Inhomogeneous superconductivity in organic conductors: the role of disorder and magnetic field

Several experimental studies have shown the presence of spatially inhomogeneous phase coexistence of superconducting and non-superconducting domains in low dimensional organic superconductors. The superconducting properties of these systems are found to be strongly dependent on the amount of disorder introduced in the sample regardless of its origin. The suppression of the superconducting transition temperature T(c) shows a clear discrepancy with the result expected from the Abrikosov-Gor'kov law giving the behavior of T(c) with impurities. On the basis of the time dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory, we derive a model to account for this striking feature of T(c) in organic superconductors for different types of disorder by considering the segregated texture of the system. We show that the calculated T(c) quantitatively agrees with experiments. We also focus on the effect of superconducting fluctuations on the upper critical fields H(c2) of layered superconductors showing slab structure where superconducting domains are sandwiched by non-superconducting regions. We found that H(c2) may be strongly enhanced by such fluctuations.     

Band structure,Fermi surface,and superconducting gap in FeAs-based superconductors revealed by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy

In this paper, we present a brief review on our angle-resolved photoemission measurements on the band structure, Fermi surface, and superconducting gap of the newly-discovered FeAs-based high temperature superconductors. (1) The Fermi surface of the FeAs-based compounds are characterized by the hole-like Fermi surface sheets near Γ (0, 0) and the existence of singular Fermi spots near M(π,     

Superconducting Single-Layer T-Graphene and Novel Synthesis Routes

Single-layer superconductors are ideal materials for fabricating superconducting nano devices.However,up to date,very few single-layer elemental superconductors have been predicted and especially no one has been successfully synthesized yet.Here,using crystal structure search techniques and ab initio calculations,we predict that a single-layer planar carbon sheet with 4-and 8-membered rings called T-graphene is a new intrinsic elemental superconductor with superconducting critical temperature(T_c)up to around 20.8 K.More importantly,we propose a synthesis route to obtain such a single-layer T-graphene,that is,a T-graphene potassium intercalation compound(C_4 K with P4/mmm symmetry)is firstly synthesized at high pressure(11.5 GPa)and then quenched to ambient condition;and finally,the single-layer T-graphene can be either exfoliated using the electrochemical method from the bulk C4 K,or peeled off from bulk T-graphite C4,where C4 can be obtained from C4 K by evaporating the K atoms.Interestingly,we find that the calculated T_c of C4 K is about 30.4 K at 0 GPa,which sets a new record for layered carbon-based superconductors.The present findings add a new class of carbon-based superconductors.In particular,once the single-layer T-graphene is synthesized,it can pave the way for fabricating superconducting devices together with other 2 D materials using the layer-by-layer growth techniques.     

自旋涨落与非常规超导配对

铜氧化物高温超导、铁基高温超导、重费米子超导和κ-型层状有机超导等超导体的超导态都与磁性有序态相邻,且超导能隙在动量空间一般存在变号.因此,这些超导体的超导机理被认为有别于常规BCS超导中的电子交换声子导致的各向同性s-波配对.在这些非常规超导中,自旋涨落被认为是导致电子形成库珀对的主要起源之一.本文主要以铜基和铁基高...     

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.     

Universal behavior of the upper critical field in iron-based superconductors

The newly discovered iron-based high temperature superconductors have demonstrated rich physical properties. Here we give a brief review on the recent studies of the upper critical field and its anisotropy in a few typical series of the iron-based superconductors (FeSCs). In spite of their characters of a layered crystal structure, all the FeSCs possess an extremely large upper critical field and a weak anisotropy of superconductivity, being unique among the layered superconductors. These particular properties indicate potential applications of the FeSCs in the future. Based on the experimental facts of the FeSCs, we will discuss the possible mechanisms of pair breaking in high magnetic fields and its restrictions on the theoretical analysis of the superconducting pairing mechanisms.     

A model for layered high-temperature superconductors with two CuO2 layers per unit cell

We extend a model for layered high-temperature superconductors to systems with two CuO₂ layers per unit cell and two interlayer spacings with different physical properties. The carriers are assumed to occupy Fermi liquid states, forming narrow tight-binding bands. The layers are coupled by weak interlayer-hopping matrix elements between adjacent sheets, as well as by an attractive interaction between carriers in neighboring layers in addition to an on-site intralayer coupling. We solve the Gorkov equations for this model to obtain the critical temperature and the density of states of the oneparticle excitations from the superconducting condensate, and discuss various parameter regimes concerning the coupling between the two layers. We compare our results with current experimental findings for high-temperature superconductors. The presence of two CuO₂ layers leads to multi-peak features in the superconducting density of states, as has been observed in recent tunneling measurements.     

Heteroepitaxial film growth of layered compounds with the ZrCuSiAs-type and ThCr2Si2-type structures: From Cu-based semiconductors to Fe-based superconductors

FeAs-based layered superconductors such as F-doped LaFeAsO have recently been investigated intensively because of their high superconducting transition temperatures. Epitaxial films of these compounds are important to examine their intrinsic materials properties as well as to transfer them to device applications. In this review, we first present our research route from transparent p-type oxides semiconductors to the Fe-based superconductors. Then we review growth of epitaxial thin films for the layered oxychalcogenides and oxypnictides. Reactive solid-phase epitaxy technique was inevitable to prepare epitaxial thin films of the oxychalcogenides and Zn-based oxypnictides. On the other hand, epitaxial thin films of Mn-based oxypnictides were grown by standard pulsed laser deposition. These techniques, however, did not grow epitaxial thin films for LaFeAsO. Thus, we developed a modified pulsed laser deposition process and succeeded in obtaining epitaxial thin films of FeAs-based superconductors, LaFeAsO and cobalt-doped SrFe₂As₂.     

A brief review on <Emphasis Type="Italic">μ</Emphasis>SR studies of unconventional Fe- and Cr-based superconductors

Muon spin relaxation/rotation (μSR) is a vital technique for probing the superconducting gap structure, pairing symmetry and time reversal symmetry breaking, enabling an understanding of the mechanisms behind the unconventional superconductivity of cuprates and Fe-based high-temperature superconductors, which remain a puzzle. Very recently double layered Fe-based super- conductors having quasi-2D crystal structures and Cr-based superconductors with a quasi-1D structure have drawn considerable attention. Here we present a brief review of the characteristics of a few selected Fe- and Cr-based superconducting materials and highlight some of the major outstanding problems, with an emphasis on the superconducting pairing symmetries of these materials. We focus on μSR studies of the newly discovered superconductors ACa₂Fe₄As₄F₂ (A = K, Rb, and Cs), ThFeAsN, and A₂Cr₃As₃ (A = K, Cs), which were used to determine the superconducting gap structures, the presence of spin fluctuations, and to search for time reversal symmetry breaking in the superconducting states. We also briefly discuss the results of μSR investigations of the superconductivity in hole and electron doped BaFe₂As₂.     

Structural classification and a binary structure model for superconductors

Based on structural and bonding features, a new classification scheme of superconductors is proposed to classify them into three classes: three-dimensional, two-dimensional and molecule-assembled superconductors. The sandwich model' for the high-T_c cuprates is extended to a `binary structure model': i.e., the crystal structure of most superconductors can be partitioned into two parts, a superconducting active component and a supplementary component. Partially metallic covalent bonding is found to be a common feature in all superconducting active components, and the electron states of the atoms in the active components usually make a dominant contribution to the energy band near the Fermi surface. Possible directions to explore new superconductors are discussed based on the structural classification and the binary structure model.     

新型铁基超导体角分辨光电子能谱研究

最近发现的新型122结构的铁基超导体掀起了铁基高温超导研究的又一轮热潮.文章利用角分辨光电子能谱实验手段,研究了这类新型铁基材料的电子结构、费米面拓扑和超导能隙.实验结果表明,其在布里渊区中心的能带结构及费米面与其他铁基超导体存在明显差异,并导致嵌套在粒子-空穴通道的费米面消失.另外,在布里渊区边缘的电子型费米面发现了较强的并且有各向同性的超导能隙.这些结果对可能的超导配对机制提出了严格的限制.     

Quantum-well structured high-Tc superconductors prepared by soft-chemical method

We have synthesized quantum-well structured high-T_c superconductors through soft-chemical processes, where Bi-based cuprate lattices are regularly interstratified with atom, molecule, and ionic salt. In these materials, superconducting (S) and nonsuperconducting (I) layers are alternately stacked to form superlattices with atomically clear-cut interfaces between them. The intercalation technique, which means a reaction of incorporating chemical species (guest) into the pre-synthesized layered compound (host), could provides an easy route to superconducting superlattices with molecular-level layer-by-layer structural feature. The joint analysis of temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibilities and X-ray absorption spectroscopy indicated that superconducting transition temperature is predominantly governed by the electronic structure of superconductive CuO₂ plane.     

Review of superconductivity in BiS2-based layered materials

In 2012, a new layered superconductor where BiS₂ layer is the superconducting layer was discovered. So far, seven types of BiS₂-based superconductors and two related superconductors have been discovered. In this article, the diversity of the crystal structure and the physical properties of the BiS₂-based superconductors are reviewed. Furthermore, notable characteristics of superconductivity in the BiS₂ family are introduced. The prospects for raising T_c in this family are proposed on the basis of experimental and theoretical studies.     

Feedback spin resonance in superconducting CeCu2Si2 and CeCoIn5

We show that the recently observed spin resonance modes in heavy-fermion superconductors CeCoIn5 and CeCu2Si2 are magnetic excitons originating from superconducting quasiparticles. The wave vector Q of the resonance state leads to a powerful criterion for the symmetry and node positions of the unconventional gap function. The detailed analysis of the superconducting feedback on magnetic excitations reveals that the symmetry of the superconducting gap corresponds to a singlet d_{x;{2}-y;{2}} state symmetry in both compounds. In particular this resolves the long-standing ambiguity of the gap symmetry in CeCoIn5. We demonstrate that in both superconductors the resonance peak shows a significant dispersion away from Q which can be checked experimentally. Our analysis reveals the similar origin of the resonance peaks in the two heavy-fermion superconductors and in layered cuprates.     

高压下的铁基超导体:现象与物理

始于2008年的铁基超导体研究续写了高温超导发展史的新篇章.回顾过去十年对铁基超导体的研究,在理论、实验及应用方面都取得了辉煌的成绩,丰富了人们对高温超导电性的认识,为突破高温超导机理研究、最终实现超导材料的人工设计与更广泛的应用奠定了坚实的基础.本文主要介绍了通过高压实验研究手段在铁基超导体的研究中取得的一些重要进展及呈现出的新现象和新物理,例如压致超导现象、压力导致的超导再进入现象、压力对超导转变温度的提升效应、压力研究对铁基超导体超导转变温度的预测、相分离结构对超导电性的影响及反铁磁-超导双临界点的发现等.希望这些高压研究结果与本文报道的其他各类实验与理论研究成果一起,为全面、深入地理解铁基超导体勾画出一幅较为完整的物理图像.     

A review on silicene — New candidate for electronics

Silicene-the silicon-based counterpart of graphene-has a two dimensional structure that is responsible for the variety of potentially useful chemical and physical properties. The existence of silicene has been achieved recently owing to experiments involving epitaxial growth of silicon as stripes on Ag(001), ribbons on Ag(110), and sheets on Ag(111). The nano-ribbons observed on Ag(110) were found-by both high definition experimental scanning tunneling microscopy images and density functional theory calculations-to consist of an arched honeycomb structure. Angle resolved photo-emission experiments on these silicene nano-ribbons on Ag(110), along the direction of the ribbons, showed a band structure which is analogous to the Dirac cones of graphene. Unlike silicon surfaces, which are highly reactive to oxygen, the silicene nano-ribbons were found to be resistant to oxygen reactivity.On the theoretical side, recent extensive efforts have been deployed to understand the properties of standalone silicene sheets and nano-ribbons using both tight-binding and density functional theory calculations. Unlike graphene it is demonstrated that silicene sheets are stable only if a small buckling (0.44 Å) is present. The electronic properties of silicene nano-ribbons and silicene sheets were found to resemble those of graphene.Although this is a fairly new avenue, the already obtained outcome from these important first steps in understanding silicene showed promising features that could give a new future to silicon in the electronics industry, thus opening a promising route toward wide-range applications. In this review, we plan to introduce silicene by presenting the available experimental and theoretical studies performed to date, and suggest future directions to be explored to make the synthesis of silicene a viable one.     

Probing the ground state properties of iron-based superconducting pnictides and related systems by muon-spin spectroscopy

In this short review, we attempt to give a comprehensive discussion of studies performed to date by muon-spin spectroscopy (more precisely the relaxation and rotation technique, also know as μSR) on the recently discovered layered iron-based superconductors. On one side, μSR has been used to characterize the magnetic state of different families of layered iron-based systems. Similarly the subtle interplay of the magnetic state and the structural transition present in some families has been investigated. We will also discuss the information provided by this technique on the interaction between the magnetic state and the superconducting phase. Finally the μSR technique has been used to investigate the magnetic penetration depth of the superconducting ground state. The study of its absolute value, temperature and magnetic field dependence provides crucial tests for investigating possible unconventional superconducting states in such systems.     

Observation of pseudogap in SnSe2 atomic layers grown on graphite

Superconducting metal dichalcogenides (MDCs) present several similarities to the other layered superconductors like cuprates. The superconductivity in atomically thin MDCs has been demonstrated by recent experiments, however, the investigation of the superconductivity intertwined with other orders are scarce. Investigating the pseudogap in atomic layers of MDCs may help to understand the superconducting mechanism for these true two-dimensional (2D) superconducting systems. Herein we report a pseudogap opening in the tunneling spectra of thin layers of SnSe₂ epitaxially grown on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) with scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS). A significant V-shaped pseudogap was observed to open near the Fermi level (E_F) in the STS. And at elevated temperatures, the gap gradually evolves to a shallow dip. Our experimental observations provide direct evidence of a pseudogap state in the electron-doped SnSe₂ atomic layers on the HOPG surface, which may stimulate further exploration of the mechanism of superconductivity at 2D limit in MDCs.     

High Tc superconductivity in layered hydrides XH15 (X = Ca,Sr, Y,La) under high pressures

The theoretical predictions and experimental synthesis of H₃S and LaH₁₀ superconductors with record high superconducting transition temperatures (T_c) have promoted the hydrogen-based superconducors to be a research hotspot in the field of solid-state physics. Here, we predict an unprecedented layered structure CaH₁₅, with high T_c of 189 K at 200 GPa using ab initio calculations. As concerns the novel structure, one layer is made of a hydrogen nonagon, the other layer consists of a Ca atom and six H₂ molecular units surrounding the Ca atom. This layered structure was also found in SrH₁₅, YH₁₅, and LaH₁₅ at high pressures, each materials exhibit high T_c especially YH₁₅ can reach above 200 K at 220 GPa. It represents the second class of layered superhydrides with high value of T_c after pentagraphene like HfH₁₀.     

高压下氢基高温超导体研究的新进展

富氢材料被认为是室温超导体的最佳候选体系,是物理学、材料科学等多学科的热点研究领域之一。理论和实验研究发现的新型共价氢化物H3S和笼状氢化物LaH10的超导转变温度(T_c)均超过200 K,进一步推动了对富氢化合物超导电性的探索。最近,通过高压实验合成的碳质硫氢化物在288 K的室温下实现了零电阻,让人们看到了室温超导的曙光。本文结合课题组在此领域的主要成果,介绍了3类典型富氢化合物的结构及超导特性,包括近期首次在层状氢化物中发现的具有类五角石墨烯结构的富氢超导体HfH₁₀,其超导转变温度高达213~234 K。