Record-High <i>T</i> <sub>c</sub> and Multiple Superconducting Phase Diagrams Driven by Flat-Band Engineering in Quasi-One-Dimensional Mo <sub>4</sub> S <sub>2</sub> I <sub>6</sub>
Exploring flat-band superconductivity is of paramount importance, as it addresses key challenges in condensed matter physics, including the interplay between electronic topology, correlation effects, and superconductivity. In this work, we have unambiguously established the superconducting phase diagram in quasi-one-dimensional Mo<sub>4</sub>S<sub>2</sub>I<sub>6</sub> through the band adjustments driven by pressure and iodine vacancies. When iodine vacancies in the Mo<sub>4</sub>S<sub>2</sub>I<sub>6-δ</sub> reach δ = 0.48, the superconducting pressure is significantly reduced and a record-high superconducting critical temperature (<i>T</i><sub>c</sub>) is achieved with 13.1 K at 2 GPa among quasi-one-dimensional materials. Theoretical calculations reveal that iodine vacancies introduce band gaps narrowing and the emergence of flat bands derived from intrachain interactions, with higher concentrations strengthening this effect, while pressure suppresses flat bands. The flat band boosts electron-electron interactions, allowing superconductivity at pressures much lower than those of defect-free crystals. Defect engineering and pressure tuning jointly advance high-temperature superconductivity in low-dimensional materials and provide critical insights into superconductivity mechanisms.
Authors
- Yuqiang Fang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8259-4732)
- Changli Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4531-5749)
- X. R. Huang
- Weibin Wang
- Chengcheng Zhu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4082-0803)
- Jingkun Yu
- Yiping Gao
- Chuang Jiang
Institutions
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University (CN)
- Jilin University (CN)
- Zhengzhou University (CN)
- Intelligent Energy (United Kingdom) (GB)
- Jilin Medical University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nano Letters
- Published
- 2026-02-05
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.5c06059
- Primary Topic
- Iron-based superconductors research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00