Re-emerging superconductivity at 48 kelvin in iron chalcogenides.

Pressure has an essential role in the production and control of superconductivity in iron-based superconductors. Substitution of a large cation by a smaller rare-earth ion to simulate the pressure effect has raised the superconducting transition temperature T(c) to a record high of 55 K in these materials. In the same way as T(c) exhibits a bell-shaped curve of dependence on chemical doping, pressure-tuned T(c) typically drops monotonically after passing the optimal pressure. Here we report that in the superconducting iron chalcogenides, a second superconducting phase suddenly re-emerges above 11.5 GPa, after the T(c) drops from the first maximum of 32 K at 1 GPa. The T(c) of the re-emerging superconducting phase is considerably higher than the first maximum, reaching 48.0-48.7 K for Tl(0.6)Rb(0.4)Fe(1.67)Se(2), K(0.8)Fe(1.7)Se(2) and K(0.8)Fe(1.78)Se(2).

Multiband superconductivity of heavy electrons in a TlNi2Se2 single crystal.

We have made the first observation of superconductivity in TlNi2Se2 at T(C)=3.7 K, and it appears to involve heavy electrons with an effective mass m*=(14-20)m(b), as inferred from the normal-state electronic specific heat and the upper critical field, H(C2)(T). We found that the zero-field electronic specific-heat data, C(es)(T) (0.5 K≤T<3.7 K) in the superconducting state can be fitted with a two-gap BCS model, indicating that TlNi2Se2 seems to be a multiband superconductor, which is consistent with the band calculation for the isostructural KNi2S2. It is also found that the electronic specific-heat coefficient in the mixed state γN(H) exhibits a H(1/2) behavior, which is considered as a common feature of the d-wave superconductors. TlNi2Se2, as a d-electron system with heavy electron superconductivity, may be a bridge between cuprate- or iron-based and conventional heavy-fermion superconductors.

Common crystalline and magnetic structure of superconducting A2Fe4Se5 (A=K,Rb,Cs,Tl) single crystals measured using neutron diffraction.

Single-crystal neutron diffraction studies on superconductors A(2)Fe(4)Se(5), where A=Rb, Cs, (Tl, Rb), and (Tl, K) (T(c) ∼ 30 K), uncover the same Fe vacancy ordered crystal structure and the same block antiferromagnetic order as in K(2)Fe(4)Se(5). The Fe order-disorder transition occurs at T(S)=500-578 K, and the antiferromagnetic transition at T(N) = 471-559 K with an ordered magnetic moment ∼3.3µ(B)/Fe at 10 K. Thus, all recently discovered A intercalated iron selenide superconductors share the common crystalline and magnetic structure, which are very different from previous families of Fe-based superconductors, and constitute a distinct new 245 family.

Distinct fermi surface topology and nodeless superconducting gap in a (Tl0.58Rb0.42)Fe1.72Se2 superconductor.

High resolution angle-resolved photoemission measurements have been carried out to study the electronic structure and superconducting gap of the (Tl0.58Rb0.42)Fe1.72Se2 superconductor with a T(c) = 32 K. The Fermi surface topology consists of two electronlike Fermi surface sheets around the Γ point which is distinct from that in all other iron-based superconductors reported so far. The Fermi surface around the M point shows a nearly isotropic superconducting gap of ∼12 meV. The large Fermi surface near the Γ point also shows a nearly isotropic superconducting gap of ∼15 meV, while no superconducting gap opening is clearly observed for the inner tiny Fermi surface. Our observed new Fermi surface topology and its associated superconducting gap will provide key insights and constraints into the understanding of the superconductivity mechanism in iron-based superconductors.

Band narrowing and Mott localization in iron oxychalcogenides La2O2Fe2O(Se,S)2.

Bad metal properties have motivated a description of the parent iron pnictides as correlated metals on the verge of Mott localization. What has been unclear is whether interactions can push these and related compounds to the Mott-insulating side of the phase diagram. Here we consider the iron oxychalcogenides La2O2Fe2O(Se,S)2, which contain an Fe square lattice with an expanded unit cell. We show theoretically that they contain enhanced correlation effects through band narrowing compared to LaOFeAs, and we provide experimental evidence that they are Mott insulators with moderate charge gaps. We also discuss the magnetic properties in terms of a Heisenberg model with frustrating J1-J2-J2' exchange interactions on a "doubled" checkerboard lattice.

Magnetism and magnetocaloric effect in TlCo2-x Ni x S2 (0 [Formula: see text] x [Formula: see text] 0.05).

We have investigated the magnetism and magnetocaloric effect of TlCo2-x Ni x S2 (0 [Formula: see text] x [Formula: see text] 0.05). TlCo2S2 and TlCo1.97Ni0.03S2 are ferromagnetically ordered below 153 K and 142 K with saturated moment 0.82 [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]/Co and 0.80 [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]/Co, respectively, while TlCo1.95Ni0.05S2 shows ferromagnetic transition at 132 K. The magnetism displays slightly itinerant character, as inferred from the Rhodes-Wohlfarth ratio. An unusual historical dependence of magnetization in TlCo1.95Ni0.05S2 is consistently observed by scanning both the temperature and magnetic field. The isothermal magnetic entropy change ([Formula: see text] S [Formula: see text]) of TlCo2S2 and TlCo1.95Ni0.05S2 are calculated by Maxwell relation and a temperature averaged entropy change is adopted to estimate the figure of merit for the compounds.

Large magnetoresistance and large magnetothermopower effect in the Dirac material EuMn0.8Sb2.

In this article, the structure, transport and magnetic properties were studied in details for EuMn0.8Sb2 crystals with the orthorhombic structure and Mn deficiencies. It was found that the temperature dependence of the resistivity exhibits a metallic behavior in the whole measuring temperature range, different from that in the crystals without Mn deficiencies. A large positive magnetoresistance (MR) (∼127% at 2 K and ∼25% at 300 K, in 9 T field) was observed, which can be ascribed to the combination of semiclassical MR and quantum limit MR of Dirac electrons. We also observed the high mobility of the carriers and large magnetothermopower effect at low temperatures, and two magnetic transitions emerging at ∼24 K and ∼10 K, respectively, corresponding to the antiferromagnetic ordering and canted arrangement of the Eu moments. Our findings shed new light on the intrinsic properties of EuMn0.8Sb2 and demonstrate the existence of Dirac fermions.

Critical properties of the quasi-two-dimensional metallic ferromagnet Fe2.85GeTe2.

We have investigated the critical behavior of Fe2.85GeTe2 single crystals near the paramagnetic-ferromagnetic transition by bulk dc magnetization measurements. The critical exponents ß, γ and δ, obtained from modified Arrott plot, Kouvel-Fisher method, and critical isothermal magnetization analysis, could fulfill the Widom scaling law. The self-consistency and reliability of these exponents are further verified by the magnetic state equations below and above the Curie temperature at high magnetic field. In addition, the exchange distance deduced from the susceptibility exponent is shown to decay as [Formula: see text]. Based on the observations, we suggest that the competition between direct magnetic exchange and Coulombic and/or RKKY interactions should be responsible for the intrinsic magnetism in this system.

From tricritical ferromagnetism to metamagnetism in quasi-two dimensional Tl(Co1-x Ni x )2S2 (x = 0, 0.05).

We have investigated the critical behavior near the ferromagnetic transition of TlCo2S2 single crystals and the magnetic properties of Tl(Co0.95Ni0.05)2S2 by means of magnetization measurements. The obtained critical exponents ß, γ and δ of TlCo2S2 could basically satisfy the scaling equations and are found very close to the prediction of the tricritical mean-field theory. 5[Formula: see text] Ni doping drives the system to an antiferromagnetic ground state which is unstable to magnetic field, yielding metamagnetic transition. The possible existence of a tricritical point (TCP) in Tl(Co0.95Ni0.05)2S2 is also discussed.

Pressure induced superconductivity in the antiferromagnetic Dirac material BaMnBi2.

The so-called Dirac materials such as graphene and topological insulators are a new class of matter different from conventional metals and (doped) semiconductors. Superconductivity induced by doing or applying pressure in these systems may be unconventional, or host mysterious Majorana fermions. Here, we report a successfully observation of pressure-induced superconductivity in an antiferromagnetic Dirac material BaMnBi2 with T c of ~4 K at 2.6 GPa. Both the higher upper critical field, µ 0 H c2(0) ~ 7 Tesla, and the measured current independent of T c precludes that superconductivity is ascribed to the Bi impurity. The similarity in ρ ab (B) linear behavior at high magnetic fields measured at 2 K both at ambient pressure (non-superconductivity) and 2.6 GPa (superconductivity, but at the normal state), as well as the smooth and similar change of resistivity with pressure measured at 7 K and 300 K in zero field, suggests that there may be no structure transition occurred below 2.6 GPa, and superconductivity observed here may emerge in the same phase with Dirac fermions. Our findings imply that BaMnBi2 may provide another platform for studying SC mechanism in the system with Dirac fermions.

Large low field magnetocaloric effect in first-order phase transition compound TlFe3Te3 with low-level hysteresis.

Magnetic refrigeration based on the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) is an environment-friendly, high-efficiency technology. It has been believed that a large MCE can be realized in the materials with a first-order magnetic transition (FOMT). Here, we found that TlFe3Te3 is a ferromagnetic metal with a first-order magnetic transition occurring at Curie temperature TC = 220 K. The maximum values of magnetic entropy change (Δ) along the crystallographic c-axis, estimated from the magnetization data, reach to 5.9 J kg-1K-1 and 7.0 J kg-1 K-1 for the magnetic field changes, ΔH = 0-1 T and 0-2 T, respectively, which is significantly larger than that of MCE materials with a second-order magnetic transition (SOMT). Besides the large ΔSM, the low-level both thermal and field hysteresis make TlFe3Te3 compound an attractive candidate for magnetic refrigeration. Our findings should inspire the exploration of high performance new MCE materials.

Superconductivity and disorder effect in TlNi2Se(2-x)S(x) compounds.

After our first discovery of multi-band superconductivity (SC) in the TlNi2Se2 crystal, we successfully grew a series of TlNi2Se(2-x)S(x) (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 2.0) single crystals. Measurements of resistivity, specific heat, and susceptibility were carried out on these crystals. Superconductivity with T(C) = 2.3 K was first observed in the TlNi2S2 crystal, which also appears to involve heavy electrons with an effective mass m* = 13-25 m(b), as inferred from the normal state electronic specific heat and the upper critical field, H(C2)(T). It was found that bulk SC and heavy-electron behavior is preserved in all the studied TlNi2Se(2-x)S(x) samples. In the mixed state, a novel change of the field dependence of the residual specific heat coefficient, γ(N)(H), occurs in TlNi2Se(2-x)S(x) with increasing S content. We also found that the T(C) value changes with the disorder degree induced by the partial substitution of S for Se, characterized by the residual resistivity ratio (RRR). Thus, the TlNi2Se(2-x)S(x) system provides a platform to study the effect of disorder on the multi-band SC.

Phase diagram and annealing effect for Fe1+δTe1-xSx single crystals.

The excess Fe atoms which unavoidably exist in the Fe(Te, Se, S) crystal lattice result in a complicated antiferromagnetic ground state as well as the suppression of superconductivity. As a result, there are still discrepancies on their phase diagrams. In this paper, we report the synthesis of Fe1+δTe1-xSx (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.12) single crystals by a melting method. Superconductivity was greatly improved after air annealing by which we partially removed the excess Fe atoms. Based on the resistivity and susceptibility measurements, we concluded a phase diagram of the Fe1+δTe1-xSx (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.12) system with fewer excess iron atoms. We found a coexisting region (0.07 ≤ x ≤ 0.11) of antiferromagnetic order and bulk superconductivity. This phase diagram is similar to that of the K- or Co-doped BaFe2As2 system, as well as the Fe(Te, Se) system, implying a commonality of the iron-based superconductors.

Magnetic ordering in semiconducting Tl0.53K0.47Fe1.64Se2 single crystals studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy.

The results of a 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy study between 4.5 and 523.2 K and in external magnetic fields (up to 90 kOe) of semiconducting Tl0.53K0.47Fe1.64Se2 single crystals are reported. Evidence is provided for a possible phase separation into the magnetic majority and minority phases. It is demonstrated that the magnetic moments of the divalent Fe atoms located at the 16i site (space group I4/m) of the majority phase and of the minority phase are antiferromagnetically ordered, with the Néel temperature T(N) = 518.0(3.6) K. The magnetic moments at 5.0 K of 2.09(1) and 2.28(2) µ(B) in these two phases are tilted from the crystallographic c axis by 18(1)° and 32(2)°, respectively. The Debye temperature of Tl0.53K0.47Fe1.64Se2 is found to be 228(4) K.

Spin gap and resonance at the nesting wave vector in superconducting FeSe_{0.4}Te_{0.6}.

Neutron scattering is used to probe magnetic excitations in FeSe_{0.4}Te_{0.6} (T_{c} = 14 K). Low energy spin fluctuations are found with a characteristic wave vector (1/21/2L) that corresponds to Fermi surface nesting and differs from Q_{m} = (delta01/2) for magnetic ordering in Fe_{1+y}Te. A spin resonance with variant Planck's over 2piOmega_{0} = 6.51(4) meV approximately 5.3k_{B}T_{c} and variant Planck's over 2piGamma = 1.25(5) meV develops in the superconducting state from a normal state continuum. We show that the resonance is consistent with a bound state associated with s_{+/-} superconductivity and imperfect quasi-2D Fermi surface nesting.

Tunable (deltapi, deltapi)-type antiferromagnetic order in alpha-Fe(Te,Se) superconductors.

The new alpha-Fe(Te,Se) superconductors share the common iron building block and ferminology with the LaFeAsO and BaFe(2)As(2) families of superconductors. In contrast with the predicted commensurate spin-density-wave order at the nesting wave vector (pi, 0), a completely different magnetic order with a composition tunable propagation vector (deltapi, deltapi) was determined for the parent compound Fe_{1+y}Te in this powder and single-crystal neutron diffraction study. The new antiferromagnetic order survives as a short-range one even in the highest T_{C} sample. An alternative to the prevailing nesting Fermi surface mechanism is required to understand the latest family of ferrous superconductors.