Transport properties and superconductivity in K$_{1-x}$Ln$_{x}$Fe$_2$As$_2$ (Ln=Sm, Nd and La) system

TL;DR

This study investigates how substituting lanthanides (Sm, Nd, La) for potassium in KFe2As2 affects its transport properties and superconductivity, revealing increased Tc up to 36 K and p-type conduction without structural instabilities.

Contribution

It introduces a new series of Ln-substituted KFe2As2 compounds, demonstrating enhanced superconducting transition temperatures and characterizing their transport and magnetic properties.

Findings

Superconducting Tc increased to 34-36 K with Ln substitution.

TEP indicates p-type conduction similar to Ba-K Fe2As2.

No structural or spin-density wave instabilities observed.

Abstract

We prepared the samples K$_{1-x}$Ln$_{x}$Fe$_2$As$_2$ (Ln=Sm, Nd and La) with ThCr$_2$Si$_2$-type structure. These samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, resistivity, susceptibility and thermoelectric power (TEP). Substitution of Ln (Ln=La, Nd and Sm) for K in K$_{1-x}$Ln$_{x}$Fe$_2$As$_2$ system raises the superconducting transition temperature to 34-36 K. The TEP measurements indicate that the TEP of K$_{1-x}$Ln$_{x}$Fe$_2$As$_2$ is positive, being similar to the case of the Ba$_{1-x}$K$_{x}$Fe$_2$As$_2$ system with p-type carrier. In the K$_{1-x}$Ln$_{x}$Fe$_2$As$_2$ system, the superconducting $KFe_2As_2$ with $T_c\sim 3$ K is the parent compound, and no structural and spin-density wave instabilities exist in this system.