Anisotropy in BaFe2Se3 single crystals with double chains of FeSe tetrahedra

TL;DR

This study investigates the anisotropic magnetic and thermal properties of BaFe2Se3 single crystals, revealing a transition from short-range to long-range antiferromagnetic order around 255 K and identifying a minor superconducting impurity.

Contribution

It provides detailed characterization of magnetic anisotropy and phase transitions in BaFe2Se3, highlighting the magnetic crossover and impurity effects.

Findings

BaFe2Se3 is semiconducting below 300 K.

A crossover from short-range to long-range AFM order occurs at 255 K.

Superconductivity at 10 K is due to beta-FeSe impurities.

Abstract

We studied the anisotropy in physical properties of Ba1.00(4)Fe1.9(1)Se3.1(1) single crystals. BaFe2Se3 is a semiconductor below 300 K. Magnetization measurements show that there is a crossover from short-range antiferromagnetic (AFM) correlations at room temperature to a long-range AFM order with TN = 255 K. The anisotropy of magnetization is consistent with the previous neutron results. This crossover is supported by the heat-capacity measurement, where the phase-transition peak is absent at 255 K. The superconducting transition at about 10 K is likely due to the small amount of beta-FeSe impurities.