Abstract
The structural features and physical properties of the antiferromagnetic K 0.8Fe 1.6Se 2 (so-called K 2Fe 4Se 5 phase) have been studied in the temperature range from 300 K up to 600 K. Resistivity measurements on both single crystal and polycrystalline samples reveal a semiconducting behavior. Structural investigations of K 2Fe 4Se 5 by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) demonstrate the presence of a well-defined superstructure within the a-b plane originating from a Fe-vacancy order along the [1-10] direction (indexed based on the supercell with space group of I4/m). Moreover, in situ heating structural analysis shows that K 0.8Fe 1.6Se 2 undergoes a transition of the Fe-vacancy order to disorder at about 600 K. The phase separation and the Fe-vacancy ordering in the superconducting materials of K xFe 2-ySe 2 (0.2 ≤y ≤ 0.3) has been briefly discussed.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 37007 |
Journal | Europhysics Letters |
Volume | 95 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Aug 2011 |
Externally published | Yes |