A New ZrCuSiAs-Type Superconductor: ThFeAsN

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of ThFeAsN, a nitrogen-containing iron-pnictide superconductor with a T_c of 30 K, synthesized via solid-state reaction, expanding the family of iron-based superconductors.

Contribution

First synthesis and characterization of ThFeAsN, a new ZrCuSiAs-type superconductor with superconductivity at 30 K.

Findings

Superconductor ThFeAsN crystallizes in P4/nmm structure.

Superconductivity observed at 30 K in undoped ThFeAsN.

Synthesized via solid-state reaction in evacuated container.

Abstract

We report the first nitrogen-containing iron-pnictide superconductor ThFeAsN, which is synthesized by a solid-state reaction in an evacuated container. The compound crystallizes in a ZrCuSiAs-type structure with the space group P4/nmm and lattice parameters a=4.0367(1) {\AA} and c=8.5262(2) {\AA} at 300 K. The electrical resistivity and dc magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate superconductivity at 30 K for the nominally undoped ThFeAsN.