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Temperature Dependence of \(\sqrt{2} \times \sqrt{2}\) Phase in Superconducting K0.8Fe1.6Se2 Single Crystal

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Abstract

We report the structural phase transition properties of the newly discovered K0.8Fe1.6Se2 superconductor (T c =31.8 K) using synchrotron single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The basic structure of the sample at room temperature is found to be tetragonal ThCr2Si2-type, modulated by a vacancy ordering induced superlattice structure together with a coexisting minority phase having a \(\sqrt{2} \times \sqrt{2}\) ordering. At 520 K, the reflections corresponding to the \(\sqrt{2} \times \sqrt{2}\) phase merge with the parent tetragonal phase. The superlattice peaks corresponding to the vacancy ordering disappear at 580 K, indicating an order-disorder phase transition at this temperature.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany

    A. Ricci

  2. Department of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, 00185, Rome, Italy

    B. Joseph & N. L. Saini

  3. Rome International Center of Materials Science, Superstripes (RICMASS), via dei Sabelli 119A, 00185, Roma, Italy

    B. Joseph & A. Bianconi

  4. MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500AE, Enschede, Netherlands

    N. Poccia

  5. Institute of Crystallography, CNR, via Salaria Km. 29.300, Monterotondo Stazione, Roma, 00016, Italy

    G. Campi

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Ricci, A., Joseph, B., Poccia, N. et al. Temperature Dependence of \(\sqrt{2} \times \sqrt{2}\) Phase in Superconducting K0.8Fe1.6Se2 Single Crystal. J Supercond Nov Magn 27, 1003–1007 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10948-013-2426-7

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