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Chin. Phys. B, 2013, Vol. 22(8): 087409    DOI: 10.1088/1674-1056/22/8/087409
Special Issue: TOPICAL REVIEW — Iron-based high temperature superconductors
TOPICAL REVIEW—Iron-based high temperature superconductors Prev   Next  

Microstructure and structural phase transitions in iron-based superconductors

Wang Zhen (王臻), Cai Yao (蔡瑶), Yang Huai-Xin (杨槐馨), Tian Huan-Fang (田焕芳), Wang Zhi-Wei (王秩伟), Ma Chao (马超), Chen Zhen (陈震), Li Jian-Qi (李建奇)
Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
Abstract  Crystal structures and microstructural features, such as structural phase transitions, defect structures, and chemical and structural inhomogeneities, are known to have profound effects on the physical properties of superconducting materials. Recently, many studies on the structural properties of Fe-based high-Tc superconductors have been published. This review article will mainly focus on the typical microstructural features in samples that have been well characterized by physical measurements. (i) Certain common structural features are discussed, in particular, the crystal structural features for different superconducting families, the local structural distortions in the Fe2Pn2 (Pn=P, As, Sb) or Fe2Ch2 (Ch=S, Se, Te) blocks, and the structural transformations in the 122 system. (ii) In FeTe(Se) (11 family), the superconductivity, chemical and structural inhomogeneities are investigated and discussed in correlation with superconductivity. (iii) In the K0.8Fe1,6+xSe2 system, we focus on the typical compounds with emphasis on the Fe-vacancy order and phase separations. The microstructural features in other superconducting materials are also briefly discussed.
Keywords:  Fe-based superconductor      structural transition      structural inhomogeneity      phase separation  
Received:  23 April 2013      Accepted manuscript online: 
PACS:  74.70.Xa (Pnictides and chalcogenides)  
  61.05.J- (Electron diffraction and scattering)  
  61.50.Ks (Crystallographic aspects of phase transformations; pressure effects)  
  61.72.-y (Defects and impurities in crystals; microstructure)  
Fund: Project supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant Nos. 2011CBA00101, 2010CB923002, 2011CB921703, and 2012CB821404), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11274368, 51272277, 11074292, 11004229, and 11190022), and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Corresponding Authors:  Li Jian-Qi     E-mail:  LJQ@aphy.iphy.ac.cn

Cite this article: 

Wang Zhen (王臻), Cai Yao (蔡瑶), Yang Huai-Xin (杨槐馨), Tian Huan-Fang (田焕芳), Wang Zhi-Wei (王秩伟), Ma Chao (马超), Chen Zhen (陈震), Li Jian-Qi (李建奇) Microstructure and structural phase transitions in iron-based superconductors 2013 Chin. Phys. B 22 087409

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