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Jin, C. Q.

Publications and source records attributed to Jin, C. Q..

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Superconductivity Observed in Tantalum Polyhydride at High Pressure

We report experimental discovery of tantalum polyhydride superconductor. It was synthesized under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions using diamond anvil cell combined with in situ high-pressure laser heating techniques. The superconductivity was investigated via resistance measurements at pressures. The highest superconducting transition temperature T c was found to be ∼ 30 K at 197 GPa in the sample that was synthesized at the same pressure with ∼ 2000 K heating. The transitions are shifted to low temperature upon applying magnetic fields that support the superconductivity nature. The upper critical field at zero temperature μ 0 H c2 (0) of the superconducting phase is estimated to be ∼ 20 T that corresponds to Ginzburg–Landau coherent length ∼ 40 Å. Our results suggest that the superconductivity may arise from I 4 ¯ 3 d phase of TaH 3 . It is, for the first time to our best knowledge, experimental realization of superconducting hydrides for the VB group of transition metals.

Physics↗
DOE OSTI2021

Nature of the ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic transition in Y 1- x La x TiO 3

In this work, we explore the magnetically ordered ground state of the isovalently substituted Mott insulator Y 1- x La x TiO 3 for x≤ 0.3 via single-crystal growth, magnetometry, neutron diffraction, x-ray magnetic circular dichroism, muon spin rotation, and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). We find that the decrease in the magnetic transition temperature on approaching the ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic phase boundary at the La concentration xc ≈ 0.3 is accompanied by a strong suppression of both bulk and local ordered magnetic moments, along with a volume wise separation into magnetically ordered and paramagnetic regions. The thermal phase transition does not show conventional second-order behavior since neither a clear signature of dynamic critical behavior nor a power-law divergence of the magnetic correlation length is found for the studied substitution range; this finding becomes increasingly obvious with increasing La substitution. We find no evidence for a spin-glass phase. Finally, from SANS and magnetometry measurements, we discern a crossover from easy-axis to easy-plane magnetocrystalline anisotropy with increasing La substitution. These results indicate complex changes in magnetic structure upon approaching the phase boundary.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2020

Orbital selectivity of layer-resolved tunneling in the iron-based superconductor Ba 0.6 K 0.4 Fe 2 As 2

Here, we use scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy to elucidate the Cooper pairing of the iron pnictide superconductor Ba 0.6 K 0.4 Fe 2 As 2 . By a cold-cleaving technique, we obtain atomically resolved termination surfaces with different layer identities. Remarkably, we observe that the low-energy tunneling spectrum related to superconductivity has an unprecedented dependence on the layer identity. By cross referencing with the angle-revolved photoemission results and the tunneling data of LiFeAs, we find that tunneling on each termination surface probes superconductivity through selecting distinct Fe-3$\textit{d}$ orbitals. These findings imply the real-space orbital features of the Cooper pairing in the iron pnictide superconductors, and propose a general concept that, for complex multiorbital material, tunneling on different terminating layers can feature orbital selectivity.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2019

Superconductivity in a unique type of copper oxide

The mechanism of superconductivity in cuprates remains one of the big challenges of condensed matter physics. High-T c cuprates crystallize into a layered perovskite structure featuring copper oxygen octahedral coordination. Due to the Jahn Teller effect in combination with the strong static Coulomb interaction, the octahedra in high-Tc cuprates are elongated along the c axis, leading to a 3dx 2 -y 2 orbital at the top of the band structure wherein the doped holes reside. This scenario gives rise to 2D characteristics in high-T c cuprates that favor d-wave pairing symmetry. Here, we report superconductivity in a cuprate Ba 2 CuO 4-y , wherein the local octahedron is in a very exceptional compressed version. The Ba 2 CuO 4-y compound was synthesized at high pressure at high temperatures and shows bulk superconductivity with critical temperature (T c ) above 70 K at ambient conditions. This superconducting transition temperature is more than 30 K higher than the T c for the isostructural counterparts based on classical La 2 CuO 4 . X-ray absorption measurements indicate the heavily doped nature of the Ba 2 CuO 4-y superconductor. In compressed octahedron, the 3d3z 2 -r 2 orbital will be lifted above the 3dx 2 -y 2 orbital, leading to significant 3D nature in addition to the conventional 3dx 2 -y 2 orbital. This work sheds important light on advancing our comprehensive understanding of the superconducting mechanism of high T c in cuprate materials.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2018

Honeycomb lattice Na 2 IrO 3 at high pressures: A robust spin-orbit Mott insulator

The honeycomb iridate Na 2 IrO 3 has received much attention as a candidate to realize a quantum spin liquid state, but the nature of its insulating state remains controversial. We found that the material exhibits structural transitions at 3 and 10 GPa. The former is accompanied by 166-meV suppression of the activation gap, but the energies for the low-lying interband transitions change by less than 10 meV. This can be reconciled in a picture in which the application of high pressure barely shifts the electronic bands, but rather merely broadens them. First-principles calculations uncover a strong correlation between the band gap and the β angle of the monoclinic structure, indicating non-negligible interlayer coupling. Furthermore, these results offer clear evidence for a spin-orbit Mott insulating state in Na 2 IrO 3 and are inconsistent with the quasimolecular orbital model.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Electronic and structural response to pressure in the hyperkagome-lattice Na 3 Ir 3 O 8

Here, the hyper-kagome lattice iridate Na 3 Ir 3 O 8 , closely related to spin liquid candidate Na 4 Ir 3 O 8 , is unusual in that spin-orbit interactions acting on the 1/3-filled J eff = 1/2 state lead to a semimetallic ground state, in contrast to the conventional insulating Mott state stabilized by S-O interactions in the 1/2-filled J eff = 1/2 state of other iridates including Na 4 Ir 3 O 8 . We have studied the evolution of crystal structure, electronic structure, and transport in Na 3 Ir 3 O 8 under high pressure using x-ray diffraction, x-ray absorption near edge structure, and electrical resistance measurements in a diamond anvil cell. The study was augmented by the use of ab initio calculations, which provided insight into pressure-induced changes in crystal and electronic structure. We found that Na 3 Ir 3 O 8 transforms from a semimetal to an insulator under pressure, with an estimated energy gap that increases to about 130 meV at P similar to 9 GPa. At approximately 10 GPa, a cubic-to-monoclinic structural transition takes place between two insulating phases. This structural transition features a sizable volume collapse and a high-pressure phase characterized by apparent dimerization of Ir-Ir distances, wide dispersion of Ir-O-Ir bond angles, and an increase in the occupation of 5 d states. Although the energy gap is reduced in the high-pressure phase, insulating behavior remains to the highest pressures similar to 1 Mbar. The strongly pressure-dependent insulating gap shows a positive correlation with the expectation value of the angular part of the S-O interaction, < L • S >, which may indicate an active role of S-O interactions in stabilizing the insulating state that emerges in the compressed Na 3 Ir 3 O 8 structure.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Universal 2 Δ max / k B T c scaling decoupled from the electronic coherence in iron-based superconductors

Here in this paper, we use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to study superconductivity that emerges in two extreme cases, from a Fermi-liquid phase (LiFeAs) and an incoherent bad-metal phase ( FeTe 0.55 Se 0.45 ). We find that although the electronic coherence can strongly reshape the single-particle spectral function in the superconducting state, it is decoupled from the maximum-superconducting-gap and T c ratio 2Δ max /k B T c , which shows a universal scaling that is valid for all iron-based superconductors (FeSCs). Our observation excludes pairing scenarios in the BCS and the BEC limit for FeSCs and calls for a universal strong-coupling pairing mechanism for the FeSCs.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2017

A compact membrane-driven diamond anvil cell and cryostat system for nuclear resonant scattering at high pressure and low temperature

In order to study the vibrational and thermal dynamic properties of materials using the nuclear resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (NRIXS) and the hyperfine interactions and magnetic properties using the synchrotron Mössbauer spectroscopy (SMS) at simultaneously high pressure (multi-Mbar) and low temperature (T< 10 K), a new miniature panoramic diamond anvil cell (mini-pDAC) as well as a special gas membrane driven mechanism have been developed and implemented at 3ID, Advanced Photon Source. The gas membrane system allows in situ pressure tuning of the mini- pDAC at low temperature. The mini-pDAC fits into a specially designed compact liquid helium flow cryostat system to achieve low temperature, where liquid helium flows through the holder of the mini-pDAC to cool the sample more efficiently. The sample temperature as low as 9 K has been achieved. Through the membrane, the sample pressure as high as 1.4 Mbar has been generated from this mini-pDAC. The instrument has been routinely used at 3ID for NRIXS and SMS studies. In this paper, technical details of the mini-pDAC, membrane engaging mechanism and the cryostat system are described, and some experimental results are discussed.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2017

Structural stability and phase transition of Bi 2 Te 3 under high pressure and low temperature

Structural stability and phase transition of topological insulator Bi2Te3 were studied via angle-dispersive synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction under high pressure and low temperature condition. The results manifest that the R-3m phase (phase I) is stable at 8 K over the pressure range up to 10 GPa and phase transition occurs between 8 K and 45 K at 8 GPa. According to the Birch-Murnaghan equation of state, the bulk modulus at ambient pressure B0 was estimated to be 45 ± 3 GPa with the assumption of B0' = 4. The structural robustness of phase I at 8 K suggests that the superconductivity below 10 GPa is related to phase I. Topological properties of superconducting Bi2Te3 phase under pressure were discussed.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2017

Hole doping and pressure effects on the II-II-V-based diluted magnetic semiconductor ( B a 1 - x K x ) ( Z n 1 - y M n y ) 2 A s 2

We investigate doping- and pressure-induced changes in the electronic state of Mn 3d and As 4p orbitals in II-II-V based diluted magnetic semiconductor (Ba 1-x ,K x )(Zn 1-y ,Mn y ) 2 As 2 to shed light into the mechanism of indirect exchange interactions leading to high ferromagnetic ordering temperature (T c = 230 K in optimally doped samples). A suite of x-ray spectroscopy experiments (emission, absorption and dichroism) show that the emergence, and further enhancement of ferromagnetic interactions with increased hole doping into the As 4p band is accompanied by a decrease in local 3d spin density at Mn sites. This is a result of increasing Mn 3d - As 4p hybridization with hole doping which enhances indirect exchange interactions between Mn dopants and gives rise to induced magnetic polarization in As 4p states. On the contrary, application of pressure suppresses exchange interactions. While Mn Kβ emission spectra show a weak response of 3d state to pressure, clear As 4p band broadening (hole delocalization) is observed under pressure ultimately leading to loss of ferromagnetism concomitant with a semiconductor to metal transition. The pressure response of As 4p and Mn 3d states is intimately connected with the evolution of the As-As interlayer distance and the geometry of the MnAs 4 tetrahedral units, which we probed with X-ray diffraction. Our results indicate that hole doping increases the degree of covalency between the anion (As) p states and cation (Mn) d states in the MnA s4 tetrahedron, a crucial ingredient to promote indirect exchange interactions between Mn dopants and high T c ferromagnetism. As a result, the instability of ferromagnetism and semiconducting state against pressure is mainly dictated by delocalization of anion p states.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2017

Structural, magnetic and transport properties of Pb{sub 2}Cr{sub 1+x}Mo{sub 1−x}O{sub 6} (−1≤x≤1/3)

Pb{sub 2}Cr{sub 1+x}Mo{sub 1-x}O{sub 6} (−1≤x≤1/3) samples were synthesized via a high pressure and high temperature route. X-ray diffraction results suggest the samples crystallize in a disordered double perovskite structure (Pm-3m). X-ray photoemission spectroscopy results confirm the presence of Mo{sup 4+} for x=−1 and Mo{sup 6+} for x=1/3. The measured magnetic and electrical properties exhibit systematic change with increasing x. - Highlights: • A series of Pb{sub 2}Cr{sub 1+x}Mo{sub 1−x}O{sub 6} samples were synthesized under high pressure. • Magnetic and electrical properties of the series samples were investigated. • Valence states of Cr and Mo were determined through the analyses of XRD and XPS results. • Ground state of PbMoO{sub 3} were determined through the transport study and first-principles calculations.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2017

Superconductivity bordering Rashba type topological transition

Strong spin orbital interaction (SOI) can induce unique quantum phenomena such as topological insulators, the Rashba effect, or p-wave superconductivity. Combining these three quantum phenomena into a single compound has important scientific implications. Here we report experimental observations of consecutive quantum phase transitions from a Rashba type topological trivial phase to topological insulator state then further proceeding to superconductivity in a SOI compound BiTeI tuned via pressures. The electrical resistivity measurement with V shape change signals the transition from a Rashba type topological trivial to a topological insulator phase at 2 GPa, which is caused by an energy gap close then reopen with band inverse. Superconducting transition appears at 8 GPa with a critical temperature T C of 5.3 K. Structure refinements indicate that the consecutive phase transitions are correlated to the changes in the Bi–Te bond and bond angle as function of pressures. As a result, the Hall Effect measurements reveal an intimate relationship between superconductivity and the unusual change in carrier density that points to possible unconventional superconductivity.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2016

Orbital-differentiated coherence-incoherence crossover identified by photoemission spectroscopy in LiFeAs

In the iron-based superconductors (FeSCs), orbital differentiation is an important phenomenon, whereby correlations stronger on the d xy orbital than on the d xz /d yz orbital yield quasi-particles with d xy orbital character having larger mass renormalization and abnormal temperature evolution. However, the physical origin of this orbital di erentiation is debated between the Hund's coupling induced unbinding of spin and orbital degrees of freedom and the Hubbard interaction instigated orbital selective Mott transition. Here we use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to identify an orbital-dependent correlation-induced quasi-particle (QP) anomaly in LiFeAs. Lastly, the excellent agreement between our photoemission measurements and first-principles many-body theory calculations shows that the orbital-differentiated QP lifetime anomalies in LiFeAs are controlled by the Hund's coupling.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2016

Observation of non-Fermi liquid behavior in hole-doped LiFe 1-x V x As

Here we synthesized a series of V-doped LiFe 1₋x V x As single crystals. The superconducting transition temperature T c of LiFeAs decreases rapidly at a rate of 7 K per 1% V. The Hall coefficient of LiFeAs switches from negative to positive with 4.2% V doping, showing that V doping introduces hole carriers. This observation is further confirmed by the evaluation of the Fermi surface volume measured by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), from which a 0.3 hole doping per V atom introduced is deduced. Interestingly, the introduction of holes does not follow a rigid band shift. We also show that the temperature evolution of the electrical resistivity as a function of doping is consistent with a crossover from a Fermi liquid to a non-Fermi liquid. Our ARPES data indicate that the non-Fermi liquid behavior is mostly enhanced when one of the hole d xz /dyz Fermi surfaces is well nested by the antiferromagnetic wave vector to the inner electron Fermi surface pocket with the d xy orbital character. In conclusion, the magnetic susceptibility of LiFe 1₋x V x As suggests the presence of strong magnetic impurities following V doping, thus providing a natural explanation to the rapid suppression of superconductivity upon V doping.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2016

Pressure induced Ag{sub 2}Te polymorphs in conjunction with topological non trivial to metal transition

Silver telluride (Ag{sub 2}Te) is well known as superionic conductor and topological insulator with polymorphs. Pressure induced three phase transitions in Ag{sub 2}Te have been reported in previous. Here, we experimentally identified high pressure phase above 13 GPa of Ag{sub 2}Te by using high pressure synchrotron x ray diffraction method in combination with evolutionary crystal structure prediction, showing it crystallizes into a monoclinic structure of space group C2/m with lattice parameters a = 6.081Å, b = 5.744Å, c = 6.797 Å, β = 105.53°. The electronic properties measurements of Ag{sub 2}Te reveal that the topologically non-trivial semiconducting phase I and semimetallic phase II previously predicated by theory transformed into bulk metals for high pressure phases in consistent with the first principles calculations.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗