Interface two-dimensional metallicity but lack of superconductivity in heterobonded semiconductors: ZnS/Si and GaP/Si

S. H. Rhim, R. Saniz, A. J. Freeman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

As a follow up to our finding that CuCl/Si superlattices exhibit metallicity at the interfaces and possibly superconductivity, we explore other semiconductor superlattices for the same properties and present here our results for ZnS/Si and GaP/Si superlattices. As found for the CuCl/Si superlattices, both the ZnS/Si and GaP/Si superlattices exhibit two-dimensional metallicity at their interfaces, as shown by their band structures, Fermi surfaces, and charge-density distributions. Furthermore, to gauge any possible superconductivity, the McMillan-Hopfield electron-phonon coupling constant, λ, is calculated using the rigid muffin-tin approximation. Electron-phonon coupling is observed mostly at the interfaces but it is not strong enough to cause superconductivity at a finite temperature as estimated using the McMillan formula for Tc. This contrasts greatly with the CuCl/Si superlattices, in which electron-phonon coupling is strong enough to indicate superconductivity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number045313
JournalPhysical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Volume79
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 5 2009

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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