Superconductivity induced by doping Pd in SrFe2-xPdxAs2

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that doping Pd into SrFe2-xPdxAs2 suppresses antiferromagnetism and induces superconductivity, with a maximum Tc of 8.7 K, highlighting the role of electron doping in FeAs superconductors.

Contribution

First systematic investigation of Pd doping effects in SrFe2-xPdxAs2, revealing superconductivity induction and phase diagram similar to Ni and Co doping.

Findings

Superconductivity achieved at x=0.05 with Tc ~8.7 K.

Lattice constants indicate successful Pd substitution.

Superconductivity can be induced by electron doping with various transition metals.

Abstract

By using solid state reaction method, we have synthesized the Pd-doped superconductor SrFe2-xPdxAs2. The systematic evolution of the lattice constants indicated that the Fe ions were successfully replaced by the Pd. By increasing the doping content of Pd, the antiferromagnetic state of the parent phase is suppressed and superconductivity is induced at a doping level of about x=0.05. Superconductivity with a maximum transition temperature Tc of about 8.7 K was achieved at the doping level of x = 0.15. The general phase diagram of Tc versus x was obtained and found to be similar to the case of Ni and Co doping to the Fe sites. Our results suggest that superconductivity can be easily induced in the FeAs family by adding electrons into the system, regardless with the transition metals of 3d or higher d-orbital electrons.