Synthesis PbFCl-Type Mixed Anion <i>A</i>P<i>X</i>(<i>A</i>=Hf, <i>X</i>=S, Se) Superconductors Related with Topological Materials by High-Pressure Technique

Abstract

We performed a systematic study of the crystal structure, physical properties, and electronic structure of PbFCl-type intermetallic APX(A=Zr, Hf, X=S and Se) superconductor. We successfully synthesized single-phase polycrystalline samples for the Se substitution range of 0.4≤x≤0.8 in Zr(P2-xSex) using high pressure technique. On the other hand, S substitution range in Zr(P2-xSx) was narrow of 0.4≤x≤0.6, the S substitution range in Hf(P2-xSx) was narrow of x≈0.55, and the Se substitution range in Hf(P2-xSex) was also very narrow of x≈0.4. Zr(P2-xSex) exhibits a dome-like superconducting phase diagram for the substitution amount x. The superconducting transition temperature (Tc) is achieved at approximately x≈0.75 at which point the Tcis 6.3 K for Zr(P1.25Se0.75), 5.5 K for Hf(P1.30Se0.70), 5.0 K for Zr(P1.325S0.675), and 4.6 K for Hf(P1.50S0.50), respectively. Tcfor Zr(P1.25Se0.75) is increased from 6.3 K to 7.6 K by partially substituting a non-magnetic rare earth Sc atom for Zr. Single crystals of Zr(P1.25Se0.75) and partially substituted by Sc atom for Zr site of the ZrP2-xSexwere also grain grown using high pressure technique. Plate-like single crystal with approximate edge sizes of up to 500 × 300 × 20 μm3for (Zr0.50Sc0.50)PSe nominal composition was obtained. Tc= 8.36 K was reached and the Hc1//c-axis(0) and Hc1⊥c-axis(0) roughly determined are 0.0045 T and 0.0038 T, respectively. Assuming the type-II superconductivity in dirty limit, the Hc2//c-axis(0) value of 1.33 T was also obtained. In this presentation, the crystal growth and physical properties of this APX(A=Zr, Hf, X=S and Se) superconductor has reported.