Macroscopic phase segregation in superconducting K0.73Fe1.67Se2 as seen by muon spin rotation and infrared spectroscopy

Abstract

Using muon spin rotation (\muSR) and infrared spectroscopy we investigated the recently discovered superconductor K0.73Fe1.67Se2 with Tc = 32 K. We show that the combined data can be consistently described in terms of a macroscopically phase segregated state with a matrix of ~88% volume fraction that is insulating and strongly magnetic and inclusions with a ~12% volume fraction which are metallic, superconducting and non-magnetic. The electronic properties of the latter, in terms of the normal state plasma frequency and the superconducting condensate density, appear to be similar as in other iron selenide or arsenide superconductors.

arXiv comment22 pages, 8 figures. (citation list correction.)

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• The Unexpected Properties of Alkali Metal Iron Selenide Superconductors
• Influence of microstructure on superconductivity in K${}_x$Fe${}_{2-y}$Se${}_2$ and evidence for a new parent phase K${}_2$Fe${}_7$Se${}_8$
• Structure, magnetic order and excitations in the 245 family of Fe-based superconductors
• Muon spin rotation study of magnetism and superconductivity in Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2 single crystals
• Orbital-selective metal-insulator transition and gap formation above Tc in superconducting Rb1-xFe2-ySe2
• Optical conductivity of iron-based superconductors
• The role of 245 phase in alkaline iron selenide superconductors revealed by high pressure studies
• Superconductivity and magnetism in RbxFe2-ySe2: Impact of thermal treatment on mesoscopic phase separation
• High resolution characterisation of microstructural evolution in Rb${}_x$Fe${}_{2-y}$Se${}_2$ crystals on annealing
• Effective medium approximation and the complex optical properties of the inhomogeneous superconductor K_{0.8}Fe_{2-y}Se_2
• Tuning orbital-selective correlation effects in superconducting Rb${}_{0.75}$Fe${}_{1.6}$Se${}_{2-z}$S${}_z$
• Infrared ellipsometry study of the charge dynamics in K3p-terphenyl