Impact of atomic defects in the electronic states of FeSe$_{1-x}$S$_{x}$ superconducting crystals

TL;DR

This study investigates how atomic-scale defects in FeSe$_{1-x}$S$_{x}$ superconductors influence their electronic states, revealing defect-induced spectral modifications using STM and XPS techniques.

Contribution

It demonstrates that local crystal defects significantly alter the electronic core level spectra in FeSe$_{1-x}$S$_{x}$, highlighting the role of atomic defects in electronic structure modifications.

Findings

Defects cause a second component in Se core level spectra.

Dumbbell defects associated with Fe vacancies impact electronic states.

Spectral shape changes are consistent across pure and S-doped samples.

Abstract

The electronic properties of Fe-based superconductors are drastically affected by deformations on their crystal structure introduced by doping and pressure. Here we study single crystals of FeSe$_{1-x}$S$_{x}$ and reveal that local crystal deformations such as atomic-scale defects impact the spectral shape of the electronic core level states of the material. By means of scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) we image S-doping induced defects as well as diluted dumbbell defects associated with Fe vacancies. We have access to the electronic structure of the samples by means of X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and show that the spectral shape of the Se core levels can only be adequately described by considering a principal plus a minor component of the electronic states. We find this result for both pure and S-doped samples, irrespective that in the latter case the material presents extra crystal defects associated to doping with S atoms. We argue that the second component in our XPS spectra is associated with the ubiquitous dumbbell defects in FeSe that are known to entail a significant modification of the electronic clouds of surrounding atoms.