Prediction of hydrogen-induced high-temperature superconductivity in monolayer
Phys. Rev. B 113, 014518 – Published 27 January, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/wdg8-8km7
Abstract
Light elements, such as hydrogen and boron, provide a possible route to high-temperature superconductivity. However, the pursuit of light-element superconductors with critical temperature () exceeding the McMillan limit at ambient pressure still remains challenging. Here, we design a two-dimensional (2D) superconductor, , via hydrogenation. This material features a unique sandwich structure where the scandium layer is asymmetrically functionalized with boron and hydrogen on opposite surfaces. The boron layer plays the key role in high-temperature superconductivity of with the metallization of σ bands that induce a Van Hove singularity near the Fermi level. This enables strong coupling between the σ band and the in-plane vibration of B atoms, yielding a large electron-phonon coupling of 1.69. Remarkably, the monolayer exhibits three-gap superconductivity with of (), surpassing the McMillan limit. Although hydrogen is lighter than boron, the electron-phonon coupling of hydrogen layer is weaker than that of the boron layer. Nevertheless, hydrogen not only stabilizes via hydrogenating naked activity Sc sites of monolayer , but also controls the metallization of the σ band in the honeycomb B sublattice. Our finding provides a theoretical guidance for regulating the 2D superconductivity through functionalizing two faces of 2D materials with light elements.