Tuning superconductivity of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x by fluoride ion intercalation with LaF3 gate dielectric

We demonstrate fluorine intercalation into Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x (BSCCO) flakes, as thick as 100 nm, by back-gating a single crystalline LaF3 substrate. Element-sensitive analysis not only confirms the presence of fluorine in BSCCO after gating but also reveals lateral diffusion of fluorine in BSCCO. Transport measurements further demonstrate the hole-doping effect of fluoride ions in BSCCO through effective modulation of the superconducting transitions. Our work introduces a distinct type of ions (F−) that can be intercalated into materials via solid state back-gating. It broadens the toolbox of ion back-gating and is useful for addressing exotic phenomena in the heavily hole doped regime.