Superconductivity in Ir1-xRhxTe2 (0<=x<=0.3)

TL;DR

This study explores how Rh doping influences superconductivity and structural transitions in IrTe2, revealing a maximum Tc around 2.6 K and a suppression of structural transition with increased Rh content.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the effects of isovalent Rh doping on superconductivity and structural properties in IrTe2, highlighting the competition between structural transition and superconductivity.

Findings

Maximum Tc of ~2.6 K at x=0.15-0.3

Structural transition suppressed and vanishes at x=0.2

Rh doping affects physical properties differently than Se substitution

Abstract

We report superconductivity, physical and structural properties of Ir1-xRhxTe2 (0<=x<=0.3). Superconducting transition with maximum Tc~2.6 K appears when the doping content of Rh x is in between 0.15 and 0.3. Further increasing the content of Rh will suppress the superconductivity. On the other hand, the high-temperature structural transition is suppressed gradually as Rh is incorporated into the lattice, eventually vanishing at x=0.2. These results imply competing relationship between structural transition and superconductivity. The isovalent ionic substitution of Rh into Ir has different effects on physical properties when compared to the isovalent anionic substitution of Se into Te, in which the structural transition is enhanced with Se substitution. It indicates the changes of structural parameters such as ionic size and electronegativity of elements will also have important effects on the evolution of physical properties in IrTe2.