Origin of the Electronic Structure in Single-Layer FeSe/SrTiO3 Films

The accurate theoretical description of the underlying electronic structures is essential for understanding the superconducting mechanism of iron-based superconductors. Compared to bulk FeSe, the superconducting single-layer FeSe/SrTiO3 films exhibit a distinct electronic structure consisting of only electron Fermi pockets, due to the formation of a new band gap at the Brillouin zone (BZ) corners and an indirect band gap between the BZ center and corners. Although intensive studies have been carried out, the origin of such a distinct electronic structure and its connection to bulk FeSe remain unclear. Here we report a systematic study on the temperature evolution of the electronic structure in single-layer FeSe/SrTiO3 films by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. A temperature-induced electronic phase transition was clearly observed at 200 K, above which the electronic structure of single-layer FeSe/SrTiO3 films restored to that of bulk FeSe, characterized by the closing of the new band gap and the vanishing of the indirect band gap. Moreover, the interfacial charge transfer effect induced band shift of ~ 60 meV was determined for the first time. These observations not only show the first direct evidence that the electronic structure of single-layer FeSe/SrTiO3 films originates from bulk FeSe through a combined effect of an electronic phase transition and an interfacial charge transfer, but also provide a quantitative basis for theoretical models in describing the electronic structure and understanding the superconducting mechanism in single-layer FeSe/SrTiO3 films.