Phase diagrams on composition-spread FeyTe1-xSex films

Zefeng Lin; Sijia Tu; Juan Xu; Yujun Shi; Beiyi Zhu; Chao Dong; Jie Yuan; Xiaoli Dong; Qihong Chen; Yangmu Li; Kui Jin; Zhongxian Zhao

doi:10.1016/j.scib.2022.06.015

Phase diagrams on composition-spread Fe_yTe_1-_xSe_x films

Sci Bull (Beijing). 2022 Jul 30;67(14):1443-1449. doi: 10.1016/j.scib.2022.06.015. Epub 2022 Jun 18.

Authors

Zefeng Lin¹, Sijia Tu¹, Juan Xu², Yujun Shi², Beiyi Zhu², Chao Dong³, Jie Yuan⁴, Xiaoli Dong⁵, Qihong Chen¹, Yangmu Li¹, Kui Jin⁶, Zhongxian Zhao⁵

Affiliations

¹ Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
² Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
³ Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
⁴ Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan 523808, China.
⁵ Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan 523808, China.
⁶ Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan 523808, China. Electronic address: kuijin@iphy.ac.cn.

PMID: 36546187
DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2022.06.015

Abstract

Fe_yTe_1-_xSe_x, an archetypical iron-based high-temperature superconductor with a simple structure but rich physical properties, has attracted lots of attention because the two end compositions, Se content x = 0 and 1, exhibit antiferromagnetism and nematicity, respectively, making it an ideal candidate for studying their interactions with superconductivity. However, what is clearly lacking to date is a complete phase diagram of Fe_yTe_1-_xSe_x as functions of its chemical compositions since phase separation usually occurs from x ∼ 0.6 to 0.9 in bulk crystals. Moreover, fine control of its composition is experimentally challenging because both Te and Se are volatile elements. Here we establish a complete phase diagram of Fe_yTe_1-_xSe_x, achieved by high-throughput film synthesis and characterization techniques. An advanced combinatorial synthesis process enables us to fabricate an epitaxial composition-spread Fe_yTe_1-_xSe_x film encompassing the entire Se content x from 0 to 1 on a single piece of CaF₂ substrate. The micro-region composition analysis and X-ray diffraction show a successful continuous tuning of chemical compositions and lattice parameters, respectively. The micro-scale pattern technique allows the mapping of electrical transport properties as a function of relative Se content with an unprecedented resolution of 0.0074. Combining with the spin patterns in literature, we build a detailed phase diagram that can unify the electronic and magnetic properties of Fe_yTe_1-_xSe_x. Our composition-spread Fe_yTe_1-_xSe_x films, overcoming the challenges of phase separation and precise control of chemical compositions, provide an ideal platform for studying the relationship between superconductivity and magnetism.

Keywords: Composition-spread film; Fe(y)Te(1−)(x)Se(x); High-throughput; Phase diagram; Superconductivity.