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Arsenic doping in silicides has been much less studied compared with phosphorus. In this study, superconductivity is successfully induced by As doping in Mo$_5$Si$_3$. The superconducting transition temperature ($T_c$) reaches 7.7 K, which is higher than those in previously known W$_5$Si$_3$-type superconductors. Mo$_5$Si$_2$As is a type-II BCS superconductor with upper and lower critical fields of 6.65 T and 22.4 mT, respectively. In addition, As atoms are found to selectively take the 8$h$ sites in Mo$_5$Si$_2$As. The emergence of superconductivity is possibly due to the shift of Fermi level as a consequence of As doping, as revealed by the specific heat measurements and first-principles calculations. Our work provides not only another example of As doping, but also a practical strategy to achieve superconductivity in silicides through Fermi level engineering., Comment: Supporting Information available at the corresponding DOI

We report a comprehensive study on a layered-structure compound of NaZn4As3, which has been predicted to be an ideal topological semimetal (TSM) candidate. It is found that NaZn4As3 undergoes a structural transformation from high temperature rhombohedral to a low temperature monoclinic phase. The electric resistivity exhibits a metal-to-insulator-like transition at around 100 K, and then develops a plateau at low temperature, which might be related to the protected topologically conducting surface states. Our first-principles calculation confirms further that NaZn4As3 is a topological insulator (TI) for both different phases rather than a previously proposed TSM. The Hall resistivity reveals that the hole carriers dominate the transport properties for the whole temperature range investigated. Furthermore, an obvious kink possibly associated to the structure transition has been detected in thermopower around ~ 170 K. The large thermopower and moderate κ indicate that NaZn4As3 and /or its derivatives can provide a good platform for optimizing and studying the thermoelectric performance.

We report the discovery and detailed investigation of superconductivity in Mo4Ga20As. Mo4Ga20As crystallizes in a space group of I4/m (No. 87), with the lattice parameters a = 12.86352 Å and c = 5.30031 Å. The resistivity, magnetization, and specific heat data reveal Mo4Ga20As to be a type-II superconductor with T c = 5.6 K. The upper and lower critical fields are estimated to be 2.78 T and 22.0 mT, respectively. In addition, electron-phonon coupling in Mo4Ga20As is possibly stronger than the BCS weak-coupling limit. First-principles calculations suggest the Fermi level being dominated by the Mo-4d and Ga-4p orbitals.

Finding promising materials that show large thermoelectricity at low temperatures is crucial for low-temperature refrigeration applications. Here, we report a significantly large thermoelectric power factor ( PF) up to 50 μW cm−1 K−2 at an extremely low temperature of ∼8 K in a quasi-one-dimensional (Q1D) antiferromagnet KMn6Bi5, in which highly electrical conductivity and dramatic enhancement of Seebeck coefficient may favor its occurrence. In addition, a giant Nernst signal has also been detected with a maximum value of 24 μV K−1 T−1 at ∼5 K. All these intriguing characteristics observed in KMn6Bi5 can be attributed to the manifestation of the unusually strong coupling among spin, charge, lattice, and one dimensionality in KMn6Bi5. Our findings provide fundamental insight into the thermal transport in Q1D antiferromagnets and should stimulate further experimental exploration of thermal transport in such Q1D family for possible thermoelectric applications at extremely low temperatures.

By performing P doping on the Si sites in the topological semimetal Mo$_5$Si$_3$, we discover strong-coupling superconductivity in Mo$_5$Si$_{3-x}$P$_x$ (0.5 $\le$ $x$ $\le$ 2.0). Mo$_5$Si$_3$ crystallizes in the W$_5$Si$_3$-type structure with space group of $I4/mcm$ (No. 140), and is not a superconductor itself. Upon P doping, the lattice parameter $a$ decreases while $c$ increases monotonously. Bulk superconductivity is revealed in Mo$_5$Si$_{3-x}$P$_x$ (0.5 $\le$ $x$ $\le$ 2.0) from resistivity, magnetization, and heat capacity measurements. $T_c$ in Mo$_5$Si$_{1.5}$P$_{1.5}$ reaches as high as 10.8 K, setting a new record among the W$_5$Si$_3$-type superconductors. The upper and lower critical fields for Mo$_5$Si$_{1.5}$P$_{1.5}$ are 14.56 T and 105 mT, respectively. Moreover, Mo$_5$Si$_{1.5}$P$_{1.5}$ is found to be a fully gapped superconductor with strong electron-phonon coupling. First-principles calculations suggest that the enhancement of electron-phonon coupling is possibly due to the shift of the Fermi level, which is induced by electron doping. The calculations also reveal the nontrivial band topology in Mo$_5$Si$_3$. The $T_c$ and upper critical field in Mo$_5$Si$_{3-x}$P$_x$ are fairly high among pseudobinary compounds. Both of them are higher than those in NbTi, making future applications promising. Our results suggest that the W$_5$Si$_3$-type compounds are ideal platforms to search for new superconductors. By examinations of their band topologies, more candidates for topological superconductors can be expected in this structural family., Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures. Supplementary Information availabe at the corresponding DOI

We report the synthesis, crystal structure, and superconductivity of Ti$_4$Ir$_2$O. The title compound crystallizes in an $\eta$-carbide type structure of the space group $Fd\overline{3}m$ (No. 227), with lattice parameters $a=b=c=11.6194(1)$ \AA. The superconducting $T_c$ is found to be 5.1 $\sim$ 5.7 K. Most surprisingly, Ti$_4$Ir$_2$O hosts an upper critical field of 16.45 T, which is far beyond the Pauli paramagnetic limit. Strong coupled superconductivity with evidences for multigap is revealed by the measurements of heat capacity and upper critical field. First-principles calculations suggest that the density of states near the Fermi level originates from the hybridization of Ti-3$d$ and Ir-5$d$ orbitals, and the effect of spin-orbit coupling on the Fermi surfaces is prominent. Large values of the Wilson ratio ($R_W$ $\sim$ 3.9), the Kadowaki-Woods ratio ($A/\gamma^2$ $\sim$ 9.0 $\times$ 10$^{-6}$ $\mu\Omega$ cm/(mJ mol$^{-1}$ K$^{-1}$)$^2$), and the Sommerfeld coefficient ($\gamma$ = 33.74 mJ mol$^{-1}$ K$^{-2}$) all suggest strong electron correlations (similar to heavy fermion systems) in Ti$_4$Ir$_2$O. The violation of Pauli limit is possibly due to a combination of strong-coupled superconductivity, large spin-orbit scattering, and electron correlation. With these intriguing behaviors, Ti$_4$Ir$_2$O serves as a candidate for unconventional superconductor., Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures + 5 figures in the Supporting Information

We report systematic studies on superconducting properties of the Laves phase superconductor ZrIr2. It crystallizes in a C15-type (cubic MgCu2-type, space group F d 3 ¯ m ) structure in which the Ir atoms form a kagome lattice, with cell parameters a = b = c = 7.3596(1) Å. Resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate that ZrIr2 is a type-II superconductor with a transition temperature of 4.0 K. The estimated lower and upper critical fields are 12.8 mT and 4.78 T, respectively. Heat capacity measurements confirm the bulk superconductivity in ZrIr2. ZrIr2 is found to possibly host strong-coupled s-wave superconductivity with the normalized specific heat change ΔC e/γ T c ∼ 1.86 and the coupling strength Δ0/k B T c ∼ 1.92. First-principles calculations suggest that ZrIr2 has three-dimensional Fermi surfaces with simple topologies, and the states at Fermi level mainly originate from the Ir-5d and Zr-4d orbitals. Similar to SrIr2 and ThIr2, spin–orbit coupling has dramatic influences on the band structure in ZrIr2.

A quaternary compound Bi3O2S2Cl, which consists of novel [BiS2Cl]2-layers, is reported. It adopts a layered structure of the space group I4/mmm (No. 139) with lattice parameters: a = 3.927(1) {\AA}, c = 21.720(5) {\AA}. In this compound, bismuth and chlorine atoms form an infinite planar layer, which is unique among the bismuth halides. Superconductivity is observed in both polycrystals and single crystals, and is significantly enhanced in the samples prepared with less sulfur or at higher temperatures. By tuning the content of sulfur, Bi3O2S2Cl can be converted from a semiconductor into a superconductor. The superconducting critical temperature ranges from 2.6 K to 3.5 K. Our discovery of the [BiS2Cl]2- layer opens another door in searching for the bismuth compounds with novel physical properties., Comment: 15 pages

The discovery of EuFeAs2, currently the only charge-neutral parent phase of the 112-type iron-pnictide system, provides a new platform for the study of elemental doping effects on magnetism and superconductivity (SC). In this study, a series of polycrystalline EuFe1-yCoyAs2 and Eu0.9Pr0.1Fe1-yCoyAs2 samples are synthesized through solid-state reaction, and the evolutions of SC and magnetism with Co doping in EuFeAs2 and Eu0.9Pr0.1FeAs2 are investigated by electrical transport and magnetic susceptibility measurements. For EuFe1-yCoyAs2, the Eu-related antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition around 40 K is barely affected by Co doping, while the Fe-related spin density wave (SDW) transition temperature drops rapidly. Meanwhile, SC is induced by a trace amount of Co doping, with a highest transition temperature Tc ~ 28 K found in EuFe0.9Co0.1As2. For the Eu0.9Pr0.1Fe1-yCoyAs2 series, the magnetism and superconductivity show similar evolutions upon Co doping, and the highest Tc is enhanced to 30.6 K with an optimum doping level y ~ 0.07. Our results shed light on the competition between SC and SDW with Co doping in the 112-type EuFeAs2 system., Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures

Materials with exceptional magnetism and superconductivity usually conceive emergent physical phenomena. Here, we investigate the physical properties of the (Eu,La)FeAs2 system with double magnetic sublattices. The parent EuFeAs2 shows anisotropy-associated magnetic behaviors, such as Eu-related moment canting and exchange bias. Through La doping, the magnetic anisotropy is enhanced with ferromagnetism of Eu2+ realized in the overdoped region, and a special exchange bias of the superposed ferromagnetic/superconducting loop revealed in Eu0.8La0.2FeAs2. Meanwhile, the Fe-related antiferromagnetism shows unusual robustness against La doping. Theoretical calculation and 57Fe M\"ossbauer spectroscopy investigation reveal a doping-tunable dual itinerant/localized nature of the Fe-related antiferromagnetism. Coexistence of the Eu-related ferromagnetism, Fe-related robust antiferromagnetism, and superconductivity is further revealed in Eu0.8La0.2FeAs2, providing a platform for further exploration of potential applications and emergent physics. Finally, an electronic phase diagram is established for (Eu,La)FeAs2 with the whole superconducting dome adjacent to the Fe-related antiferromagnetic phase, which is of benefit for seeking underlying clues to high-temperature superconductivity., Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures for the main text

Here we report a novel quaternary selenide Cu6GeWSe8 synthesized directly from the constituent elements, which forms within the temperature range from 460 to 620 ​°C. It crystallizes in the space group P63mc with two formula units in the cell of dimensions a ​= ​7.8651 (5) A, c ​= ​12.9275 (6) A. In the unit cell composed of MSe4 (M ​= ​Cu, Ge and W) tetrahedrons, Cu atoms occupy two sets of 6c Wyckoff positions, Ge and W atoms respectively occupy 2a and 2b positions, while Se atoms are located at four inequivalent sites, respectively 2b (Se1), 6c (Se2), 6c (Se3) and 2a (Se4). The electrical resistivity and Vis-Nir absorption spectrum indicate that the compound exhibits a semiconducting behavior with an optical band gap of 1.586 ​eV Cu6GeWSe8 shows diamagnetism at room temperature and the emergence of a Curie-Weiss-like tail at low temperature. The band structure calculation demonstrates that the title compound has a direct band gap, and Cu and Se atoms dominantly contribute to the energy bands and density of states. Cu is mostly in 3d10 state (+1 valence) and Se in 4p6 state (−2 valence). On the basis of the experimental and calculation results, it is concluded that Cu6GeWSe8 is a diamagnetic direct-gap semiconductor.

In this report, we studied the effects of isovalent Na-doping on the recently discovered quasi-one-dimensional Cr-based unconventional superconductor K

A quaternary compound Bi

We report the microwave synthesis and the doping effect of Mo3−x Re x Al2C (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) superconductor. Re doping into Mo3Al2C results in a regular shrinkage of the lattice, marked by the linear decrease of lattice parameter a from 6.868(1) Å (for Mo3Al2C) to 6.846(2) Å (for Mo2.7Re0.3Al2C). Upon Re doping, T c of Mo3−x Re x Al2C first increases and then decreases, with the maximum T c = 9.14 K at the optimal doping level of x = 0.09. Our report provides a convenient method to synthesize Mo3−x Re x Al2C within minutes, and also marks the first Re doping study with enhanced superconductivity on the non-centrosymmetric superconductor Mo3Al2C.

We report the crystal structure and superconductivity of a new ternary boride Mo5GeB2. Mo5GeB2 crystallizes in a Cr5B3-type structure with a space group of I4/mcm (No. 140). The lattice parameters are a = 6.0721(1) A, and c = 11.1173(2) A. A type-II superconductivity of Tc = 5.8 K is revealed by resistivity, magnetization, and heat capacity measurements. The upper and lower critical fields are 0.52 T and 77.1 mT, respectively. The temperature dependence of low temperature specific heat follows the description of a BCS superconductor with an isotropic s-wave gap (Δ0 = 0.93 meV). However, both the values of the normalized specific heat change (ΔCe/γTc = 1.63) and the coupling strength (Δ0/kBTc = 1.87) exceed the BCS weak-coupling limit, indicating an intermediate coupling in Mo5GeB2.

We report superconductivity in a new ternary molybdenum pnictide Rb2Mo3As3, synthesized via the solid state reaction method. Powder x-ray diffraction analysis reveals a hexagonal crystal structure with space group P 6 ¯ m 2 (No. 187), and the refined lattice parameters are a = 10.431(5) Å, c = 4.460(4) Å. SEM images show rod-like grains with good ductility, confirming a quasi-one-dimensional (Q1D) structure. Electrical resistivity and dc magnetic susceptibility characterizations exhibit superconductivity with an onset of T c = 10.5 K. The upper critical field of Rb2Mo3As3 is estimated to be 28.2T at zero temperature, providing an evidence of possible unconventional superconductivity. Our recent discovery of MoAs-based superconductors above 10 K provides a unique platform for the study of exotic superconductivity in 4d electron systems with Q1D crystal structures.

We report the synthesis and characterization of a new ternary molybdenum pnictide superconductor, Cs2Mo3As3. The powder x-ray diffraction analysis reveals the quasi-one-dimensional (Q1D) hexagonal crystal structure formed by Cs+ and infinite (Mo3As3)2− chains as indicated by the wire-like grain morphology. Electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility characterizations exhibit superconductivity with the onset transition temperature at 11.5 K, which is the highest in all Q1D superconductors reported so far. An upper critical magnetic field of about 61.7 T at zero temperature was extrapolated from the resistivity measurement under a magnetic field, which is much higher than the Pauli paramagnetic limit, and the reason for such a high upper critical field may lie in its unconventional nature of superconducting pairing symmetry. The discovery of Cs2Mo3As3 inspires the search for new superconductors for future high field applications.

A Cr-based quasi-one-dimensional superconductor $\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{a}}_{2}\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{r}}_{3}\mathrm{A}{\mathrm{s}}_{3}$ was synthesized by an ion-exchange method in a sodium naphthalenide solution. The crystals are threadlike and the structure was analyzed by x-ray diffraction with a noncentrosymmetric hexagonal space group $P\ensuremath{-}6m2$ (No. 187), in which the ${{(\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{r}}_{3}\mathrm{A}{\mathrm{s}}_{3})}^{2}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ linear chains are separated by $\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{a}}^{+}$ ions, and the refined lattice parameters are $a=9.239(2)\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\AA{}$ and $c=4.209(6)\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\AA{}$. The measurements for electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, and heat capacity reveal a superconducting transition with unconventional characteristic at 8.6 K, which exceeds that of all previously reported Cr-based superconductors.

Here we report the discovery of the first ternary molybdenum pnictide based superconductor K2Mo3As3. Polycrystalline samples were synthesized by the conventional solid state reaction method. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals a quasi-one-dimensional hexagonal crystal structure with (Mo3As3)2- linear chains separated by K+ ions, similar as previously reported K2Cr3As3, with the space group of P-6m2 (No. 187) and the refined lattice parameters a = 10.145(5) {\AA} and c = 4.453(8) {\AA}. Electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, and heat capacity measurements exhibit bulk superconductivity with the onset Tc at 10.4 K in K2Mo3As3 which is higher than the isostructural Cr-based superconductors. Being the same group VIB transition elements and with similar structural motifs, these Cr and Mo based superconductors may share some common underlying origins for the occurrence of superconductivity and need more investigations to uncover the electron pairing within a quasi-one-dimensional chain structure.

Here we report the preparation and superconductivity of the 133-type Cr-based quasi-one-dimensional (Q1D) RbCr3As3 single crystals. The samples were prepared by the deintercalation of Rb+ ions from the 233-type Rb2Cr3As3 crystals which were grown from a high-temperature solution growth method. The RbCr3As3 compound crystallizes in a centrosymmetric structure with the space group of P63/m (No. 176) different with its non-centrosymmetric Rb2Cr3As3 superconducting precursor, and the refined lattice parameters are a = 9.373(3) {\AA} and c = 4.203(7) {\AA}. Electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility characterizations reveal the occurrence of superconductivity with an interestingly higher onset Tc of 7.3 K than other Cr-based superconductors, and a high upper critical field Hc2(0) near 70 T in this 133-type RbCr3As3 crystals.

We report the synthesis, crystal structure, superconductivity and physical property characterizations of the ternary equiatomic compound ScRuSi. Polycrystalline samples of ScRuSi were prepared by an arc-melting method. The as-prepared samples were identified as the orthorhombic Co2P-type o-ScRuSi by the powder X-ray diffraction analysis. Electrical resistivity measurement shows o-ScRuSi to be a metal which superconducts below a Tc of 3.1 K, and the upper critical field {\mu}0Hc2(0) is estimated to be 0.87 T. The magnetization and specific heat measurements confirm the bulk type-II superconductivity in o-ScRuSi, with the specific heat jump within the BCS weak coupling limit. o-ScRuSi is the first Co2P-type superconductor containing scandium. After annealing at 1273 K for a week, o-ScRuSi transforms into the hexagonal Fe2P-type h-ScRuSi, and the latter is a Pauli-paramagnetic metal with no superconductivity observed above 1.8 K.

In the iron-based high-Tc bulk superconductors, Tc above 50K was only observed in the electron-doped 1111-type compounds. Here we revisit the electron-doped SmFeAsO polycrystals to make a further investigation for the highest T-c in these materials. To introduce more electron carriers and less crystal lattice distortions, we study the Th and F codoping effects into the Sm-O layers with heavy electron doping. Dozens of Sm1-x Th-x FeAsO1-y F-y samples are synthesized through the solid state reaction method, and these samples are carefully characterized by the structural, resistive, and magnetic measurements. We find that the codoping of Th and F clearly enhances the superconducting T-c more than the Th or F single-doped samples, with the highest record T-c up to 58.6K when x= 0.2 and y= 0.225. Further element doping causes more impurities and lattice distortions in the samples with a weakened superconductivity.

We report the discovery and characterization of a novel 112-type iron pnictide EuFeAs2, with La-doping induced superconductivity in a series of Eu1-xLaxFeAs2. The polycrystalline samples were synthesized through solid state reaction method only within a very narrow temperature window around 1073 K. Small single crystals were also grown from a flux method with the size about 100 um. The crystal structure was identified by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis as a monoclinic structure with space group of P21/m. From resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements, we found that the parent compound EuFeAs2 shows a Fe2+ related antiferromagnetic/structural phase transition near 110 K and a Eu2+ related antiferromagnetic phase transition near 40 K. La doping suppressed the both phase transitions and induced superconducting transition with a Tc ~ 11 K for Eu0.85La0.15FeAs2.

Here we report the discovery of superconductivity in the ternary LaRu2As2 compound. The polycrystalline LaRu2As2 samples were synthesized by the conventional solid state reaction method. Powder X-ray diffraction analysis indicates that LaRu2As2 crystallizes in the ThCr2Si2-type crystal structure with the space group I4/mmm (No. 139), and the refined lattice parameters are a = 4.182(6) {\AA} and c = 10.590(3) {\AA}. The temperature dependent resistivity measurement shows a clear superconducting transition with the onset Tc (critical temperature) at 7.8 K, and zero resistivity happens at 6.8 K. The upper critical field at zero temperature m0Hc2(0) was estimated to be 1.6 T from the resistivity measurement. DC magnetic susceptibility measurement shows a bulk superconducting Meissner transition at 7.0 K, and the isothermal magnetization measurement indicates that LaRu2As2 is a type-II superconductor., Comment: Science Bulletin,2016

Here we report the synthesis and discovery of superconductivity in a novel ternary iridium-arsenide compound BaIr2As2. The polycrystalline BaIr2As2 sample was synthesized by a high temperature and high pressure method. Crystal structural analysis indicates that BaIr2As2 crystallizes in the ThCr2Si2-type layered tetragonal structure with space group I4/mmm (No. 139), and the lattice parameters were refined to be a = 4.052(9) {\AA} and c = 12.787(8) {\AA}. By the electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements we found type-II superconductivity in the new BaIr2As2 compound with a Tc (critical temperature) of 2.45 K, and an upper critical field u0Hc2(0) about 0.2 T. Low temperature specific heat measurements gave a Debye temperature about 202 K and a distinct specific jump with delta Ce/{\gamma}Tc = 1.36, which is close to the value of BCS weak coupling limit and confirms the bulk superconductivity in this new BaIr2As2 compound.

Single crystals of undoped CaFe2As2 are grown by an FeAs self-flux method, and the crystals are quenched in ice-water rapidly after high-temperature growth. The quenched crystal undergoes a collapsed tetragonal structural phase transition around 80 K revealed by the temperature-dependent x-ray diffraction measurements. Superconductivity below 25 K is observed in the collapsed phase by resistivity and magnetization measurements. The isothermal magnetization curve measured at 2 K indicates that this is a typical type-II superconductor. For comparison, we systematically characterize the properties of the furnace-cooled, quenched, and post-annealed single crystals, and find strong internal crystallographic strain existing in the quenched samples, which is the key for the occurrence of superconductivity in the undoped CaFe2As2 single crystals.

In this article, the Sm-doping single crystals Ca1 − x Sm x Fe2As2 (x = 0 ~ 0.2) were prepared by the CaAs flux method, and followed by a rapid quenching treatment after the high temperature growth. The samples were characterized by structural, resistive, and magnetic measurements. The successful Sm-substitution was revealed by the reduction of the lattice parameter c, due to the smaller ionic radius of Sm3+ than Ca2+. Superconductivity was observed in all samples with onset T c varying from 27 K to 44 K upon Sm-doping. The coexistence of a collapsed phase transition and the superconducting transition was found for the lower Sm-doping samples. Zero resistivity and substantial superconducting volume fraction only happen in higher Sm-doping crystals with the nominal x > 0.10. The doping dependences of the c-axis length and onset T c were summarized. The high-T c observed in these quenched crystals may be attributed to simultaneous tuning of electron carriers doping and strain effect caused by lattice reduction of Sm-substitution.

The single crystal of ThCr2Si2-type BaPd2As2 was successfully prepared by a self-flux method, and the crystal structure was characterized by X-ray diffraction method with the lattice parameters and (space group , No. 139). Bulk superconductivity below a T c (critical temperature) of 3.85 K was revealed in this compound by the measurements of resistivity, magnetic susceptibility and specific heat, and this T c is much higher than those of other isostructural Pd-based superconductors.