Crystal structure and phase transitions at high pressures in the superconductor FeSe0.89S0.11

• We report on the structural phase transitions in the FeSe0.89S0.11 superconductor with T-C = 11 K observed by powder synchrotron X-ray diffraction at high pressures up to 18.5 GPa under compression and decompression modes. It was found that at ambient pressure and room temperature, FeSe0.89S0.11 has a tetragonal structure (space group NM). Under compression, in the region of 10 GPa, a phase transition from the tetragonal into the orthorhombic structure (sp. gr . Pnma) is observed, which persists up to 18.5 GPa. Our results strongly suggest that, at decompression, as the applied pressure decreases to 6 GPa and then is completely removed, most of the sample recrystallizes into the hexagonal phase of the structural type NiAs (sp. gr . P6(3)/mmc). However, the other part of the sample remains in the high pressure orthorhombic phase (sp. gr . Pnma), while the tetragonal phase (sp. gr . P4/n) is not restored. These observations illustrate a strong hysteresis of the structural properties of FeSe0.89S0.11 during a phase transition under pressure. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Den kondenserade materiens fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Condensed Matter Physics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Iron-based superconductors

High pressure

Single crystal X-ray diffraction

Powder X-ray diffraction

Structural phase transition

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)