Optimization of the crystal growth of the superconductor CaKFe4As4 from solution in the FeAs-CaFe2As2-KFe2As2 system

Meier, W. R.; Kong, T.; Bud'ko, S. L.; Canfield, P. C.

doi:10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.1.013401

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 · Mon Jun 19 00:00:00 EDT 2017 · Physical Review Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.1.013401· OSTI ID:1417372

Meier, W. R. ^[1]; Kong, T. ^[2]; Bud'ko, S. L. ^[1]; Canfield, P. C. ^[1]

Ames Lab. and Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)
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.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Ames Laboratory (AMES), Ames, IA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-07CH11358

OSTI ID:: 1417372

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1364212

Report Number(s):: IS-J--9525

Journal Information:: Physical Review Materials, Journal Name: Physical Review Materials Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 1; ISSN PRMHAR; ISSN 2475-9953

Publisher:: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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