Superconductivity in (Ba,K)SbO3.
Minu Kim1, Graham M McNally2, Hun-Ho Kim2
1Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart, Germany. minukim@fkf.mpg.de.
Nature Materials
|March 1, 2022
Summary
Researchers discovered superconductivity in (Ba,K)SbO3, a new material with potential for advanced applications. This finding offers insights into the mechanisms behind charge density wave order and superconductivity in perovskite materials.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Solid-State Chemistry
Background:
- Barium potassium bismuthate ((Ba,K)BiO3) exhibits high superconducting transition temperatures (Tc) near charge density wave (CDW) order, but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood.
- Understanding the interplay between CDW and superconductivity is crucial for designing novel superconducting materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate superconductivity in a new material, (Ba,K)SbO3, and explore its relationship with charge density wave order.
- To determine if oxygen-metal covalency plays a role in main-group perovskite superconductors.
Main Methods:
- High-pressure synthesis was employed to create the (Ba,K)SbO3 material.
- Systematic potassium substitution was used to suppress the charge density wave order and observe the emergence of superconductivity.
Main Results:
- Superconductivity was observed in (Ba,K)SbO3, which exhibits a positive oxygen-metal charge transfer energy, unlike (Ba,K)BiO3.
- The parent compound BaSbO3-δ showed a larger charge density wave gap than BaBiO3.
- Superconductivity emerged with a Tc of 15 K upon suppressing the CDW order via potassium substitution up to 65%.
Conclusions:
- The discovery of superconductivity and an enhanced CDW gap in (Ba,K)SbO3 suggests that strong oxygen-metal covalency is important for main-group perovskite superconductors.
- This finding challenges the notion that the sign of the charge transfer energy is the primary factor in these materials.
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