Enhanced conductivity and weakened magnetism in Pb-doped Sr₂IrO₄

Group IV element Pb has been selected as the dopant to dope at the Sr site of Sr₂IrO₄. It is exciting to find that the single-phase crystal structure could be maintained with a high Pb doping level of up to x = 0.3 in Sr_2−xPb_xIrO₄. The mapping data obtained from energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy analyses give solid evidence that the Pb ions are uniformly distributed in the Sr₂IrO₄ matrix. The incorporation of Pb leads to a moderate depression of the canted antiferromagnetic ordering state. The electrical conductivity could be greatly enhanced when the Pb doping content is higher than x = 0.2. The present results give a fresh material base to explore new physics in doped Sr₂IrO₄ systems.