Theoretical prediction of superconductivity in monolayer h-BN doped with alkaline-earth metals (Ca, Sr, Ba)

We investigated the possibility of superconductivity in monolayer hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) doped using group-1 (Li, Na, K) and group-2 (Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba) atoms via ab initio calculations. Consequently, we reveal that Sr- and Ba-doped monolayer h-BN and Ca-doped monolayer h-BN with 3.5% tensile strain are energetically stable and become superconductors with superconducting transition temperature (Tc) values of 5.83, 1.53, and 10.7 K, respectively, which are considerably higher than those of Ca-, Sr-, and Ba-doped graphene. In addition, the momentum-resolved electron-phonon coupling (EPC) constant shows that the scattering among intrinsic π* electrons around the Γ point governs Tc. The scattering process is mediated by the low-energy vibration of the adsorbate. Moreover, compared with graphene, the stronger adsorbate-substrate interaction and lower symmetry in h-BN are critical for enhancing the EPC in doped h-BN.