Pressure-induced ferroelectric-to-superconductor transition in SnPS3

Ferroelectricity and superconductivity are prominent yet distinct quantum phenomena; materials exhibiting both of these phenomena are rare and of great fundamental and practical interest. Here, combining ab initio calculations and in situ measurements, we show that ferroelectric SnPS3 turns into a superconductor under pressure at 31.7 GPa, accompanied by a structural phase transition. Electronic band structure calculations reveal a partial flat band near the Fermi energy in compressed SnPS3, suggesting correlation effects as a possible origin of the observed superconducting state. The discovery of a pressure-induced ferroelectric-to-superconductor transition in SnPS3 raises the prospect of establishing this intriguing quantum phenomenon among a large class of metal phosphorous trichalcogenides, thereby broadening the material basis to elucidate the underlying physics.

Automated summary

Combining ab initio calculations and in situ measurements, researchers have discovered that ferroelectric SnPS3 can transform into a superconductor under pressure, accompanied by a structural phase transition. Electronic band structure calculations suggest that the observed superconducting state in compressed SnPS3 may be due to correlation effects. The discovery of the pressure-induced ferroelectric-to-superconductor transition in SnPS3 opens up the possibility of studying this intriguing quantum phenomenon in a wider range of metal phosphorous trichalcogenides.