Enhanced superconductivity in Sr2CuO4−v

A critical review of previous investigations of the superconductivity with enhanced T_c ∼ 95 K found in Sr₂CuO_4−v shows that new physics occurs in a highly overdoped region of the cuprate phase diagram. Moreover, evidence is adduced from the literature that 30% of the oxygen sites in the CuO₂ layers are vacant; a conclusion which is at odds with the universally made assumption that superconductivity originates in stoichiometric CuO₂ layers. While further research is needed in order to identify the pairing mechanism(s) responsible for the enhanced T_c, we suggest possible candidates.     

High-resolution photoemission study of FeSr2YCu2O7+δ

We have performed high-resolution photoemission spectroscopy (PES) on FeSr₂YCu₂O_7+δ, of which superconductivity of T_c=49 K was recently reported. We clearly observed opening of a d-wave-like superconducting gap and estimated the maximum gap value (Δ_max) to be 10 meV at 15 K. This gap value gives 2Δ_max/k_BT_c∼5, suggesting a strong-coupling nature of superconductivity in FeSr₂YCu₂O_7+δ. Comparative PES study with superconducting and insulating samples shows that the valence band is rigidly shifted as a function of doping without evolution of additional states within the insulating gap.     

Temperature dependence of electrical resistivity for Ca-doped perovskite-type Y1−xCaxCoO3 prepared by sol-gel process

The temperature dependences of DC electrical resistivity for perovskite-type oxides Y_1−xCa_xCoO₃ (0?x?0.1), prepared by sol-gel process, were investigated in the temperature range from 20 K up to 305 K. The results indicated that with increase of doping content of Ca the resistivity of Y_1−xCa_xCoO₃ decreased remarkably, which was found to be caused mainly by increase of carrier (hole) concentration. In the whole temperature range investigated the temperature dependence of resistivity ρ(T) for the un-doped (x=0) sample decreased exponentially with decreasing temperature (i.e. ln ρ∝1/T), with a conduction activation energy ; the resisitivity of lightly doped oxide (x=0.01) possessed a similar temperature behavior but has a reduced E_a (0.155 eV). Moreover, experiments showed that the relationship ln ρ∝1/T existed only in high-temperature regime for the heavily doped samples (T?82 and ∼89 K for x=0.05 and 0.1, respectively); at low temperatures Mott's ln ρ∝T^−1/4 law was observed, indicating that heavy doping produced strong random potential, which led to formation of considerable localized states. By fitting of the experimental data to Mott's T^−1/4 law, we estimated the density of localized states N(E_F) at the Fermi level, which was found to increase with increasing doping content.     

Magnetism on Mg1−xZnxCyNi3

The magnetic phase diagram for Mg_1−xZn_xC_yNi₃ has been tentatively constructed based on magnetization and muon spin relaxation (μSR) measurements. The superconducting phase was observed to fade as x (y) increases (decreases). The low y samples show early stages of long-range ferromagnetism, or complete long-range ferromagnetism. In the phase diagram, the ferromagnetic phase exists in addition to the superconducting phase, suggesting that there is some correlation between superconductivity and ferromagnetism, even though the coexistence of ferromagnetism and superconductivity is not observed from the μSR measurements down to 20 mK for the superconducting sample (T_c=2.5 K, (x, y)=(0, 0.9)).     

Superconductivity and non-metallicity induced by doping the topological insulators Bi2Se3 and Bi2Te3

We show that by Ca doping the Bi₂Se₃ topological insulator, the Fermi level can be fine tuned to fall inside the band gap and therefore suppresses the bulk conductivity. Non-metallic Bi₂Se₃ crystals are obtained. On the other hand, the Bi₂Se₃ topological insulator can also be induced to become a bulk superconductor, with T_c∼3.8 K, by copper intercalation in the van der Waals gaps between the Bi₂Se₃ layers. Likewise, an as-grown crystal of metallic Bi₂Te₃ can be turned into a non-metallic crystal by slight variation in the Te content. The Bi₂Te₃ topological insulator shows small amounts of superconductivity with T_c∼5.5 K when reacted with Pd to form materials of the type Pd_zBi₂Te₃.     

Iron isotope effect on Tc in optimally-doped (Ba,K)Fe2As2 (Tc = 38 K) and SmFeAsO1−y (Tc = 54 K) superconductors

We report the iron isotope effect on a transition temperature (T_c) in an optimally-doped (Ba,K)Fe₂As₂ (T_c = 38 K) and SmFeAsO_1−y (T_c = 54 K) superconductors. In order to obtain the reliable isotope shift in T_c, twin samples with different iron isotope mass are synthesized in the same conditions (simultaneously) under high-pressure. We have found that (Ba,K)Fe₂As₂ shows an inverse iron isotope effect α_Fe = −0.18 ± 0.03 while SmFeAsO_1−y shows a small iron isotope effect α_Fe = −0.02 ± 0.01, where the isotope exponent α is defined by T_c ∼ M^−α (M is the isotopic mass). The results show that α_Fe changes in the iron-based superconductors depending on the system. The distinct iron isotope effects imply the exotic coupling mechanism in the iron-based superconductors.     

Exotic superconducting state embedded in the hidden order state of URu2Si2

The heavy-fermion compound URu₂Si₂ has mystified researchers since the superconducting state (T_c = 1.45 K) is embedded within the enigmatic ‘‘hidden order” phase (T_h = 17.5 K). Here, we report charge and thermal transport measurements on ultraclean single crystals of URu₂Si₂ with very large residual-resistivity-ratio down to 30 m K (∼T_c/50), which reveal a number of unprecedented superconducting properties. The results provide strong evidence for a new type of unconventional superconductivity with two distinct gaps having different nodal topology. We propose a gap function with chiral d-wave form Δ(k) = Δ₀k_z(k_x + ik_y). We also demonstrate that a distinct flux line lattice melting transition with outstanding characters occurs well below the upper critical fields even at sub-Kelvin temperature. The intriguing superconducting state of URu₂Si₂ adds a unique and exciting example to the list of unconventional superconductors.     

Chemical pressure effect in CeFeAs1−xPxO0.95F0.05

We investigate the chemical pressure effect due to P doping in the CeFeAs_1−xP_xO_0.95F_0.05(0≤x≤0.4) system. The compound CeFeAsO_0.95F_0.05 without P doping is on the boundary between antiferromagnet (AFM) and superconductor. The AFM order of Ce³⁺ local moments causes a significant reentrance behavior in both resistivity and magnetic susceptibility. Upon P doping, T_c increases and reaches a maximum of 21.3 K at x=0.15, and then it is suppressed to lower temperatures. Meanwhile, the AFM order of Ce³⁺ ions remains nearly the same in the whole doping range (0≤x≤0.4). Our experimental results suggest a competition between superconductivity and Kondo effect in the Ce 1111 system.     

Effects of indium doping on the superconducting properties of YBa2Cu3Oy sintered compounds and thin films

We investigated the effects of indium doping on the superconducting properties of YBCO sintered samples and thin films. In₂O₃-doped YBCO and YBa₂Cu_3−xIn_xO_y sintered samples showed a gradual decrease in the critical temperature (T_c) with increasing indium content; however, a T_c value above 80 K was maintained even up to 30 vol.% addition and x = 0.4, respectively. Ba₃Cu₃In₄O₁₂ was detected by X-ray diffractometry and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy as a reaction product for both sintered samples. The normalized J_c under a magnetic field of 0.1 T showed a maximum at x = 0.3. Indium-doped YBCO films prepared by pulsed laser deposition showed a similar dependence of T_c on indium content as the sintered samples.     

Effect of Y-doping on the magnetic and charge orderings in Nd2/3Ca1/3MnO3

The shifts of the magnetic and charge ordering transition temperatures caused by Nd substitution for Y in Nd_2/3Ca_1/3MnO₃ CMR narrow-band perovskite manganite have been studied. At low temperatures, three different long-range magnetic orderings consistent with a phase separation scenario have been observed in the doped compound (Nd_0.9Y_0.1)_2/3Ca_1/3MnO₃ by neutron-diffraction study: the antiferromagnetic orderings of PCE and DE types existing below ∼110 and ∼60 K, respectively, and the ferromagnetic one of B type existing below ∼42. Magnetic phase transformations temperatures as well as those of charge ordering have been found to be structural-dependent. Y-doping leads to the decrease of the anisotropy of the orthorhombic Pnma crystal lattice b/√2c, which causes a decrease of the indirect exchange parameters in the system and thus a decrease in the magnetic transformation temperatures for 20-30 K in the doped compound. Doping leads as well to the higher level of the coherent Jahn-Teller distortions of the MnO₆ octahedra in the 200-300 K temperature region, which results in the increase of the charge ordering temperature for ∼80 K.     

Role of chemical pressure in enhancing the transition temperature (T<Subscript>c</Subscript>) and upper critical field (H<Subscript>c2</Subscript>) in the Y-doped Ce-oxyfluoride superconductor

Structural and superconducting properties of yttrium substituted Ce_1-xY_x(O/F)FeAs superconductors have been investigated for the first time. All the compounds crystallize in the tetragonal ZrCuSiAs structure type. There is a decrease in both the a and c lattice parameters on increasing yttrium substitution (with fixed F content) along with a substantial enhancement of the superconducting transition temperature (T_c) and upper critical field (H_c2) indicating the influence of chemical pressure. Interestingly the maximum T_c (~48 K) was observed for an intermediate composition (Ce_0.5Y_0.5O_0.9F_0.1FeAs) which is higher than either of the parent Y or Ce-compounds, (YO_0.9F_0.1FeAs (~10 K) and Ce(O/F)FeAs (~42 K)). The transition temperature was also found to be nearly independent of the electron -doping introduced by fluoride substitution (0.1 to 0.2 moles per formula unit) indicating the significance of the charge reservoir layer (Ce-O). The yttrium substituted (fluoride free) compositions of the type, Ce_1-xY_xOFeAs were found to be semimetallic like the parent compound CeOFeAs with the shift in the anomaly temperature towards low temperature on substitution of yttrium ions. Hall coefficient and thermopower measurements show an increase in charge carriers (electrons) through Y-doping in fluorine doped CeOFeAs.     

Effect of CeO2 buffer layer thickness on the structures and properties of YBCO coated conductors

Biaxially textured YBa₂Cu₃O_7−x (YBCO) films were grown on inclined-substrate-deposited (ISD) MgO-textured metal substrates by pulsed laser deposition. CeO₂ was deposited as a buffer layer prior to YBCO growth. CeO₂ layers of different thickness were prepared to evaluate the thickness dependence of the YBCO films. The biaxial alignment features of the films were examined by X-ray diffraction 2θ-scans, pole-figure, ?-scans and rocking curves of Ω angles. The significant influence of the CeO₂ thickness on the structure and properties of the YBCO films were demonstrated and the optimal thickness was found to be about 10 nm. High values of T_c = 91 K and J_c = 5.5 × 10⁵ A/cm² were obtained on YBCO films with optimal CeO₂ thickness at 77 K in zero field. The possible mechanisms responsible for the dependence of the structure and the properties of the YBCO films on the thickness of the CeO₂ buffer layers are discussed.     

Increase in Tc and spin glass transition in La0.9Ca0.1Mn1−yCryO3 (y=0, 0.1 and 0.2)

We report on the structural, frequency dependent ac susceptibility, dc magnetization and magnetoresistance (MR) measurements on polycrystalline samples of La_0.9Ca_0.1Mn_1−yCr_yO₃ (y=0, 0.1 and 0.2) prepared by sol-gel technique. For y=0, a paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition is observed at T_c=136 K. Both for y=0.1 and 0.2, T_c increases from 136 to 180 K. For y=0, the imaginary part of the ac susceptibility shows a broad transition at T_f<T_c which does not depend very much on the frequency. However, for y=0.1 and 0.2, the frequency dependence resembles that of a spin glass. Though all the three samples show a semi-conducting behavior between 300 and 5 K, a negative MR is observed corresponding to T_c and T_f. The value of MR decreases for the Cr substituted samples.     

Hydrostatic pressure study of the structural phase transitions and superconductivity in single crystals of (Ba1−xKx)Fe2As2 (x=0 and 0.45) and CaFe2As2

We studied the effect of hydrostatic pressure (P) on the structural phase transitions and superconductivity in the ternary and pseudo-ternary iron arsenides CaFe₂As₂, BaFe₂As₂, and (Ba_0.55K_0.45)Fe₂As₂, by means of measurements of electrical resistivity (ρ) in the 1.8-300 K temperature (T) range, pressures up to 20 kbar, and magnetic fields up to 9 T. CaFe₂As₂ and BaFe₂As₂ (lightly doped with Sn) display structural phase transitions near 170 and 85 K, respectively, and do not exhibit superconductivity in ambient pressure, while K-doped (Ba_0.55K_0.45)Fe₂As₂ is superconducting for T<30 K. The effect of pressure on BaFe₂As₂ is to shift the onset of the crystallographic transformation down in temperature at the rate of ~−1.04 K/kbar, while shifting the whole ρ(T) curves downward, whereas its effect on superconducting (Ba_0.55K_0.45)Fe₂As₂ is to shift the onset of superconductivity to lower temperatures at the rate of ~−0.21 K/kbar. The effect of pressure on CaFe₂As₂ is first to suppress the crystallographic transformation and induce superconductivity with onset near 12 K very rapidly, i.e., for P<5 kbar. However, higher pressures bring about another phase transformation characterized by reduced-resistivity, and the suppression of superconductivity, confining superconductivity to a narrow pressure dome centered near 5 kbar. Upper critical field (H_c2) data in (Ba_0.55K_0.45)Fe₂As₂ and CaFe₂As₂ are discussed.     

Influence of boron on the giant magnetocaloric effect of La(Fe0.9Si0.1)13

The influences of boron addition on the phase formation, Curie temperature and magnetic entropy change of the NaZn₁₃-type La(Fe_0.9Si_0.1)₁₃ compound have been investigated. Eight boron containing La(Fe_0.9Si_0.1)₁₃B_x samples were prepared with x=0, 0.03, 0.06, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5 and 0.6, respectively. Experimental results show that a small amount of B addition in La(Fe_0.9Si_0.1)₁₃ forms the solid solution NaZn₁₃-type structure phase by substituting B for Si or doping B into interstitial position of the lattice, preserves its giant magnetocaloric effects due to their first-order structural/magnetic transition, as well as increase its Curie temperature T_c slightly. The maximum magnetic entropy changes in the magnetic field change of 0–1.6 T are around 20 J kg^–1 K^–1 for the samples with Boron addition less than 0.3, while improving the Curie temperatures by 2 K.     

Growth of superconducting FeSe0.5Te0.5 thin films by pulsed-laser deposition

FeSe_0.5Te_0.5 thin films with PbO-type structure are successfully grown on MgO(1 0 0) and LaSrAlO₄(0 0 1) substrates from FeSe_0.5Te_0.5 or FeSe_0.5Te_0.75 polycrystalline targets by pulsed-laser deposition. The film deposited on the MgO substrate (film thickness ∼ 55 nm) shows superconductivity at 10.6 K (onset) and 9.2 K (zero resistivity). On the other hand, the film deposited on the LaSrAlO₄ substrate (film thickness ∼ 250 nm) exhibits superconductivity at 5.4 K (onset) and 2.7 K (zero resistivity). This suggests the strong influence of substrate materials and/or the c-axis length to superconducting properties of FeSe_0.5Te_0.5 thin films.     

Very high upper critical fields of F-doped Fe-based layered superconductors NdO0.88F0.12FeAs and CeO0.88F0.12FeAs

Using the solid state reaction method, we have synthesized the polycrystalline F-doped NdO_0.88F_0.12FeAs and CeO_0.88F_0.12FeAs with the superconducting transition temperatures at about 48 and 40 K, respectively. To obtain the upper critical field H _c2 of Nd(Ce)O_0.88F_0.12FeAs samples, we measured the electrical resistivity under magnetic field up to 14 T. Based on the Werthamer-Helfand-Hohenberg (WHH) relation together with the H _c2(T) curves in a relatively high field, we estimated that these superconductors have a rather high upper critical field of about 115 T for Nd-based and 107 T for Ce-based samples, indicating the similarities between these ReO_1−x F _x FeAs (Re = rare earth element) superconductors and high T _c cuprate superconductors. Recommended by Prof. Nie Yuxin, Executive Editor of Science in China Series G-Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program)(Grant No. 2006CB9213001) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 10774181)     

Scanning tunneling spectroscopy and break junction spectroscopy on iron-oxypnictide superconductor NdFeAs(O0.9F0.1)

Iron-oxypnictide superconductor NdFeAs(O_0.9F_0.1) was studied using both low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS) and tunnel break junction (BJ) methods. STM topography showed granular and spot structures with a typical size of several nanometers, most probably governed by fluorine atom distribution. The majority of STS conductance, G, versus voltage, V, curves revealed V-shaped structures, whereas some of G(V) dependences possessed coherent gap peaks or kinks at gap energies. At the same time, G(V) dependences obtained by the BJ technique showed clear-cut coherence peaks with peak-to-peak distances V_pp = 4Δ/e ∼ 25 mV at 4.2 K, where Δ is the superconducting energy gap, e > 0 is the elementary charge. This yields Δ(0) = 6–7 meV, so that the ratio 2Δ(0)/k_BT_c is about 3–4, k_B being the Boltzmann constant. This value is consistent with the conventional weak-coupling s-wave Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer theory.     

Superconductivity and calorimetric studies of Pr1.85Ce0.15CuO4+δ under different annealing conditions

Polycrystalline samples of electron-doped Pr_1.85Ce_0.15CuO_4+δ have been prepared under different annealing conditions and investigated by means of X-ray-diffraction, oxygen content analysis, electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility and low temperature specific heat measurements. X-ray-diffraction patterns show that samples contain a single T′ phase. The superconducting transition temperatures T_cm taken with the onset of diamagnetism in magnetic-susceptibility measurements are 20 and 19.5 K for sample annealed in flowing Ar gas and in vacuum (∼10⁻³ torr), respectively. The data of the samples, which are annealed in flowing Ar gas, show clear evidence for an αT² term at zero magnetic field in superconducting electronic specific heat, and are consistent with d-wave superconductivity. However, this behavior is not observed in the other sample, which is annealed in vacuum. These results indicate that different heat treatments affect the oxygen content, homogeneity, superconducting transition temperature T_c, superconducting volume fraction, and the superconducting pairing symmetry of Pr_1.85Ce_0.15CuO_4+δ.     

Superconductivity in the hole-doped oxy-arsenide RE1−xSrxFeAsO (RE = La, Pr)

Bulk superconductivity was observed in the FeAs-based RE_1−xSr_xFeAsO (RE = La, Pr) when the di-valence element Sr was substituted to the site of the tri-valence element La and Pr. The maximum superconducting transition temperatures T_c for the two systems are 26 K and 16.3 K, respectively. The doping dependence of the electrical properties and structure of these two systems were investigated systematically. A roughly monotonic increase of T_c and the lattice constants (a-axis and c-axis) with Sr concentration and a saturation behavior in the high doping levels were found. We confirmed that conduction in this type of materials is dominated by hole-like charge carriers by the Hall effect measurements. Also the resistive measurements revealed possible higher upper critical field in these systems comparing with the electron-doped ones.