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Title: Optimization of the crystal growth of the superconductor CaKFe 4 As 4 from solution in the FeAs - CaFe 2 As 2 - KFe 2 As 2 system

Journal Article · · Physical Review Materials
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [1]
  1. Ames Lab. and Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)
  2. Ames Lab. and Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States); Princeton Univ., Princeton, NJ (United States)

Measurements of the anisotropic properties of single crystals play a crucial role in probing the physics of new materials. Determining a growth protocol that yields suitable high-quality single crystals can be particularly challenging for multicomponent compounds. Here we present a case study of how we refined a procedure to grow single crystals of CaKFe4As4 from a high temperature, quaternary liquid solution rich in iron and arsenic (“FeAs self-flux”). Temperature dependent resistance and magnetization measurements are emphasized, in addition to the x-ray diffraction, to detect intergrown CaKFe4As4, CaFe2As2, and KFe2As2 within what appear to be single crystals. Guided by the rules of phase equilibria and these data, we adjusted growth parameters to suppress formation of the impurity phases. The resulting optimized procedure yielded phase-pure single crystals of CaKFe4As4. In conclusion, this optimization process offers insight into the growth of quaternary compounds and a glimpse of the four-component phase diagram in the pseudoternary FeAs–CaFe2As2–KFe2As2 system.

Research Organization:
Ames Lab., Ames, IA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-07CH11358; GBMF4411
OSTI ID:
1417372
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1364212
Report Number(s):
IS-J-9525; PRMHAR; TRN: US1801051
Journal Information:
Physical Review Materials, Vol. 1, Issue 1; ISSN 2475-9953
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 59 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (12)

Hedgehog spin-vortex crystal stabilized in a hole-doped iron-based superconductor journal February 2018
Unique defect structure and advantageous vortex pinning properties in superconducting CaKFe4As4 journal June 2019
Ultrahigh elastically compressible and strain-engineerable intermetallic compounds under uniaxial mechanical loading journal June 2019
Chemical stability and superconductivity in Ag-sheathed CaKFe 4 As 4 superconducting tapes journal November 2018
Optimization of superconducting properties of the stoichiometric CaKFe 4 As 4 journal December 2019
Enhancement of critical current density in CaKFe 4 As 4 single crystals through 3 MeV proton irradiation journal January 2020
Flux pinning and the vortex phase diagram in optimized CaKFe 4 As 4 single crystals fabricated by a one-step method journal February 2020
Odd and Even Modes of Neutron Spin Resonance in the Bilayer Iron-Based Superconductor CaKFe 4 As 4 journal June 2018
75As NMR Studies of Magnetic Properties of the Magnetic Superconductor CaK(Fe0.967Ni0.033)4As4 journal April 2019
Hedgehog spin-vortex crystal stabilized in a hole-doped iron-based superconductor text January 2017
Ultrahigh Elastically Compressible and Strain-Engineerable Intermetallic Compounds Under Uniaxial Mechanical Loading preprint January 2019
Unique defect structure and advantageous vortex pinning properties in superconducting CaKFe4As4 text January 2019

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