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.
Citations
-
1 3
CrossRef
-
0
Web of Science
-
1 3
Scopus
Authors (9)
Cite as
Full text
full text is not available in portal
Keywords
Details
- 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
seen 152 times
Recommended for you
Superconductivity in the intermetallic compound Zr5Al4
- Z. Sobczak,
- M. Winiarski,
- W. Xie
- + 2 authors
Superconductivity in the Endohedral Ga Cluster Compound PdGa5
- Z. Ryżyńska,
- P. Wiśniewski,
- D. Kaczorowski
- + 4 authors
Superconductivity in LiGa2Ir Heusler type compound with VEC = 16
- K. Górnicka,
- G. Kuderowicz,
- M. Winiarski
- + 2 authors