Enhanced superconductivity in TiO epitaxial thin films

Abstract

Condensed matter physics: enhancing superconductivity in TiO The cubic titanium monoxide undergoes a superconducting transition at 2 K in its bulk form. However, access to the superconductivity mechanism is blocked by the lack of TiO single crystals or epitaxial films. Now, Prof. Xiaoguang Li and his co-workers from University of Science and Technology of China and other institutions in China and USA report a success in growing cubic TiO thin films epitaxially on α-Al2O3 single crystals oriented along the c-axis utilizing a pulsed laser deposition technique. Both magnetization and transport measurements suggest the type-II superconducting nature at a record high critical temperature of 7.4 K. Further characterization indicates that the increasing pressure weakens the superconductivity. This work opens an avenue towards the understanding and manipulation of superconducting behavior in titanium-based oxide superconductors.