Interface-Induced High-Temperature Superconductivity in Single Unit-Cell FeSe Films on SrTiO₃

We report high transition temperature superconductivity in one unit-cell (UC) thick FeSe films grown on a Se-etched SrTiO₃(001) substrate by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). A superconducting gap as large as 20 meV and the magnetic field induced vortex state revealed by in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) suggest that the superconductivity of the 1 UC FeSe films could occur around 77 K. The control transport measurement shows that the onset superconductivity temperature is well above 50 K. Our work not only demonstrates a powerful way for finding new superconductors and for raising T_C, but also provides a well-defined platform for systematic studies of the mechanism of unconventional superconductivity by using different superconducting materials and substrates.