Phase diagram of the NdFe1-xRhxAsO superconductor

TL;DR

This study maps the phase diagram of NdFe1-xRhxAsO, revealing a transition from antiferromagnetism to superconductivity at a critical doping level, with maximum Tc of 13 K and an estimated upper critical field of 26 T.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed phase diagram of NdFe1-xRhxAsO, identifying the critical doping point and characterizing the superconducting and magnetic phases.

Findings

Superconductivity peaks at Tc = 13 K for x=0.1

A first-order transition from antiferromagnetism to superconductivity at x=0.045

Upper critical field Hc2(0) estimated at 26 T

Abstract

Polycrystalline samples with a nominal composition of NdFe1-xRhxAsO (0 <= x <= 0.25) were synthesized using a solid state reaction method. Bulk superconductivity with a maximum Tc = 13 K is observed in the x = 0.1 sample. A temperature-composition phase diagram is established for the NdFe1-xRhxAsO system based on the electrical resistivity and magnetization measurements. A first-order-like transition from an antiferromagnetic state to the superconducting state at a critical Rh-doping point xc = 0.045 is observed in the present phase diagram. The value for the upper critical field Hc2(0) is estimated to be about 26 T for the x = 0.10 sample by using the WHH theory.