Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless transition in rhenium nitride films

Abstract

The quest to manipulate and understand superconductivity demands exploring diverse materials and unconventional behaviors. Here, we investigate the BKT transition in synthesized ReN$_x$ thin films, demonstrating their emergence as a compelling platform for studying this pivotal phenomenon. By systematically varying synthesis parameters, we achieve ReN$_x$ films exhibiting a BKT transition comparable or even surpassing the archetypal NbN$_x$ system. Detailed current-voltage measurements unlock the intrinsic parameters of the BKT transition, revealing the critical role of suppressed superconducting volume in pushing ReN$_x$ towards the two-dimensional limit. Utilizing this two-dimensional electron system, we employ Beasley-Mooij-Orlando (BMO) theory to extract the vortex unbinding transition temperature and superelectron density at the critical point. Further confirmation of the BKT transition is obtained through temperature-dependent resistivity, current-voltage, and magnetoresistance measurements. Our findings suggest that native disorder and inhomogeneity within ReN$_x$ thin films act to suppress long-range coherence, ultimately driving the system towards the BKT regime. This work establishes ReN$_x$ as a promising material for exploring BKT physics and paves the way for tailoring its properties for potential applications in superconducting devices.