Ren Zhi-An

Bio: Ren Zhi-An is an academic researcher from Chinese Academy of Sciences. The author has contributed to research in topics: Superconductivity & Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. The author has an hindex of 8, co-authored 12 publications receiving 1592 citations.

Superconductivity at 55 K in Iron-Based F-Doped Layered Quaternary Compound Sm[O1-xFx] FeAs

Abstract: We report the superconductivity in iron-based oxyarsenide Sm[O1-xFx]FeAs, with the onset resistivity transition temperature at 55.0K and Meissner transition at 54.6 K. This compound has the same crystal structure as LaOFeAs with shrunk crystal lattices, and becomes the superconductor with the highest critical temperature among all materials besides copper oxides up to now.

Pseudogap and Superconducting Gap in Sm FeAs(O 1-x F x ) Superconductor from Photoemission Spectroscopy

Abstract: High resolution photoemission measurements are carried out on non-superconducting SmOFeAs parent compound and superconducting SmFeAs(O1-xFx) (x = 0.12, and 0.15) compounds. The momentum-integrated spectra exhibit a clear Fermi cutoff that shows little leading-edge shift in the superconducting state. A robust feature at 13meV is identified in all these samples. Spectral weight suppression near Ef with decreasing temperature is observed in both undoped and doped samples that points to a possible existence of a pseudogap in these Fe-based compounds.

Strong Quantum Fluctuation of Vortices in Bulk Samples of the New Superconductor MgB2

Abstract: By using transport and magnetic measurements, the upper critical field Hc2(T) and the irreversibility line Hirr(T) have been determined. A large separation between Hc2(0) and Hirr(0) has been found showing the existence of a quantum vortex liquid state induced by quantum fluctuation of vortices in the new superconductor MgB2. Further investigation of the magnetic relaxation shows that both the quantum tunnelling and the thermally activated flux creep depend weakly on temperature. However, when the melting field Hirr is approached, a drastic rise of the relaxation rate is observed. This may indicate that the melting of the vortex matter at a finite temperature is also induced by the quantum fluctuation of vortices.

Structural Properties of MgB 2 Superconductors with a Critical Current Density Greater than 10 5 A/cm 2

Abstract: The structural features of MgB2 superconductors prepared under different conditions have been analysed by means of transmission electron microscopy. The MgB2 crystal is identified to have a hexagonal structure with the space group of P6/mmm. Superconducting materials synthesized under a high pressure of 6 Cpa are made of regularly stacked grains as large as a few microns in sizes. Stacking faults and microstructure properties of grain boundaries, either with or without impurities, appearing in a sample with the critical current density greater than 10(5)/cm(2), have been systematically investigated.

Superconducting Properties of MgB 2 Prepared by High Pressure and Ambient Pressure

Abstract: The new superconductor MgB2 has been prepared in two ways, by high pressure and ambient pressure synthesis. The superconducting properties were measured and compared. It is found that the sample prepared by high pressure is much denser than that prepared under ambient pressure. Accordingly the high pressure sample has a very narrow transition width and a much higher bulk critical current density.

Superconductivity in the PbO-type structure α-FeSe

Abstract: The recent discovery of superconductivity with relatively high transition temperature (Tc) in the layered iron-based quaternary oxypnictides La[O1−xFx] FeAs by Kamihara et al. [Kamihara Y, Watanabe T, Hirano M, Hosono H (2008) Iron-based layered superconductor La[O1-xFx] FeAs (x = 0.05–0.12) with Tc = 26 K. J Am Chem Soc 130:3296–3297.] was a real surprise and has generated tremendous interest. Although superconductivity exists in alloy that contains the element Fe, LaOMPn (with M = Fe, Ni; and Pn = P and As) is the first system where Fe plays the key role to the occurrence of superconductivity. LaOMPn has a layered crystal structure with an Fe-based plane. It is quite natural to search whether there exists other Fe based planar compounds that exhibit superconductivity. Here, we report the observation of superconductivity with zero-resistance transition temperature at 8 K in the PbO-type α-FeSe compound. A key observation is that the clean superconducting phase exists only in those samples prepared with intentional Se deficiency. FeSe, compared with LaOFeAs, is less toxic and much easier to handle. What is truly striking is that this compound has the same, perhaps simpler, planar crystal sublattice as the layered oxypnictides. Therefore, this result provides an opportunity to better understand the underlying mechanism of superconductivity in this class of unconventional superconductors.

Superconductivity at 38 K in the iron arsenide (Ba1-xKx)Fe2As2.

Abstract: The ternary iron arsenide ${\mathrm{BaFe}}_{2}{\mathrm{As}}_{2}$ becomes superconducting by hole doping, which was achieved by partial substitution of the barium site with potassium. We have discovered bulk superconductivity at ${T}_{c}=38\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{K}$ in $({\mathrm{Ba}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{K}}_{x}){\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}{\mathrm{As}}_{2}$ with $x\ensuremath{\approx}0.4$. The parent compound ${\mathrm{BaFe}}_{2}{\mathrm{As}}_{2}$ crystallizes in the tetragonal ${\mathrm{ThCr}}_{2}{\mathrm{Si}}_{2}$-type structure, which consists of $(\mathrm{FeAs}{)}^{\ensuremath{\delta}\ensuremath{-}}$ iron arsenide layers separated by ${\mathrm{Ba}}^{2+}$ ions. ${\mathrm{BaFe}}_{2}{\mathrm{As}}_{2}$ is a poor metal and exhibits a spin density wave anomaly at 140 K. By substituting ${\mathrm{Ba}}^{2+}$ for ${\mathrm{K}}^{+}$ ions we have introduced holes in the $(\mathrm{FeAs}{)}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ layers, which suppress the anomaly and induce superconductivity. The ${T}_{c}$ of 38 K in $({\mathrm{Ba}}_{0.6}{\mathrm{K}}_{0.4}){\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}{\mathrm{As}}_{2}$ is the highest in hole doped iron arsenide superconductors so far. Therefore, we were able to expand this class of superconductors by oxygen-free compounds with the ${\mathrm{ThCr}}_{2}{\mathrm{Si}}_{2}$-type structure.

The puzzle of high temperature superconductivity in layered iron pnictides and chalcogenides

Abstract: The response of the worldwide scientific community to the discovery in 2008 of superconductivity at T c = 26 K in the Fe-based compound LaFeAsO1−x F x has been very enthusiastic. In short order, ot...

Superconductivity in iron compounds

Abstract: Kamihara and coworkers' report of superconductivity at ${T}_{c}=26\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{K}$ in fluorine-doped LaFeAsO inspired a worldwide effort to understand the nature of the superconductivity in this new class of compounds. These iron pnictide and chalcogenide (FePn/Ch) superconductors have Fe electrons at the Fermi surface, plus an unusual Fermiology that can change rapidly with doping, which lead to normal and superconducting state properties very different from those in standard electron-phonon coupled ``conventional'' superconductors. Clearly, superconductivity and magnetism or magnetic fluctuations are intimately related in the FePn/Ch, and even coexist in some. Open questions, including the superconducting nodal structure in a number of compounds, abound and are often dependent on improved sample quality for their solution. With ${T}_{c}$ values up to 56 K, the six distinct Fe-containing superconducting structures exhibit complex but often comparable behaviors. The search for correlations and explanations in this fascinating field of research would benefit from an organization of the large, seemingly disparate data set. This review provides an overview, using numerous references, with a focus on the materials and their superconductivity.

Review of the superconducting properties of MgB2

Abstract: This review paper illustrates the main normal and superconducting state properties of magnesium diboride, a material known since the early 1950s but only recently discovered to be superconductive at a remarkably high critical temperature Tc = 40 K for a binary compound. What makes MgB2 so special? Its high Tc, simple crystal structure, large coherence lengths, high critical current densities and fields, and transparency of grain boundaries to current promise that MgB2 will be a good material for both large-scale applications and electronic devices. During the last seven months, MgB2 has been fabricated in various forms: bulk, single crystals, thin films, tapes and wires. The largest critical current densities, greater than 10 MA cm−2, and critical fields, 40 T, are achieved for thin films. The anisotropy ratio inferred from upper critical field measurements is yet to be resolved as a wide range of values have been reported, γ = 1.2–9. Also, there is no consensus on the existence of a single anisotropic or double energy gap. One central issue is whether or not MgB2 represents a new class of superconductors, which is the tip of an iceberg awaiting to be discovered. To date MgB2 holds the record for the highest Tc among simple binary compounds. However, the discovery of superconductivity in MgB2 revived the interest in non-oxides and initiated a search for superconductivity in related materialss; several compounds have since been announced to be superconductive: TaB2, BeB2.75, C–S composites, and the elemental B under pressure.