The magnetic phase diagram has been mapped out via the measurements of electronic resistivity, magnetization and specific heat in the cobalt-based layered LnCo1-xFexAsO (Ln=La, Sm) compounds. The ferromagnetic (FM) transition at 63 K for LaCoAsO is r
apidly suppressed upon Fe doping, and ultimately disappears around x=0.3 in the LaCo1-xFexAsO system. When La is replaced by magnetic rare earth element Sm, the 3d electrons first undergo a FM transition at Tc = 75 K, followed by an antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition at a lower temperature TN1 = 45 K. With partial Fe doping on the Co site, both FM (Tc) and AFM (TN1) transition temperatures are significantly suppressed, and finally approach zero kelvin at x = 0.3 and 0.2, respectively. Meanwhile, a third magnetic transition at TN2 = 5.6 K for SmCoAsO, associated with the AFM order of the Sm3+ 4f-oments, is uncovered and TN2 is found to be almost robust against the small Fe-doping. These results suggest that the 4f electrons of Sm3+ have an important effect on the magnetic behavior of 3d electrons in the 1111 type Co-based LnCo1-xFexAsO systems. In contrast, the magnetism of the f-electrons is relatively unaffected by the variation of the 3d electrons. The rich magnetic phase diagram in the Co-rich side of the LnCo1-xFexAsO system, therefore, is established.
We investigate superconductivity and transport properties of Co doped SmFe$_{1-x}$Co$_{x}$AsO system. The antiferromagnetic (AFM) spin-density wave (SDW) order is rapidly suppressed by Co doping, and superconductivity emerges as $x$ $geq$ 0.05. $T_c$
$^{mid}$ increases with increasing Co content, shows a maximum of 17.2 K at the optimally doping of $xsim$ 0.10. A phase diagram is derived based on the transport measurements and a dome-like $T_c$ versus $x$ curve is established. Meanwhile we found that the normal state thermopower might consist of two different contributions. One contribution increases gradually with increasing $x$, and the other contribution is abnormally enhanced in the superconducting window 0.05 $leq$ $x$ $leq$ 0.20, and shows a dome-like doping dependence. A close correlation between $T_{c}$ and the abnormally enhanced term of thermopower is proposed.
