Superconducting-insulating phase transition in pressurized Ba1-xKxBiO3

TL;DR

This study reports a pressure-induced transition from superconducting to insulating phase in Ba1-xKxBiO3, revealing structural distortions and phase reversibility, and draws parallels with high-Tc cuprate superconductors to enhance understanding of superconductivity mechanisms.

Contribution

First observation of a pressure-induced SC-I transition in Ba1-xKxBiO3, linking structural changes to superconductivity suppression and comparing it with cuprate behavior.

Findings

Pressure induces a reversible SC-I transition in Ba1-xKxBiO3.

Structural distortion correlates with the suppression of superconductivity.

Transition behavior is similar to that in hole-doped cuprates.

Abstract

We report the first observation of a pressure-induced transition from a superconducting (SC) to an insulating (I) phase in single-crystal Ba1-xKxBiO3 (x = 0.4, 0.43, 0.52, and 0.58) superconductors. X-ray diffraction measurements conducted at 20 K reveal a direct relationship between this SC-I transition and a pressure-induced distortion of crystal structure. With increasing pressure, the lattice parameters a and c of the ambient-pressure superconducting tetragonal (T) phase are compressed continuously below a critical pressure (Pc1), wherein the pressure (P) dependence of superconducting transition temperature (Tc) displays a small variation. However, upon further compression, the lattice of the compressed T phase displays an anisotropic change, and Tc shows a monotonous decrease. When the pressure reaches Pc2 (Pc2 > Pc1), the compressed T phase collapses along the c axis, followed by the disappearance of superconductivity and the appearance of the insulating phase. This SC-I transition is fully reversible, with the critical pressure increasing alongside K doping concentration. These findings are strikingly similar to the SC-I transition observed in hole-doped high-Tc cuprate superconductors under pressure. Identifying their commonalities could deepen our understanding of the mechanisms that underlie high- Tc superconductivity in these two oxide superconductors with a perovskite structure.