Disappearance of superconductivity in overdoped La2−xSrxCuO4 at a structural phase boundary

Abstract

The electronic and structural phase diagram of heavily doped ${\mathrm{La}}_{2\mathrm{-}\mathit{x}}$ ${\mathrm{Sr}}_{\mathit{x}}$ ${\mathrm{CuO}}_4$ (0.15≤x≤0.3) is reexamined. We demonstrate that the disappearance of superconductivity in ‘‘overdoped’’ ${\mathrm{La}}_{2\mathrm{-}\mathit{x}}$ ${\mathrm{Sr}}_{\mathit{x}}$ ${\mathrm{CuO}}_4$ is associated with an orthorhombic to tetragonal structural phase transition near x=0.2, implying a relationship between superconductivity and subtle structural change. The bulk superconducting phase is thus confined to a much narrower composition range than believed. A complete solid solution of La and Sr is observed in the composition range investigated.