Structure and superconductivity of LiFeAs

TL;DR

This paper investigates the structure of LiFeAs using neutron diffraction and demonstrates its superconductivity at temperatures of at least 16 K across various structural types and bond angles.

Contribution

It provides detailed structural data of LiFeAs and shows superconductivity occurs in multiple structure types with diverse bond angles.

Findings

LiFeAs exhibits superconductivity at ≥16 K.

Superconductivity occurs in compounds with [FeAs]- anti-PbO-type layers.

Superconductivity is present across different structure types and bond angles.

Abstract

The lithium ions in Lithium iron arsenide phases with compositions close to LiFeAs have been located using powder neutron diffraction. These phases exhibit superconductivity at temperatures at least as high as 16 K demonstrating that superconductivity in compounds with [FeAs]- anti-PbO-type anionic layers occurs in compounds with at least three different structure types and occurs for a wide range of As-Fe-As bond angles.