Suppression of superconductivity and structural phase transitions under pressure in tetragonal FeS

Pressure-Modulated Structural and Magnetic Phase Transitions in Two-Dimensional FeTe: Tetragonal and Hexagonal Polymorphs

Two-dimensional (2D) Fe chalcogenides with their rich structures and properties are highly desirable for revealing the torturous transition mechanism of Fe chalcogenides and exploring their potential applications in spintronics and nanoelectronics. Hydrostatic pressure can effectively stimulate phase transitions between various ordered states, allowing one to successfully plot a phase diagram for a given material. Herein, the structural evolution and transport characteristics of 2D FeTe were systematically investigated under extreme conditions by comparing two distinct symmetries, i.e., tetragonal (t) and hexagonal (h) FeTe. We found that t-FeTe presented a pressure-induced transition from an antiferromagnetic state to a ferromagnetic state at ∼3 GPa, corresponding to the tetragonal collapse of the layered structure. Contrarily, the ferromagnetic order of h-FeTe was retained up to 15 GPa, which was evidently confirmed by electrical transport and Raman measurements. Furthermore, T-P phase diagrams for t-FeTe and h-FeTe were mapped under delicate critical conditions. Our results can provide a unique platform to elaborate the extraordinary properties of Fe chalcogenides and further develop their applications.

Emergence of exchange bias field in FeS superconductor with cobalt-doping

Among all the iron-based superconductors, the 11 series has the simplest layered structure but exhibits rich physical phenomenon. In this work, we have synthesized Fe_1-xCo_xS single crystals with tetragonal structure and studied their structure and magnetic properties. Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate that the cobalt doping would suppress superconductivity and even introduce weak ferromagnetism besides antiferromagnetism. Scanning electron microscopy study reveals that the Co-doped samples exhibit intrinsic phase separation. Moreover, magnetic force microscopy measurement shows no magnetic domain in Fe_1-xCo_xS, indicating that neither phase is pure ferromagnetic. The coexistence of ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism leads to the relatively large exchange bias field. Since the exchange bias effect has been widely used in the field of information storage, spin-valves, and magnetic tunnel junctions, our study provides another option for further application.

Synthesis, structure and superconductivity of FeS1−xSex (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) solid solution crystals

FeS_1−xSe_x solid solution crystals with the whole range (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) were synthesized, and the superconductivity and magnetism of these crystals were investigated.

Two-Dome Superconductivity in FeS Induced by a Lifshitz Transition

Among iron chalcogenide superconductors, FeS can be viewed as a simple, highly compressed relative of FeSe without a nematic phase and with weaker electronic correlations. Under pressure, however, the superconductivity of stoichiometric FeS disappears and reappears, forming two domes. We perform electronic structure and spin fluctuation theory calculations for tetragonal FeS in order to analyze the nature of the superconducting order parameter. In the random phase approximation, we find a gap function with d-wave symmetry at ambient pressure, in agreement with several reports of a nodal superconducting order parameter in FeS. Our calculations show that, as a function of pressure, the superconducting pairing strength decreases until a Lifshitz transition takes place at 4.6 GPa. As a hole pocket with a large density of states appears at the Lifshitz transition, the gap symmetry is altered to sign-changing s wave. At the same time, the pairing strength is severely enhanced and increases up to a new maximum at 5.5 GPa. Therefore, our calculations naturally explain the occurrence of two superconducting domes in FeS.