Clarification as to why alcoholic beverages have the ability to induce superconductivity in Fe_{1+d}Te_{1-x}S_x

TL;DR

This study reveals that weak acids in alcoholic beverages induce superconductivity in Fe_{1+d}Te_{1-x}S_x by removing excess iron, with implications for understanding and controlling superconductivity in these materials.

Contribution

It demonstrates that organic acids in alcoholic beverages deintercalate excess iron, inducing superconductivity in Fe-based chalcogenides, providing a new insight into chemical treatment methods.

Findings

Weak acids can induce superconductivity in Fe_{1+d}Te_{1-x}S_x.

Deintercalation of excess Fe is the key mechanism.

Organic acids effectively remove excess Fe during annealing.

Abstract

To elucidate the mechanism as to why alcoholic beverages can induce superconductivity in Fe_{1+d}Te_{1-x}S_x samples, we performed component analysis and found that weak acid such as organic acid has the ability to induce superconductivity. Inductively-coupled plasma spectroscopy was performed on weak acid solutions post annealing. We found that the mechanism of inducement of superconductivity in Fe_{1+d}Te_{1-x}S_x is the deintercalation of excess Fe from the interlayer sites.