WO₆-V₂ with defect absorption. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation demonstrates that the V1-induced energy state facilitates photoelectron collection for a long lifetime, resulting in LSPR of Bi₂WO₆. Photoelectron trapping on V1 sites is demonstrated by a single-particle photoluminescence (PL) study, and 93% PL quenching efficiency is observed. With strong LSPR, plasmonic Bi₂WO₆-V₁ exhibits highly selective methane generation with a rate of 9.95 μmol g^-1 h^-1 during the CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂-RR), which is 26-fold higher than 0.37 μmol g^-1 h^-1 of BiWO₃-V₂ under UV-visible light irradiation. LSPR-dependent methane generation is confirmed by various photocatalytic results of plasmonic Bi₂WO₆ with tunable LSPR and different light excitations. Furthermore, the DFT-simulated pathway of CO₂-RR and in situ Fourier transform infrared spectra on the surface of Bi₂WO₆ prove that V1 sites facilitate CH₄ generation. Our work provides a strategy to obtain nonmetallic plasmonic materials by electron doping.

Lifshitz transition underlying the metamagnetic transition of UPt3

Comparing quantum oscillation measurements, dc magnetoresistance measurements, and Fermi surfaces obtained from LDA calculations, we argue that the metamagnetic transition of UPt₃, which occurs at an applied field μ _◦ H _M ∼ 20 T, coincides with a Lifshitz transition at which an open orbit on the band 2 hole-like Fermi surface becomes closed for one spin direction. At low field, proximity of the Fermi energy to this particular van Hove singularity may have implications for the superconducting pairing potential of UPt₃. In our picture the magnetization comes from non-linear spin-splitting of the heavy fermion bands. In support of this, we show that the non-linear field dependence of a particular quantum oscillation frequency can be fitted by assuming that the corresponding extremal Fermi surface area is proportional to the magnetization. In addition, below H _M , we find in our LDA calculations a new, non-central orbit on band 1, whose non-linear behaviour explains a field-dependent frequency recently observed in magnetoacoustic quantum oscillation measurements.

Evidence of Lifshitz Transition in the Thermoelectric Power of Ultrahigh-Mobility Bilayer Graphene

Resolving low-energy features in the density of states (DOS) holds the key to understanding a wide variety of rich novel phenomena in graphene-based 2D heterostructures. The Lifshitz transition in bilayer graphene (BLG) arising from trigonal warping has been established theoretically and experimentally. Nevertheless, the experimental realization of its effects on transport properties has been challenging because of its relatively low energy scale (∼1 meV). In this work, we demonstrate that the thermoelectric power (TEP) can be used as an effective probe to investigate fine changes in the DOS of BLG. We observed additional entropy features in the vicinity of the charge neutrality point (CNP) in gapped BLG. This apparent violation of the Mott formula can be explained quantitatively by considering the effects of trigonal warping, thereby serving as possible evidence of a Lifshitz transition.

Raman Study of Cooper Pairing Instabilities in (Li_{1-x}Fe_{x})OHFeSe

We studied the electronic Raman spectra of (Li_{1-x}Fe_{x})OHFeSe as a function of light polarization and temperature. In the B_{1g} spectra alone we observe the redistribution of spectral weight expected for a superconductor and two well-resolved peaks below T_{c}. The nearly resolution-limited peak at 110  cm^{-1} (13.6 meV) is identified as a collective mode. The peak at 190  cm^{-1} (23.6 meV) is presumably another collective mode since the line is symmetric and its energy is significantly below the gap energy observed by single-particle spectroscopies. Given the experimental band structure of (Li_{1-x}Fe_{x})OHFeSe, the most plausible explanations include conventional spin-fluctuation pairing between the electron bands and the incipient hole band and pairing between the hybridized electron bands. The absence of gap features in A_{1g} and B_{2g} symmetry favors the second case. Thus, in spite of various differences between the pnictides and chalcogenides, this Letter demonstrates the proximity of pairing states and the importance of band structure effects in the Fe-based compounds.

On the Remarkable Superconductivity of FeSe and Its Close Cousins

Emergent electronic phenomena in iron-based superconductors have been at the forefront of condensed matter physics for more than a decade. Much has been learned about the origins and intertwined roles of ordered phases, including nematicity, magnetism, and superconductivity, in this fascinating class of materials. In recent years, focus has been centered on the peculiar and highly unusual properties of FeSe and its close cousins. This family of materials has attracted considerable attention due to the discovery of unexpected superconducting gap structures, a wide range of superconducting critical temperatures, and evidence for nontrivial band topology, including associated spin-helical surface states and vortex-induced Majorana bound states. Here, we review superconductivity in iron chalcogenide superconductors, including bulk FeSe, doped bulk FeSe, FeTe1−xSex, intercalated FeSe materials, and monolayer FeSe and FeTe1−xSex on SrTiO3. We focus on the superconducting properties, including a survey of the relevant experimental studies, and a discussion of the different proposed theoretical pairing scenarios. In the last part of the paper, we review the growing recent evidence for nontrivial topological effects in FeSe-related materials, focusing again on interesting implications for superconductivity.

Heterogeneous photocatalytic performances of CO2 reduction based on the [Emim]BF4 + TEOA + H2O system

The photochemical reduction of CO2 was studied in a 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, triethanolamine and water ([Emim]BF4 + TEOA + H2O) system under visible light irradiation. The integration of CdS and the Co-bpy complex, which acted as a photocatalyst and cocatalyst, respectively, was employed as an efficient catalytic system for the CO2-to-CO conversion. The utilization of [Emim]BF4 and water took advantage of their green properties. The amount of CO production showed that the test medium containing 10 vol% H2O was favourable for the catalytic performance of the CO2 reduction. In order to further study the factors that influenced the current system, the physical and spectroscopy properties were characterized by altering the composition ratio of the ingredients. Relevant parameters, including the viscosity, conductivity, solubility and coordination, were adjusted using the ratio of the H2O/[Emim]BF4 addition, resulting in a different catalytic performance. All of these attempts led to an optimal reaction condition for the CO2 reduction process.

Asymmetrically optimized structure in a high-T c single unit-cell FeSe superconductor

We report asymmetric Se heights in a single unit-cell (UC) FeSe on SrTiO₃(0 0 1) substrate with the highest superconducting transition temperature (T _c) among the Fe-based superconductors revealed by total-reflection high-energy positron diffraction measurements. Among various iron-based superconductors, this single UC FeSe on the SrTiO₃(0 0 1) has been the best material to achieve the highest-T _c above 50 K. We found the asymmetric Se heights of 1.44  ±  0.03 and 1.33  ±  0.03 Å from the single Fe layer by the intensity analysis based on dynamical diffraction theory. The average Se height results in 1.39  ±  0.04 Å, corresponding to the optimum value for Fe-based superconductors. In addition, the average of bond angles of Se-Fe-Se, 107.2  ±  1.1 and 111.5  ±  1.2° becomes 109.3  ±  1.6°, which is close to the optimum value of 109.5° for a regular tetrahedron. Thus, this single UC FeSe is found to have asymmetrically optimized structure. Based on our first-principles calculations, the asymmetry does not change the bandwidth whereas it splits the electron bands at the M point only at the bottom. These calculations suggest that at low electron doping, the structural asymmetry is expected to lead to exotic properties of non-centrosymmetric superconductivity, whereas after a certain amount of electron doping, average anion height plays an important role for high-T _c.

Role of Electric Fields on Enhanced Electron Correlation in Surface-Doped FeSe

Electron-doped high-T_{c} FeSe reportedly has a strong electron correlation that is enhanced with doping. It has been noticed that significant electric fields exist inevitably between FeSe and external donors along with electron transfer. However, the effects of such fields on the electron correlation are yet to be explored. Here we study potassium- (K-) dosed FeSe layers using density-functional theory combined with dynamical mean-field theory to investigate the roles of such electric fields on the strength of the electron correlation. We find, very interestingly, that the electronic potential-energy difference between the topmost Se and Fe atomic layers, generated by local electric fields of ionized K atoms, weakens the Se-mediated hopping between Fe d orbitals. Since it is the dominant hopping channel in FeSe, its reduction narrows the Fe d bands near the Fermi level, enhancing the electron correlation. This effect is orbital dependent and occurs in the topmost FeSe layer only. We also find the K dosing may increase the Se height, enhancing the electron correlation further. These results shed new light on the comprehensive study of high-T_{c} FeSe and other low-dimensional systems.

Realization of continuous electron doping in bulk iron selenides and identification of a new superconducting zone

It is known that iron selenide superconductors exhibit unique characteristics distinct from iron pnictides, especially in the electron-doped region. However, a comprehensive study of continuous carrier doping and the corresponding crystal structures of FeSe is still lacking, mainly due to the difficulties in controlling the carrier density in bulk materials. Here we report the successful synthesis of a new family of bulk Lix(C3N2H10)0.37FeSe, which features a continuous superconducting dome harboring Lifshitz transition within the wide range of 0.06 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.68 . We demonstrate that with electron doping, the anion height of FeSe layers deviates linearly away from the optimized values of pnictides and pressurized FeSe. This feature leads to a new superconducting zone with unique doping dependence of the electronic structures and strong orbital-selective electronic correlation. Optimal superconductivity is achieved when the F e 3 d t 2 g orbitals have almost the same intermediate electronic correlation strength, with moderate mass enhancement between 3 ~ 4 in the two separate superconducting zones. Our results shed new light on achieving unified mechanism of superconductivity in iron-based superconductors.

Pairing Mechanism in Hund's Metal Superconductors and the Universality of the Superconducting Gap to Critical Temperature Ratio

We analyze a simple model containing the physical ingredients of a Hund's metal, the local spin fluctuations with power-law correlators, (Ω_{0}/|Ω|)^{γ}, with γ greater than one, interacting with electronic quasiparticles. While the critical temperature and the gap change significantly with varying parameters, the 2Δ_{max}/k_{B}T_{c} remains close to twice the BCS value in agreement with experimental observations in the iron-based superconductors (FeSC).

Influence of Spin-Orbit Coupling in Iron-Based Superconductors

We report on the influence of spin-orbit coupling (SOC) in Fe-based superconductors via application of circularly polarized spin and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. We combine this technique in representative members of both the Fe-pnictides (LiFeAs) and Fe-chalcogenides (FeSe) with tight-binding calculations to establish an ubiquitous modification of the electronic structure in these materials imbued by SOC. At low energy, the influence of SOC is found to be concentrated on the hole pockets, where the largest superconducting gaps are typically found. This effect varies substantively with the k_{z} dispersion, and in FeSe we find SOC to be comparable to the energy scale of orbital order. These results contest descriptions of superconductivity in these materials in terms of pure spin-singlet eigenstates, raising questions regarding the possible pairing mechanisms and role of SOC therein.

Tunable Lifshitz Transitions and Multiband Transport in Tetralayer Graphene

As the Fermi level and band structure of two-dimensional materials are readily tunable, they constitute an ideal platform for exploring the Lifshitz transition, a change in the topology of a material's Fermi surface. Using tetralayer graphene that host two intersecting massive Dirac bands, we demonstrate multiple Lifshitz transitions and multiband transport, which manifest as a nonmonotonic dependence of conductivity on the charge density n and out-of-plane electric field D, anomalous quantum Hall sequences and Landau level crossings that evolve with n, D, and B.

Reemergence of high-Tc superconductivity in the (Li1-xFe x )OHFe1-ySe under high pressure

In order to elucidate pressure-induced second superconducting phase (SC-II) in A _x Fe_2-ySe₂ (A = K, Rb, Cs, and Tl) having an intrinsic phase separation, we perform a detailed high-pressure magnetotransport study on the isoelectronic, phase-pure (Li_1-xFe _x )OHFe_1-ySe single crystals. Here we show that its ambient-pressure superconducting phase (SC-I) with a critical temperature T_c ≈ 40 K is suppressed gradually to below 2 K and an SC-II phase emerges above P_c ≈ 5 GPa with T_c increasing progressively to above 50 K up to 12.5 GPa. Our high-precision resistivity data uncover a sharp transition of the normal state from Fermi liquid for SC-I to non-Fermi liquid for SC-II phase. In addition, the reemergence of high-T_c SC-II is found to accompany with a concurrent enhancement of electron carrier density. Without structural transition below 10 GPa, the observed SC-II with enhanced carrier density should be ascribed to an electronic origin presumably associated with pressure-induced Fermi surface reconstruction.

Superconductivity across Lifshitz transition and anomalous insulating state in surface K-dosed (Li0.8Fe0.2OH)FeSe

In iron-based superconductors, understanding the relation between superconductivity and electronic structure upon doping is crucial for exploring the pairing mechanism. Recently, it was found that, in iron selenide (FeSe), enhanced superconductivity (T_c of more than 40 K) can be achieved via electron doping, with the Fermi surface only comprising M-centered electron pockets. By using surface K dosing, scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy, and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we studied the electronic structure and superconductivity of (Li_0.8Fe_0.2OH)FeSe in the deep electron-doped regime. We find that a Γ-centered electron band, which originally lies above the Fermi level (E_F), can be continuously tuned to cross E_F and contribute a new electron pocket at Γ. When this Lifshitz transition occurs, the superconductivity in the M-centered electron pocket is slightly suppressed, and a possible superconducting gap with a small size (up to ~5 meV) and a dome-like doping dependence is observed on the new Γ electron pocket. Upon further K dosing, the system eventually evolves into an insulating state. Our findings provide new clues to understand superconductivity versus Fermi surface topology and the correlation effect in FeSe-based superconductors.

FeTe1-xSex monolayer films: towards the realization of high-temperature connate topological superconductivity

We performed angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy studies on a series of FeTe_1-xSe_x monolayer films grown on SrTiO₃. The superconductivity of the films is robust and rather insensitive to the variations of the band position and effective mass caused by the substitution of Se by Te. However, the band gap between the electron- and hole-like bands at the Brillouin zone center decreases towards band inversion and parity exchange, which drive the system to a nontrivial topological state predicted by theoretical calculations. Our results provide a clear experimental indication that the FeTe_1-xSe_x monolayer materials are high-temperature connate topological superconductors in which band topology and superconductivity are integrated intrinsically.