arXiv subjects

Xiaolei Yi

Publications and source records attributed to Xiaolei Yi.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Superconductivity in the pressure-amorphized topological insulator CrP$_4$

The interplay among superconductivity, magnetism, and nontrivial band topology represents one of the most compelling frontiers in condensed matter physics. The exploration of novel superconductivity in 3d transition-metal compounds, particularly the rare Cr-based systems containing strongly magnetic Cr ions, has long attracted attention owing to their unconventional pairing mechanisms that challenge conventional wisdom. Yet, Cr-based superconductors remain scarce, especially those possessing nontrivial topological character, underscoring the urgent need to uncover new members. Here we report the observation of superconductivity in pressure-amorphized Cr-based topological insulator CrP$_4$. Upon compression, CrP$_4$ undergoes an anomalous quantum phase transition from a metallic to a semiconducting-like state at around 15 GPa, driven by significant changes in the electronic structure. At approximately 70 GPa, re-metallization with superconductivity occurs alongside an irreversible amorphization. The superconducting transition temperature Tc increases monotonically with pressure, reaching 4.8 K at 141.3 GPa. Furthermore, theoretical calculations predict multiple topological phase transitions from a strong topological insulator to a trivial state and finally back to a strong topological state under pressure. Our study not only establishes CrP$_4$ as the first Cr-based amorphous superconductor but also opens a new paradigm for exploring superconducting and topological properties in amorphous materials.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2026

Pressure-induced reentrant superconductivity in a misfit layered compound $\mathrm{(SnS)_{1.15}(TaS_2)}$

Misfit layered compounds are natural van der Waals heterostructures in which electronically active transition-metal dichalcogenide layers are decoupled by incommensurate blocking layers, enabling bulk realization of quasi-two-dimensional quantum states. Here we investigate the superconducting, transport,and structural properties of the misfit compound $\mathrm{(SnS)_{1.15}(TaS_2)}$ under pressures up to 150 GPa. The low-pressure superconducting phase is gradually suppressed and disappears near 14.7 GPa,accompanied by increasing residual resistance. Remarkably, a distinct superconducting phase reemerges above 80 GPa and persists to the highest pressures achieved. This reentrant superconductivity follows a pressure-induced sign reversal of the Hall coefficient near 60 GPa and a nonmonotonic evolution of the normal-state resistance, indicating an electronic reconstruction. No structural phase transition is detected over the entire pressure range. Our results demonstrate a pressure-driven electronic reconstruction leading to reentrant superconductivity in a misfit layered compound, establishing pressure as an effective route to engineer superconductivity and electronic states in natural van der Waals heterostructures.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2024

Unusually weak irradiation effects in anisotropic iron-based superconductor RbCa2Fe4As4F2

We report on the effects of 3.5 MeV proton irradiation in RbCa$_2$Fe$_4$As$_4$F$_2$, an iron-based superconductor with unusual properties in between those of the pnictides and of the cuprate high-temperature superconductors. We studied how structural disorder introduced by ion bombardment affects the critical temperature, superfluid density and gap values by combining a coplanar waveguide resonator technique, electric transport measurements and point-contact Andreev-reflection spectroscopy. We find an unusually weak dependence of the superconducting properties on the amount of disorder in this material when compared to other iron-based superconductors under comparable irradiation conditions. The nodal multigap state exhibited by pristine RbCa$_2$Fe$_4$As$_4$F$_2$ is also robust against proton irradiation, with a two-band $d-d$ model being the one that best fits the experimental data.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2023

Novel Anisotropy of Upper Critical Fields in Fe$_{1+y}$Te$_{0.6}$Se$_{0.4}$

Studying the upper critical field ($μ_0$$H$$_{\rm{c2}}$) and its anisotropy of superconductors is of great importance because it can provide an unusual insight into the pair-breaking mechanism. Since Fe$_{1+y}$Te$_{1-x}$Se$_x$ exhibits the high $μ_0$$H$$_{\rm{c2}}$ and small anisotropic superconductivity, it has attracted considerable attention. However, some issues related to $μ_0$$H$$_{\rm{c2}}$ are still unknown, including the effect of excess Fe content on $μ_0$$H$$_{\rm{c2}}$ behavior and the origin of the crossover of the $μ_0H_{\rm{c2}}^c $ -- $ T$ and $μ_0H_{\rm{c2}}^{ab}$ -- $T$ curves. In this work, the value of $μ_0$$H$$_{\rm{c2}}$ of Fe$_{1+y}$Te$_{0.6}$Se$_{0.4}$ single crystals with controlled amounts of excess Fe was obtained by resistivity measurements over a wide range of temperatures down to $\sim$ 1.5 K, and magnetic fields up to $\sim$ 60 T. The crossover of the $μ_0H_{\rm{c2}}^c $ -- $ T$ and $μ_0H_{\rm{c2}}^{ab}$ -- $T$ curves was found to be independent of the excess Fe content. The angle dependence of $μ_0H_{\rm{c2}}$ was also checked. The $μ_0H_{\rm{c2}}(θ)$ symmetry at higher temperature near $T_c$ could be fitted by anisotropic G-L model, and novel fourfold symmetry of $μ_0H_{\rm{c2}}$ at lower temperature was found. Based on our spin-locking pairing model, the crossover behavior originates from the anisotropic spin-paramagnetic effect, and the novel fourfold symmetry of $μ_0H_{\rm{c2}}$ could be understood by our extended anisotropic G-L model.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2023

Anomalous second magnetization peak in 12442-type RbCa$_2$Fe$_4$As$_4$F$_2$ superconductors

The second magnetization peak (SMP) appears in most superconductors and is crucial for the understanding of vortex physics as well as the application. Although it is well known that the SMP is related to the type and quantity of disorder/defects, the mechanism has not been universally understood. In this work, we selected three stoichiometric superconducting RbCa$_2$Fe$_4$As$_4$F$_2$ single crystals with identical superconducting critical temperature $T_c$ $\sim$ 31 K and similar self-field critical current density $J_c$, but with different amounts of disorder/defects, to study the SMP effect. It is found that only the sample S2 with a moderate disorder/defects shows a significant SMP effect. The evolution of the normalized pinning force density $f_p$ demonstrates that the dominant pinning mechanism changes from weak pinning at low temperatures to strong pinning at high temperatures. The microstructure study for sample S2 reveals some expanded Ca$_2$F$_2$ layers and dislocation defects in RbFe$_2$As$_2$ layers. The normalized magnetic relaxation results indicate that the SMP is strongly associated with the elastic to plastic (E-P) vortex transition. As temperature increases, the SMP gradually evolves into a step-like shape and then becomes a sharp peak near the irreversibility field similar to what is usually observed in low-temperature superconductors. Our findings connect the low field SMP of high-temperature superconductors and the high field peak of low-temperature superconductors, revealing the possible universal origin related to the E-P phase transition.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2023

Significant enhancement of critical current density in H+-intercalated FeSe single crystal

Superconducting transition temperature (Tc) and critical current density (Jc) are two key factors that are not only crucial for probing high-temperature superconducting mechanisms, but also for practical applications. The simple crystal structure of FeSe is very favorable for the fabrication of thin films and wires, but its application is limited by the relatively low Tc and small Jc. A previous study has found that the Tc of FeSe can be significantly enhanced over 40 K by using the protonation method. Here, we present a systematic study of Jc and vortex properties of H+-intercalated FeSe (Hx-FeSe) single crystals. The value of Jc for Hx-FeSe single crystal is significantly enhanced, exceeding 1.3*10^6 A/cm2 at 4 K, which is more than two orders of magnitude larger than 1.1*10^4 A/cm2 of pristine FeSe. The vortex pinning mechanism of Hx-FeSe is found to be surface pinning, which is different from the dominant strong point-like pinning in pristine FeSe. Moreover, the systematic study of the vortex phase transition and the underlying mechanism provides a wealth of information for the vortex phase diagram of Hx-FeSe single crystal. Our results confirm that the introduction of H+ intercalations into FeSe not only enhances the Tc, but also significantly increases the value of Jc, which is favorable for practical applications.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2022

Nodal multigap superconductivity in the anisotropic iron-based compound RbCa2Fe4As4F2

The 12442 compounds are a recently discovered family of iron-based superconductors, that share several features with the cuprates due to their strongly anisotropic structure, but are so far poorly understood. Here, we report on the gap structure and anisotropy of RbCa2(Fe1-xNix)4As4F2 single crystals, investigated by a combination of directional point-contact Andreev-reflection spectroscopy and coplanar waveguide resonator measurements. Two gaps were identified, with clear signatures of d-wave-like nodal structures which persist upon Ni doping, well described by a two-band d-d state with symmetry-imposed nodes. A large London penetration depth anisotropy was revealed, weakly dependent on temperature and fully compatible with the d-d model.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2021

Protonation-induced discrete superconducting phases in bulk FeSe single crystals

The superconducting transition temperature, $T_{\rm{c}}$, of FeSe can be significantly enhanced several-fold by applying pressure, electron doping, intercalating spacing layer, and reducing dimensionality. Various ordered electronic phases, such as nematicity and spin density waves, have also been observed accompanying high-$T_{\rm{c}}$ superconductivity. Investigation on the evolution of the electronic structure with $T_{\rm{c}}$ is essential to understanding electronic behavior and high-$T_{\rm{c}}$ superconductivity in FeSe and its derived superconductors. In this report, we have found a series of discrete superconducting phases, with a maximum $T_{\rm{c}}$ up to 44 K, in H$^+$-intercalated FeSe single crystals using an ionic liquid gating method. Accompanied with the increase of $T_{\rm{c}}$, suppression of the nematic phase and evolution from non-Fermi-liquid to Fermi-liquid behavior was observed. An abrupt change in the Fermi surface topology was proposed to explain the discrete superconducting phases. A band structure that favors the high-$T_{\rm{c}}$ superconducting phase was also revealed.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2021

Electronic transport properties and hydrostatic pressure effect of FeSe$_{0.67}$Te$_{0.33}$ single crystals free of phase separation

FeSe$_{1-x}$Te$_{x}$ superconductors manifest some intriguing electronic properties depending on the value of $x$. In FeSe single crystal, the nematic phase and Dirac band structure have been observed, while topological surface superconductivity with the Majorana bound state was found in the crystal of $x \sim 0.55$. Therefore, the electronic properties of single crystals with $0 < x \leq 0.5$ are crucial for probing the evolution of those intriguing properties as well as their relations. However, this study is still left blank due to the lack of single crystals because of phase separation. Here, we report the synthesis, magnetization, electronic transport properties, and hydrostatic pressure effect of FeSe$_{0.67}$Te$_{0.33}$ single crystals free of phase separation. A structural (nematic) transition is visible at $T_{s} = 39$ K, below which the resistivity exhibits a Fermi-liquid behavior. Analysis of upper critical fields suggests that spin-paramagnetic effect should be taken into account for both $H \parallel c$ axis and $H \parallel ab$ plane. A crossover from the low-$H$ quadratic to the high-$H$ quasi-linear behavior is observed in the magnetoresistance, signifying the possible existence of Dirac-cone state. Besides, the strong temperature dependence of Hall coefficient, violation of (modified) Kohler's rule, and two-band model analysis indicate the multiband effects in FeSe$_{0.67}$Te$_{0.33}$ single crystals. Hydrostatic pressure measurements reveal that $T_{s}$ is quickly suppressed with pressure while $T_{c}$ is monotonically increased up to 2.31 GPa, indicating the competition between nematicity and superconductivity. No signature of magnetic order that has been detected in FeSe$_{1-x}$S$_{x}$ is observed. Our findings fill up the blank of the knowledge on the basic properties of FeSe$_{1-x}$Te$_{x}$ system with low-Te concentrations.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2021

Hydrothermal synthesis and complete phase diagram of FeSe$_{1-x}$S$_{x}$ $(0 \leq x \leq 1)$ single crystals

We report the successful synthesis of FeSe$_{1-x}$S$_{x}$ single crystals with $x$ ranging from 0 to 1 via a hydrothermal method. A complete phase diagram of FeSe$_{1-x}$S$_{x}$ has been obtained based on resistivity and magnetization measurements. The nematicity is suppressed with increasing $x$, and a small superconducting dome appears within the nematic phase. Outside the nematic phase, the superconductivity is continuously suppressed and reaches a minimum $T_c$ at $x$ = 0.45; beyond this point, $T_c$ slowly increases until $x$ = 1. Intriguingly, an anomalous resistivity upturn with a characteristic temperature $T^*$ in the intermediate region of $0.31 \leq x \leq 0.71$ is observed. $T^{*}$ shows a dome-like behavior with a maximum value at $x$ = 0.45, which is opposite the evolution of $T_c$, indicating competition between $T^*$ and superconductivity. The origin of $T^*$ is discussed in detail. Furthermore, the normal state resistivity evolves from non-Fermi-liquid to Fermi-liquid behavior with S doping at low temperatures, accompanied by a reduction in electronic correlations. Our study addresses the lack of single crystals in the high-S doping region and provides a complete phase diagram, which will promote the study of relations among nematicity, superconductivity, and magnetism.

cond-mat.supr-con↗