Coexistence of superconductivity and antiferromagentic order in Er₂O₂Bi with anti-ThCr₂Si₂ structure

Abstract

We investigated the coexistence of superconductivity and antiferromagnetic order in the compound Er₂O₂Bi with anti-ThCr₂Si₂-type structure through resistivity, magnetization, specific heat measurements and first-principle calculations. The superconducting transition temperature T_c of 1.23 K and antiferromagnetic transition temperature TN of 3 K are observed in the sample with the best nominal composition. The superconducting upper critical field H_c2(0) and electron-phonon coupling constant λ_e−ph in Er₂O₂Bi are similar to those in the previously reported non-magnetic superconductor Y2O2Bi with the same structure, indicating that the superconductivity in Er₂O₂Bi may have the same origin as in Y₂O₂Bi. The first-principle calculations of Er₂O₂Bi show that the Fermi surface is mainly composed of the Bi 6p orbitals both in the paramagnetic and antiferromagnetic state, implying minor effect of the 4f electrons on the Fermi surface. Besides, upon increasing the oxygen incorporation in Er₂O_xBi, Tc increases from 1 to 1.23 K and T_N decreases slightly from 3 K to 2.96 K, revealing that superconductivity and antiferromagnetic order may compete with each other. The Hall effect measurements indicate that hole-type carrier density indeed increases with increasing oxygen content, which may account for the variations of T_c and T_N with different oxygen content.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

superconductivity / Kondo lattice / magnetic correlation / phase diagram

References

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