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Electronic properties of the bulk and surface states of Fe1+yTe1−xSex

Nature Materials volume 20, pages 1221–1227 (2021)Cite this article

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Abstract

The idea of employing non-Abelian statistics for error-free quantum computing ignited interest in reports of topological surface superconductivity and Majorana zero modes (MZMs) in FeTe0.55Se0.45. However, the topological features and superconducting properties are not observed uniformly across the sample surface. The understanding and practical control of these electronic inhomogeneities present a prominent challenge for potential applications. Here, we combine neutron scattering, scanning angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, and microprobe composition and resistivity measurements to characterize the electronic state of Fe1+yTe1−xSex. We establish a phase diagram in which the superconductivity is observed only at sufficiently low Fe concentration, in association with distinct antiferromagnetic correlations, whereas the coexisting topological surface state occurs only at sufficiently high Te concentration. We find that FeTe0.55Se0.45 is located very close to both phase boundaries, which explains the inhomogeneity of superconducting and topological states. Our results demonstrate the compositional control required for use of topological MZMs in practical applications.

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Fig. 1: Magnetic and superconducting phases in Fe1+yTe1−xSex.
Fig. 2: Local electrical, chemical and photoemission properties of Fe1+yTe1−xSex.
Fig. 3: Typical distribution of local chemical composition and electronic properties in the sample.
Fig. 4: Phase diagram of competing bulk and surface quantum states in Fe1+yTe1−xSex.
Fig. 5: Statistics of local phases and chemical composition in Fe1+yTe1−xSex samples.

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All data needed to evaluate the conclusions in the paper are present in the paper and/or the Supplementary Information. Additional data are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge discussions with M. Lumsden, A. Tsvelik, A. Balatsky, Q. Li and X. Wang, and technical assistance from F. Loeb and M. K. Graves-Brook. This work at the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) was supported by the Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering, United States Department of Energy (US DOE), under contract no. DE-SC0012704. Work at BNL’s Center for Functional Nanomaterials was sponsored by the Scientific User Facilities Division, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, US DOE, under the same contract. This research used resources at the Spallation Neutron Source, a DOE Office of Science User Facility operated by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, USA

    Yangmu Li, Nader Zaki, David Fobes, Zhijun Xu, Cedomir Petrovic, Genda Gu, Peter D. Johnson, John M. Tranquada & Igor A. Zaliznyak

  2. Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA

    Vasile O. Garlea & Andrei T. Savici

  3. NIST Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, USA

    Zhijun Xu

  4. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA

    Zhijun Xu

  5. Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, USA

    Fernando Camino

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Contributions

I.A.Z. conceived and directed the study. I.A.Z. and Y.L. designed the study with input from J.M.T. and P.D.J.; G.G., Z.X. and C.P. provided the samples for the study. I.A.Z., Y.L., D.F., A.T.S. and V.O.G. carried out neutron experiments and obtained the neutron data. N.Z. carried out ARPES measurements and initial ARPES analysis; Y.L. performed fitting of ARPES spectra. Y.L. performed local EDS and microprobe measurements with help from F.C. Y.L. and I.A.Z. analysed the data, prepared the figures and wrote the paper, with input from all authors.

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Correspondence to Igor A. Zaliznyak.

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Supplementary Figs. 1–12 and discussion.

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Li, Y., Zaki, N., Garlea, V.O. et al. Electronic properties of the bulk and surface states of Fe1+yTe1−xSex. Nat. Mater. 20, 1221–1227 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-021-00984-7

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