The structural and physical properties of Ba(1-x)Sr(x)Fe(2)As(2) (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) and Ba(1-x)Sr(x)Fe(1.8)Co(0.2)As(2) (0 ≤ x ≤ 1)

J Phys Condens Matter. 2009 Dec 2;21(49):495701. doi: 10.1088/0953-8984/21/49/495701. Epub 2009 Nov 12.

Abstract

Polycrystalline samples of Ba(1-x)Sr(x)Fe(2)As(2) (0≤x≤1) and Ba(1-x)Sr(x)Fe(1.8)Co(0.2)As(2) (0≤x≤1) have been synthesized by a solid state reaction method. Structural analysis by means of x-ray diffraction shows that the lattice parameters and unit cell volume decrease monotonically with the increase of x for Ba(1-x)Sr(x)Fe(2)As(2). The measurements of transport properties demonstrate that the average size of the Ba(Sr)-site cations could evidently influence the spin density wave (SDW) behavior in Ba(1-x)Sr(x)Fe(2)As(2) and superconductivity in Ba(1-x)Sr(x)Fe(1.8)Co(0.2)As(2) as well. The critical temperature for SDW (T(SDW)) increases with the Sr substitution for Ba in Ba(1-x)Sr(x)Fe(2)As(2) and, on the other hand, the superconducting T(c) decreases with the increase of Sr content in Ba(1-x)Sr(x)Fe(1.8)Co(0.2)As(2). The inhomogeneous distributions of Ba/Sr ions and structural distortions in Ba(0.5)Sr(0.5)Fe(2)As(2) have been investigated by transmission-electron microscopy (TEM) observations.