Based on a systematic analysis of the thermal evolution of the resistivities of Fe-based chalcogenides Fe$_{1+delta }$Te$_{1-x}X_{x}$ ($X$= Se, S), it is inferred that their often observed nonmetallic resistivities are related to a presence of two re
sistive channels: one is a high-temperature thermally-activated process while the other is a low-temperature log-in-$T$ process. On lowering temperature, there are often two metal-to-nonmetall crossover events: one from the high-$T$ thermally-activated nonmetallic regime into a metal-like phase and the other from the log-in-$T$ regime into a second metal-like phase. Based on these events, together with the magnetic and superconducting transitions, a phase diagram is constructed for each series. We discuss the origin of both processes as well as the associated crossover events. We also discuss how these resistive processes are being influenced by pressure, intercalation, disorder, doping, or sample condition and, in turn, how these modifications are shaping the associated phase diagrams.
We discovered a novel annealing method for Fe-chalcogenide superconductors. It was found that sulfur annealing deintercalated excess Fe via formation of FeS2. Due to its specifics, sulfur annealing is applicable when preparing Fe-chalcogenide-based wires or cables.
Novel BiS2-based superconductors LaO1-xFxBiS2 prepared by the high pressure synthesis technique were systematically studied. It was found that the high pressure annealing strongly the lattice as compared to the LaO1-xFxBiS2 samples prepared by conven
tional solid state reaction at ambient pressure. Bulk superconductivity was observed within a wide F-concentration range of x = 0.2 ~ 0.7. On the basis of those results, we have established a phase diagram of LaO1-xFxBiS2.
To elucidate the mechanism as to why alcoholic beverages can induce superconductivity in Fe_{1+d}Te_{1-x}S_x samples, we performed component analysis and found that weak acid such as organic acid has the ability to induce superconductivity. Inductive
ly-coupled plasma spectroscopy was performed on weak acid solutions post annealing. We found that the mechanism of inducement of superconductivity in Fe_{1+d}Te_{1-x}S_x is the deintercalation of excess Fe from the interlayer sites.
We found that hot alcoholic beverages were effective in inducing superconductivity in FeTe$_{0.8}$S0$_{.2}$. Heating FeTe$_{0.8}$S0$_{.2}$ compound in various alcoholic beverages enhances the superconducting properties compared to pure water-ethanol
mixture as a control. Heating with red wine for 24 hours leads to the largest shielding volume fraction of 62.4% and the highest zero resistivity temperature of 7.8 K. Some components present in alcoholic beverages, other than water and ethanol, have the ability to induce superconductivity in FeTe$_{0.8}$S0$_{.2}$ compound.
We have established a plot of the anion height dependence of Tc for the typical Fe-based superconductors. The plot appeared a symmetric curve with a peak around 1.38 A. Both data at ambient pressure and under high pressure obeyed the unique curve. Th
is plot will be one of the key strategies for both understanding the mechanism of Fe-based superconductivity and search for the new Fe-based superconductors with higher Tc.
Single-crystalline (Lu, Ca)Ba2Cu3O7-d (Lu(Ca)123) whiskers have been successfully grown using the Te-doping method. X-ray diffraction patterns of Lu(Ca)123 whiskers showed sharp (0 0 l) peaks corresponding to REBa2Cu3O7-d phase (RE = rare earth eleme
nts). Transport measurements showed that the superconducting transition occurred at 83 K in the obtained whiskers.
