Structural evolution and phase diagram of the superconducting iron selenides Li x (C2H8N2) y Fe2Se2(x= 0 ~ 0.8)

Phys Rev B. 2019 Mar;99(9):10.1103/PhysRevB.99.094503. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.99.094503.

Abstract

Here we report on the structural and electronic phase diagram of lithium and ethylenediamine intercalated FeSe in a wide range of dopant concentration ( x = 0 0.8 ) . Undoped ( C 2 H 8 N 2 ) y Fe 2 Se 2 crystallizes in an orthorhombic phase. With increasing lithium doping, an orthorhombic to tetragonal phase transition occurs at x = 0.35 , and the superconducting tetragonal phase persists until x = 0.5 . Meanwhile, the T c is found dependent strongly on dopant concentration, raising rapidly from 30 K at x = 0.35 to 45 K at x = 0.5 . The crystal structures of Li 0.31 ( 3 ) ( C 2 H 8 N 2 ) 0.52 ( 7 ) Fe 2.03 ( 2 ) Se 2 are determined by using high-resolution neutron diffraction data at 5, 60, 150, and 295 K, respectively. The distortion of the FeSe tetrahedron is enhanced significantly from 150 to 295 K, meanwhile, the normal-state Hall resistivity changes sign from negative to positive in the same temperature range. The dominant hole carrier in electron-doped Li 0.5 ( C 2 H 8 N 2 ) y Fe 2 Se 2 above 230 K suggests that the temperature-induced structure distortion may lead to a reconstruction of the Fermi surface topology and the appearance of hole pockets.