The Superconductivity in Bi-Doped BaFe2As2 Single Crystals.

We have successfully synthesized a series of Bi-doped BaFe2As2 high-quality single crystals for the first time. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns show an expansion of lattice parameter c with Bi doping, indicating a negative pressure effect. By investigating the resistivity, a Fermi liquid (FL) to non-Fermi liquid (NFL) crossover is observed from normal state to antiferromagnetic order state, accompanied by three superconducting transitions labeled as SC I, SC II and SC III, which are supposed to be induced by three superconducting realms with various Bi concentrations. Thus, we propose that the NFL behavior is closely related to the presence of superconductivity. The magnetic susceptibility measurements further speculate that the SC I and SC III phases should exhibit filamentary superconductivity while the SC II exhibits a possible bulk superconductivity of TC~7 K.

Evidence for unconventional superconductivity and nontrivial topology in PdTe.

PdTe is a superconductor with Tc ~ 4.25 K. Recently, evidence for bulk-nodal and surface-nodeless gap features has been reported in PdTe. Here, we investigate the physical properties of PdTe in both the normal and superconducting states via specific heat and magnetic torque measurements and first-principles calculations. Below Tc, the electronic specific heat initially decreases in T3 behavior (1.5 K < T < Tc) then exponentially decays. Using the two-band model, the superconducting specific heat can be well described with two energy gaps: one is 0.372 meV and another 1.93 meV. The calculated bulk band structure consists of two electron bands (α and ß) and two hole bands (γ and η) at the Fermi level. Experimental detection of the de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) oscillations allows us to identify four frequencies (Fα = 65 T, Fß = 658 T, Fγ = 1154 T, and Fη = 1867 T for H // a), consistent with theoretical predictions. Nontrivial α and ß bands are further identified via both calculations and the angle dependence of the dHvA oscillations. Our results suggest that PdTe is a candidate for unconventional superconductivity.

Quantum Phase Transition of Correlated Iron-Based Superconductivity in LiFe_{1-x}Co_{x}As.

The interplay between unconventional Cooper pairing and quantum states associated with atomic scale defects is a frontier of research with many open questions. So far, only a few of the high-temperature superconductors allow this intricate physics to be studied in a widely tunable way. We use scanning tunneling microscopy to image the electronic impact of Co atoms on the ground state of the LiFe_{1-x}Co_{x}As system. We observe that impurities progressively suppress the global superconducting gap and introduce low energy states near the gap edge, with the superconductivity remaining in the strong-coupling limit. Unexpectedly, the fully opened gap evolves into a nodal state before the Cooper pair coherence is fully destroyed. Our systematic theoretical analysis shows that these new observations can be quantitatively understood by the nonmagnetic Born-limit scattering effect in an s±-wave superconductor, unveiling the driving force of the superconductor to metal quantum phase transition.

Low-Dimensional Magnetic Semimetal Cr0.65Al1.35Se3.

While exploring novel magnetic semiconductors, the new phase Cr0.65Al1.35Se3 was discovered and characterized by both structural and physical properties. Cr0.65Al1.35Se3 was found to crystallize into orthorhombic CrGeTe3-type structure with space group Pnma (no. 62). Vacancies and mixed occupancies were tested, and the results show that one of the 4c sites accommodates a mixture of Cr and Al atoms, while the other 4c site is fully occupied by Al atoms. Unique structural features include a T-shaped channel network created from the edge-sharing Cr/Al@Se6 and Al@Se4 polyhedra and a zipper effect of the puckered Se atoms inside the columnar channels. The round peak observed in the temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility (χg) plot at ∼8(1) K corresponds to the antiferromagnetic-type transition in Cr0.65Al1.35Se3. However, the positive θCW indicates an additional ferromagnetic interaction, which is highly likely due to the complex magnetic structure arising from the mixed Cr/Al occupancies on the 4c site. Electrical resistivity measurements confirm that Cr0.65Al1.35Se3 is a semimetal with a positive magnetoresistance. Here we present the characterization and determination of the crystal structure and physical properties for this new material.

Cr2.37Ga3Se8: A Quasi-Two-Dimensional Magnetic Semiconductor.

We present a novel magnetic semiconductor, Cr2.37Ga3Se8, synthesized by partially replacing magnetic Cr3+ in antiferromagnetic Cr5+δSe8 with nonmagnetic Ga3+. The crystal structure of Cr2.37Ga3Se8 was determined by both powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The title compound crystallizes in a monoclinic structure with space group C2/ m (No. 12). In Cr2.37Ga3Se8, the Cr atoms are surrounded by 6 Se atoms and form filled octahedral clusters, while Ga atoms are centered in the Se4 tetrahedral clusters. The two kinds of clusters pack alternatingly along the c-axis, which results in a quasi-two-dimensional layered structure. The magnetization ( M) measurement shows the development of short-range ferromagnetic coupling below the Curie-Weiss (CW) temperature θCW ∼ 92 K, evidenced by the nonlinear field dependence of M. However, the magnetic susceptibility exhibits a peak at low fields at ∼18 K, indicating the existence of an antiferromagnetic interaction as well. Electronic structure calculations using the WIEN2k program in the local spin density approximation indicate that the magnetism arises exclusively from local moments of the Cr atoms. The electrical resistivity measurement of the Cr2.37Ga3Se8 sample confirms that this material is a semiconductor with the band gap ∼0.26 eV. Meanwhile, the experimental band gap (∼0.26 eV) is close to the theoretical prediction using the WIEN2k program (∼0.35 eV).

Mn-induced Ferromagnetic Semiconducting Behavior with Linear Negative Magnetoresistance in Sr4(Ru1-xMnx)3O10 Single Crystals.

Triple-layered Sr4Ru3O10 is a unique ferromagnet with the central RuO6 layer behaving differently from two outer layers both crystallographically and magnetically. We report that the partial substitution of Ru by smaller Mn gives rise to modification in crystal structure, electronic and magnetic properties of Sr4(Ru1-xMnx)3O10. Through the single crystal X-ray diffraction refinement, we find that (Ru/Mn)O6 octahedral rotation is no longer detectable at x ≥ 0.23, leading to the tetragonal structure. The magnetization measurements indicate the ferromagnetic transition temperature TC decreases from 105 K for x = 0 to 30 K for x = 0.41, with the reduced magnetic moment as well. Remarkably, Mn doping results in the change of magnetic anisotropy from the easy c axis in x = 0 to the easy ab plane seen in x = 0.34 and 0.41. Such change also removes the ab-plane metamagnetic transition observed in x = 0. Furthermore, the electrical resistivity increases with increasing x showing semiconducting behavior with Δ ~ 10 meV for x = 0.34 and 30 meV for x = 0.41. Under applied magnetic field, the magnetoresistance exhibits negative and linear field dependence in all current and field configurations. These results clearly indicate Sr4(Ru1-xMnx)3O10 is a novel ferromagnetic semiconductor with exotic magnetotransport properties.

Pt-Bi Antibonding Interaction: The Key Factor for Superconductivity in Monoclinic BaPt2Bi2.

In the search for superconductivity in a BaAu2Sb2-type monoclinic structure, we have successfully synthesized the new compound BaPt2Bi2, which crystallizes in the space group P21/m (No. 11; Pearson symbol mP10) according to a combination of powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. A sharp electrical resistivity drop and large diamagnetic magnetization below 2.0 K indicates it owns superconducting ground state. This makes BaPt2Bi2 the first reported superconductor in a monoclinic BaAu2Sb2-type structure, a previously unappreciated structure for superconductivity. First-principles calculations considering spin-orbit coupling indicate that Pt-Bi antibonding interaction plays a critical role in inducing superconductivity.

Magnetic moment evolution and spin freezing in doped BaFe2As2.

Fe-K ß X-ray emission spectroscopy measurements reveal an asymmetric doping dependence of the magnetic moments µ bare in electron- and hole-doped BaFe2As2. At low temperature, µ bare is nearly constant in hole-doped samples, whereas it decreases upon electron doping. Increasing temperature substantially enhances µ bare in the hole-doped region, which is naturally explained by the theoretically predicted crossover into a spin-frozen state. Our measurements demonstrate the importance of Hund's-coupling and electronic correlations, especially for hole-doped BaFe2As2, and the inadequacy of a fully localized or fully itinerant description of the 122 family of Fe pnictides.

Orbital Selective Spin Excitations and their Impact on Superconductivity of LiFe_{1-x}Co_{x}As.

We use neutron scattering to study spin excitations in single crystals of LiFe_{0.88}Co_{0.12}As, which is located near the boundary of the superconducting phase of LiFe_{1-x}Co_{x}As and exhibits non-Fermi-liquid behavior indicative of a quantum critical point. By comparing spin excitations of LiFe_{0.88}Co_{0.12}As with a combined density functional theory and dynamical mean field theory calculation, we conclude that wave-vector correlated low energy spin excitations are mostly from the d_{xy} orbitals, while high-energy spin excitations arise from the d_{yz} and d_{xz} orbitals. Unlike most iron pnictides, the strong orbital selective spin excitations in the LiFeAs family cannot be described by an anisotropic Heisenberg Hamiltonian. While the evolution of low-energy spin excitations of LiFe_{1-x}Co_{x}As is consistent with the electron-hole Fermi surface nesting conditions for the d_{xy} orbital, the reduced superconductivity in LiFe_{0.88}Co_{0.12}As suggests that Fermi surface nesting conditions for the d_{yz} and d_{xz} orbitals are also important for superconductivity in iron pnictides.