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Superconducting SrSnP with Strong Sn–P Antibonding Interaction: Is the Sn Atom Single or Mixed Valent?

Abstract

The large single crystals of SrSnP were prepared using Sn self-flux method. The superconductivity in the tetragonal SrSnP is observed with the critical temperature of ∼2.3 K. The results of a crystallographic analysis, superconducting characterization, and theoretical assessment of tetragonal SrSnP are presented. The SrSnP crystallizes in the CaGaN structure type with space group P4/nmm (S.G. 129, Pearson symbol tP6) according to the single-crystal X-ray diffraction characterization. A combination of magnetic susceptibility, resistivity, and heat capacity measurements confirms the bulk superconductivity with Tc = 2.3(1) K in SrSnP. According to the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurement, the assignments of Sr2+ and P3– are consistent with the chemical valence electron balance principles. Moreover, it is highly likely that Sn atom has only one unusual oxidation state. First-principles calculations indicate the bands around Fermi level are hybridized among Sr d, Sn p, and P p orbitals. The strong Sn–P and Sr–P interactions pose as keys to stabilize the crystallographic structure and induce the superconductivity, respectively. The physics-based electronic and phononic calculations are consistent with the molecular viewpoint. After inclusion of the spin–orbit coupling into the calculation, the band degeneracies at Γ-point in the first Brillouin zone split into two bands, which yield to the van Hove singularities around Fermi level.

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Category:
Articles
Type:
artykuł w czasopiśmie wyróżnionym w JCR
Published in:
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS no. 30, edition 17, pages 6005 - 6013,
ISSN: 0897-4756
Language:
English
Publication year:
2018
Bibliographic description:
Gui X., Sobczak Z., Chang T., Xu X., Huang A., Jia S., Jeng H., Klimczuk T., Xie W.: Superconducting SrSnP with Strong Sn–P Antibonding Interaction: Is the Sn Atom Single or Mixed Valent?// CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS. -Vol. 30, iss. 17 (2018), s.6005-6013
DOI:
Digital Object Identifier (open in new tab) 10.1021/acs.chemmater.8b02258
Verified by:
Gdańsk University of Technology

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