Two-dimensional superconductivity at heterostructure of Mott insulating titanium sesquioxide and polar semiconductor

Abstract

Heterointerfaces with symmetry breaking and strong interfacial coupling could give rise to the enormous exotic quantum phenomena. Here, we report on the experimental observation of intriguing two-dimensional superconductivity with superconducting transition temperature ($T_c$) of 3.8 K at heterostructure of Mott insulator Ti$_2$O$_3$ and polar semiconductor GaN revealed by the electrical transport and magnetization measurements. Furthermore, at the verge of superconductivity we find a wide range of temperature independent resistance associated with vanishing Hall resistance, demonstrating the emergence of quantum metallic-like state with the Bose-metal scenario of the metallic phase. By tuning the thickness of Ti$_2$O$_3$ films, the emergence of quantum metallic-like state accompanies with the appearance of superconductivity as decreasing in temperature, implying that the two-dimensional superconductivity is evolved from the quantum metallic-like state driven by the cooperative effects of the electron correlation and the interfacial coupling between Ti$_2$O$_3$ and polar GaN. These findings provide a new platform for the study of intriguing two-dimensional superconductivity with a delicate interplay of the electron correlation and the interfacial coupling at the heterostructures, and unveil the clues of the mechanism of unconventional superconductivity.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figure