Enhanced superconductivity with interlayer spacing dependent T c in intercalated Weyl semimetal MoTe2

Manipulating the strength of the interlayer coupling is an effective strategy to induce intriguing properties in layered materials. Recently, enhanced superconductivity has been reported in Weyl semimetal MoTe2 and WTe2 via ionic liquid (IL) cation intercalation. However, how the superconductivity enhancement depends on the interlayer interaction still remains elusive. Here by inserting IL cations with different sizes into MoTe2 through this strategy, we are able to tune the interlayer spacing of the intercalated MoTe2 samples and reveal the dependence of superconducting transition temperature T (c) on the interlayer spacing. Our results show that T (c) increases with the interlayer spacing, suggesting that the weakened interlayer coupling plays an important role in the superconductivity. Interestingly, the intercalation induced superconductivity shows a high Ginzburg-Landau anisotropy, which suggests a quasi-two-dimensional nature of the superconductivity where the adjacent superconducting layers are coupled through Josephson tunnelling.

Automated summary

Manipulating the strength of interlayer coupling is an effective strategy to induce intriguing properties in layered materials. Recent studies have reported enhanced superconductivity in Weyl semimetal MoTe2 and WTe2 through ionic liquid (IL) cation intercalation. In this study, by inserting IL cations with different sizes into MoTe2, the interlayer spacing of the intercalated MoTe2 samples was tuned, revealing the dependence of superconducting transition temperature T(c) on the interlayer spacing. The results show that T(c) increases with the interlayer spacing, indicating the importance of weakened interlayer coupling in superconductivity. Interestingly, the intercalation-induced superconductivity exhibits a high Ginzburg-Landau anisotropy, suggesting a quasi-two-dimensional nature where adjacent superconducting layers are coupled through Josephson tunneling.