CsFe_4-δSe₄: A Compound Closely Related to Alkali-Intercalated FeSe Superconductors

We report the synthesis and characterizations of a new FeSe-based compound CsFe_4-δSe₄, which is closely related to alkali intercalated FeSe superconductors while exhibits distinct features. It does not undergo phase separation and antiferromagnetic transition. Powder neutron diffractions, electron microscopy and high-angle annular-dark-field images confirm that CsFe_4-δSe₄ possesses an ordered Cs arrangement as √2 × √2 superstructure, evidencing a B-centered orthorhombic lattice with a space group of Bmmm. The temperature-dependent powder neutron diffractions indicate no structural and magnetic transition from 320 to 5 K. In contrast to the symmetry-breaking in FeSe, this phase naturally possesses the orthorhombic symmetry even at room temperature. DFT calculations and transport measurements reveal a novel Fermi surface geometry with two electron-like sheets centered on Γ point and intermediate density of states at the Fermi level comparing with the value of FeSe and the superconducting A _xFe₂Se₂.