Superconducting Fe-Based Compounds (A1−xSrx)Fe2As2 with A=K and Cs with Transition Temperatures up to 37 K

Abstract

New high-$T_c$ Fe-based superconducting compounds, $A{\mathrm{Fe}}_2{\mathrm{As}}_2$ with $A=\mathrm{K}$, Cs, $\mathrm{K}/\mathrm{Sr}$, and $\mathrm{Cs}/\mathrm{Sr}$, were synthesized. The $T_c$ of ${\mathrm{KFe}}_2{\mathrm{As}}_2$ and ${\mathrm{CsFe}}_2{\mathrm{As}}_2$ is 3.8 and 2.6 K, respectively, which rises with partial substitution of Sr for K and Cs and peaks at 37 K for 50%–60% Sr substitution, and the compounds enter a spin-density-wave state with increasing electron number (Sr content). The compounds represent $p$-type analogs of the $n$-doped rare-earth oxypnictide superconductors. Their electronic and structural behavior demonstrate the crucial role of the (${\mathrm{Fe}}_2{\mathrm{As}}_2$) layers in the superconductivity of the Fe-based layered systems, and the special feature of having elemental $A$ layers provides new avenues to superconductivity at higher $T_c$.