Synthesis of murunskite single crystals: A bridge between cuprates and pnictides

Tolj, Davor; Ivšić, Trpimir; Živković, Ivica; Semeniuk, Konstantin; Martino, Edoardo; Akrap, Ana; Reddy, Priyanka; Klebel-Knobloch, Benjamin; Lončarić, Ivor; Forró, László; Barišić, Neven; Ronnow, Henrik M.; Sunko, Denis K. (2021) Synthesis of murunskite single crystals: A bridge between cuprates and pnictides. Applied Materials Today, 24 . ISSN 2352-9407

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Abstract

Numerous contemporary investigations in condensed matter physics are devoted to high temperature (high-T-c) cuprate superconductors. Despite its unique effulgence among research subjects, the enigma of the high-T-c mechanism still persists. One way to advance its understanding is to discover and study new analogous systems. Here we begin a novel exploration of the natural mineral murunskite, K2FeCu3S4, as an interpolation compound between cuprates and ferropnictides, the only known high-T-c superconductors at ambient pressure. Because in-depth studies can be carried out only on single crystals, we have mastered the synthesis and growth of high quality specimens. Similar to the cuprate parent compounds, these show semiconducting behavior in resistivity and optical transmittance, and an antiferromagnetic ordering at 100 K. Spectroscopy (XPS) and calculations (DFT) concur that the sulfur 3p orbitals are partially open, making them accessible for charge manipulation, which is a prerequisite for superconductivity in analogous layered structures. DFT indicates that the valence band is more cuprate-like, while the conduction band is more pnictide-like. With appropriate doping strategies, this parent compound promises exciting future developments. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Murunskite ; Single crystal ; Open orbitals ; Electrical transport coefficients ; Band structure ; Density of states ; Antiferromagnetic transition
Subjects:	NATURAL SCIENCES > Physics
Divisions:	Theoretical Physics Division
Projects:	Project title Project leader Project code Project type Sulfasoli: nova generacija kompleksnih funkcionalnih materijala-SulfNewFunMat Denis Sunko; Ante Bilušić IP-2018-01-7828 HRZZ Educated search for high-temperature superconductivity in novel electronic materials- Neven Barišić 180652 HRZZ Centar za Napredna Istraživanja Kompleksnih Sustava-CeNIKS Mihael Srđan Grbić; Emil Tafra KK.01.1.1.02.0013 EK
Depositing User:	Ivor Lončarić
Date Deposited:	06 May 2026 07:07
URI:	https://fulir.irb.hr:/id/eprint/11903
DOI:	10.1016/j.apmt.2021.101096

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