BiOCuS: A new superconducting compound with oxypnictide - related structure

TL;DR

This paper reports the synthesis and characterization of a new superconducting compound, BiOCuS, with a structure related to oxypnictides, demonstrating superconductivity at 5.8 K through doping.

Contribution

It introduces BiOCuS as a new superconducting material with a similar structure to Fe-based pnictides, achieved via a low-temperature solid state reaction.

Findings

BiOCuS is successfully synthesized and characterized.

Superconductivity observed at Tc = 5.8 K with doping.

Structural parameters are determined and reported.

Abstract

The discovery of about 50 K superconductivity in the tetragonal Fe-based pnictides has stimulated the search for superconductivity in a wide class of materials with similar structure. Copper forms compounds isostructural to LaOFeAs. Single phase BiOCuS can be prepared by a solid state reaction at temperature lower than 500 C from a mixture of Bi2O3, Bi2S3 and Cu2S. The samples have been characterized by means of EDX analysis, X-ray diffraction, magnetic and electrical measurements. The cell parameters are a = 3.8708 A, c = 8.565 A. Charge carrier doping can be realized either by F substitutions for O, or by Cu off-stoichiometry. The latter doping route leads to the occurrence of superconductivity below Tc = 5.8 K.