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Structural phase transitions and superconductivity in Fe(1+delta)Se0.57Te0.43 at ambient and elevated pressures
Nathalie C Gresty1, Yasuhiro Takabayashi, Alexey Y Ganin
1Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|October 30, 2009
Summary
Pressure significantly enhances superconductivity in iron chalcogenides, with critical temperature (T(c)) peaking at 23.3 K. A structural shift to monoclinic symmetry at 3 GPa correlates with maximum T(c), revealing a link between crystal and electronic properties.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Solid State Chemistry
Background:
- Fe-based superconductors are a recently discovered class of materials with unique properties.
- Ternary iron chalcogenides, like Fe(1.03)Se(0.57)Te(0.43), exhibit superconductivity at ambient pressures.
- Understanding the interplay between structure and superconductivity is crucial for designing new materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between structural and electronic properties of Fe(1.03)Se(0.57)Te(0.43) under pressure.
- To determine how applied pressure affects the superconducting critical temperature (T(c)).
- To explore the structural phase transitions induced by pressure.
Main Methods:
- High-resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction was used to analyze structural changes.
- Superconducting critical temperature (T(c)) was measured as a function of applied pressure.
- The crystal structure and symmetry were characterized at various pressure points.
Main Results:
- Superconducting critical temperature (T(c)) increased with pressure, reaching a maximum of 23.3 K at approximately 3 GPa.
- A structural transformation from orthorhombic to monoclinic symmetry occurred around 3 GPa.
- At higher pressures (12 GPa), the material became metallic but lost its superconducting properties.
Conclusions:
- There is an intimate link between the crystal structure and the electronic properties of iron chalcogenide superconductors.
- Pressure-induced structural symmetry changes directly influence the superconducting behavior.
- The findings provide insights into the mechanism of superconductivity in these materials.
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