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The field-free Josephson diode in a van der Waals heterostructure

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  • Heng Wu

    (Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics
    Shenzhen University
    Delft University of Technology)

  • Yaojia Wang

    (Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics
    Delft University of Technology)

  • Yuanfeng Xu

    (Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics
    Princeton University)

  • Pranava K. Sivakumar

    (Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics)

  • Chris Pasco

    (Johns Hopkins University)

  • Ulderico Filippozzi

    (Delft University of Technology)

  • Stuart S. P. Parkin

    (Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics)

  • Yu-Jia Zeng

    (Shenzhen University)

  • Tyrel McQueen

    (Johns Hopkins University)

  • Mazhar N. Ali

    (Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics
    Delft University of Technology)

Abstract

The superconducting analogue to the semiconducting diode, the Josephson diode, has long been sought with multiple avenues to realization being proposed by theorists1–3. Showing magnetic-field-free, single-directional superconductivity with Josephson coupling, it would serve as the building block for next-generation superconducting circuit technology. Here we realized the Josephson diode by fabricating an inversion symmetry breaking van der Waals heterostructure of NbSe2/Nb3Br8/NbSe2. We demonstrate that even without a magnetic field, the junction can be superconducting with a positive current while being resistive with a negative current. The ΔIc behaviour (the difference between positive and negative critical currents) with magnetic field is symmetric and Josephson coupling is proved through the Fraunhofer pattern. Also, stable half-wave rectification of a square-wave excitation was achieved with a very low switching current density, high rectification ratio and high robustness. This non-reciprocal behaviour strongly violates the known Josephson relations and opens the door to discover new mechanisms and physical phenomena through integration of quantum materials with Josephson junctions, and provides new avenues for superconducting quantum devices.

Suggested Citation

  • Heng Wu & Yaojia Wang & Yuanfeng Xu & Pranava K. Sivakumar & Chris Pasco & Ulderico Filippozzi & Stuart S. P. Parkin & Yu-Jia Zeng & Tyrel McQueen & Mazhar N. Ali, 2022. "The field-free Josephson diode in a van der Waals heterostructure," Nature, Nature, vol. 604(7907), pages 653-656, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:604:y:2022:i:7907:d:10.1038_s41586-022-04504-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04504-8
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    Cited by:

    1. Tian Le & Ruihan Zhang & Changcun Li & Ruiyang Jiang & Haohao Sheng & Linfeng Tu & Xuewei Cao & Zhaozheng Lyu & Jie Shen & Guangtong Liu & Fucai Liu & Zhijun Wang & Li Lu & Fanming Qu, 2024. "Magnetic field filtering of the boundary supercurrent in unconventional metal NiTe2-based Josephson junctions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Fumiya Sekiguchi & Hideki Narita & Hideki Hirori & Teruo Ono & Yoshihiko Kanemitsu, 2024. "Anomalous behavior of critical current in a superconducting film triggered by DC plus terahertz current," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
    3. Marco Valentini & Oliver Sagi & Levon Baghumyan & Thijs Gijsel & Jason Jung & Stefano Calcaterra & Andrea Ballabio & Juan Aguilera Servin & Kushagra Aggarwal & Marian Janik & Thomas Adletzberger & Rub, 2024. "Parity-conserving Cooper-pair transport and ideal superconducting diode in planar germanium," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.

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