Drastic suppression of the superconductivity of LaFeAsO0.85 by a nonmagnetic impurity

We observed a drastic Tc suppression caused by no more than 3 at.% of Zn doped to the optimized superconductor LaFeAsO0.85 (Tc = 26 K). The electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements suggested that it is likely due to impurity scatterings rather than losing the metallic nature, seeming to support the s+/- pairing model proposed for the Fe pnictide superconductor.