High-pressure effects on superconducting properties and crystal structure of Bi-based layered superconductor La2O2Bi3Ag0.6Sn0.4S6

TL;DR

This study investigates how pressure influences the superconducting properties and crystal structure of La2O2Bi3Ag0.6Sn0.4S6, revealing pressure-induced superconductivity enhancement and structural changes.

Contribution

It provides new insights into pressure effects on layered Bi-based superconductors, highlighting structural and superconducting property correlations.

Findings

Pressure induces bulk superconductivity with Tc ~4.5 K.

Above 6.4 GPa, structural symmetry lowers and Tc increases to ~8 K.

Pressure affects the crystal structure and superconducting transition temperature.

Abstract

The effects of pressure on the superconducting properties of a Bi-based layered superconductor La2O2Bi3Ag0.6Sn0.4S6, which possesses a four-layer-type conducting layer, have been studied through the electrical resistance and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The crystal structure under pressure was examined using synchrotron X-ray diffraction at SPring-8. In the low-pressure regime, bulk superconductivity with a transition temperature Tc of ~ 4.5 K was induced by pressure, which was achieved by in-plane chemical pressure effect owing to the compression of the tetragonal structure. In the high-pressure regime above 6.4 GPa, a structural symmetry lowering was observed, and superconducting transitions with a Tc ~ 8 K were observed. Our results suggest the possible commonality on the factor essential for Tc in Bi-based superconductors with two-layer-type and four-layer-type conducting layers.