The electronic structure of Co-substituted $textrm{Fe}textrm{Se}$ superconductor probed by soft X-ray spectroscopy and density functional theory

We study the crystalline and electronic properties of the $textrm{Fe}_{1-x}textrm{Co}_xtextrm{Se}$ system ($x=0$, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0) using X-ray diffraction, X-ray spectroscopy and density functional theory. We show that the introduction of Co $3d$ states in FeSe relaxes the bond strengths and induces a structural transition from tetragonal to hexagonal whose crossover takes place at $xapprox0.38$. This structural transition in turn modifies the magnetic order which can be related to the spin state. Using resonant inelastic X-ray spectroscopy we estimate the spin state of the system; FeSe is found to be in a high spin state (S=2), but Fe is reduced to a low spin state upon Co substitution of $x le 0.25$, well below the structural transition. Finally, we show evidence that FeSe is a moderately correlated system but the introduction of Co into the host lattice weakens the correlation strength for $xge0.25$. These novel findings are important to unravel the mechanisms responsible for the superconducting state in iron-chalcogenide superconductors.

Local structure of Fe impurity atoms in ZnO: bulk versus surface

By studying Fe-doped ZnO pellets and thin films with various x-ray spectroscopic techniques, and complementing this with density functional theory calculations, we find that Fe-doping in bulk ZnO induces isovalent (and isostructural) cation substitution (Fe2+ -> Zn2+). In contrast to this, Fe-doping near the surface produces both isovalent and heterovalent substitution (Fe3+ -> Zn2+). The calculations performed herein suggest that the most likely defect structure is the single or double substitution of Zn with Fe, although, if additional oxygen is available, then Fe substitution with interstitial oxygen is even more energetically favourable. Furthermore, it is found that ferromagnetic states are energetically unfavourable, and ferromagnetic ordering is likely to be realized only through the formation of a secondary phase (i.e. ZnFe2O4), or codoping with Cu.

Electronic Structure of $textrm{Fe}textrm{Se}_{1-x}textrm{Te}_x$ Studied by X-ray Spectroscopy and Density Functional Theory

We study the electronic properties of the $textrm{Fe}textrm{Se}_{1-x}textrm{Te}_x$ system ($x=0$, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1) from the perspective of X-ray spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT). The analysis performed on the density of states reveals marked differences in the distribution of the $5p$ states of Te for $x>0$. We think that this finding can be associated with the fact that superconductivity is suppressed in FeTe. Moreover, using resonant inelastic X-ray scattering, we estimate the spin state of our system which can be correlated to the magnetic order. We find that the spin state of the $textrm{Fe}textrm{Se}_{1-x}textrm{Te}_x$ system fluctuates, as a function of $x$, between $S=0$ and $S=2$ with Fe in FeSe in the highest spin state. Finally, our DFT calculations nicely reproduce the X-ray emission spectra performed at the Fe $L$-edge (which probe the occupied states) and suggest that the $textrm{Fe}textrm{Se}_{1-x}textrm{Te}_x$ system can be considered at most as a moderately correlated system.

Effect of 3d-doping on the electronic structure of BaFe2As2

The electronic structure of BaFe2As2 doped with Co, Ni, and Cu has been studied by a variety of experimental and theoretical methods, but a clear picture of the dopant 3d states has not yet emerged. Herein we provide experimental evidence of the distribution of Co, Ni, and Cu 3d states in the valence band. We conclude that the Co and Ni 3d states provide additional free carriers to the Fermi level, while the Cu 3d states are found at the bottom of the valence band in a localized 3d10 shell. These findings help shed light on why superconductivity can occur in BaFe2As2 doped with Co and Ni but not Cu.

Experimental Evidence of Cage Conduction Bands in Superconducting Cement 12CaO$cdot$7Al$_2$O$_3$

Natural 12CaO$cdot$7Al$_2$O$_3$ (C12A7) is a wide bandgap insulator, but conductivity can be realized by introducing oxygen deficiency. Currently, there are two competing models explaining conductivity in oxygen-deficient C12A7, one involving the electron transfer via a cage conduction band inside the nominal band gap, the other involving electron hopping along framework lattice sites. To help resolve this debate, we probe insulating and conducting C12A7 with X-ray emission, X-ray absorption, and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, which provide a full picture of both the valence and conduction band edges in these materials. These measurements suggest the existence of a narrow conduction band between the main conduction and valence bands common in both conducting and insulating C12A7 and support the theory that free electrons in oxygen-deficient C12A7 occupy the low-energy states of this narrow band. Our measurements are corroborated with density functional theory calculations.

Nature of the electronic states involved in the chemical bonding and superconductivity at high pressure in SnO

We have investigated the electronic structure and the Fermi surface of SnO using density functional theory (DFT) calculations within recently proposed exchange-correlation potential (PBE+mBJ) at ambient conditions and high pressures up to 19.3 GPa where superconductivity was observed. It was found that the Sn valence states 5s, 5p, and 5d are strongly hybridized with the O 2p-states, and that our DFT-calculations are in good agreement with O K-edge X-ray spectroscopy measurements for both occupied and empty states. It was demonstrated that the metallic states appearing under pressure in the semiconducting gap stem due to the transformation of the weakly hybridized O 2p-Sn 5sp subband corresponding to the lowest valence state of Sn in SnO. We discuss the nature of the electronic states involved in chemical bonding and formation of the hole and electron pockets with nesting as a possible way to superconductivity.

Identifying structural order in Selenium with Near-Edge Spectroscopy

We investigate the crystallization of amorphous arsenic-selenium alloys with 0%, 0.5%, 2%, 6%, 10%, and 19% arsenic by atomic concentration using synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy. We identify crystalline order using the extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra and correlate this order to changes in features of the X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectra. We find supporting evidence that the structure of amorphous selenium is composed of disordered helical chains, and is therefore closer to the trigonal crystalline phase than the monoclinic crystalline phase.

Electronic structure of BiMeO3 multiferroics and related oxides

We have performed a systematic study of the electronic structures of BiMeO3 (Me = Sc, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni) series by soft X-ray emission (XES) and absorption (XAS) spectroscopy. The band gap values were estimated for all compounds in the series. For BiFeO3 a band gap of ~0.9 eV was obtained from the alignment of the O Ka XES and O 1s XAS. The O 1s XAS spectrum of BiNiO3 indicates that the formation of holes is due to a Ni2+ valency rather than a Ni3+ valency. We have found that the O Ka XES and O 1s XAS of BiMeO3 probing partially occupied and vacant O 2p states, respectively, are in agreement with the O 2p densities of states obtained from spin-polarized band structure calculations. The O Ka XES spectra show the same degree of Bi 6s--O 2p hybridization for all compounds in the series. We argue herein that the stereochemical activity of Bi 6s lone pairs must be supplemented with inversion symmetry breaking to allow electric polarization. For BiMnO3 and BiFeO3, two cases of multiferroic materials in this series, the former breaks the inversion symmetry due to the antiferromagnetic order induced by particular orbital ordering in the highly distorted perovskite structure and the latter has rhombohedral crystal structure without inversion symmetry.

Electronic structure of alkaline earth and post-transition metal oxides

The electronic structure in alkaline earth AeO (Ae = Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba) and post-transition metal oxides MeO (Me = Zn, Cd, Hg) is probed with oxygen K-edge X-ray absorption and emission spectroscopy. The experimental data is compared with density functional theory electronic structure calculations. We use our experimental spectra of the oxygen K-edge to estimate the bandgaps of these materials, and compare our results to the range of values available in the literature.