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    Revealing microstructural features of hexagonal-tetragonal phase separation in FeSe0.2Te0.8 via atomically resolved transmission electron microscopy

    Shanshan Yan1,*, Jiali Liu2,*, Jiaqi Su1, Yuying Liu1, Yizhe Wang1, Chao Ma3, Pan Xu3, Yi Huang4, Xiaoli Dong2 et al.

    Ziyi Liu2,† and Zian Li1,‡

    • *These authors contributed equally to this work.
    • †Contact author: zy_liu@iphy.ac.cn
    • ‡Contact author: zianli@gxu.edu.cn

    Phys. Rev. B 111, 214108 – Published 11 June, 2025

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/4wqj-5hxp

    Abstract

    Understanding nanoscale phase separation in Fe(Se, Te) is essential for optimizing its microstructure to enhance superconducting properties, particularly for applications requiring high critical current density (Jc) and stability under external perturbations. Electron diffraction and diffuse scattering techniques have traditionally been used to probe compositional fluctuations and phase coexistence along specific crystallographic orientations. Herein, we employ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to systematically investigate structural phase separation in FeSe0.2Te0.8. Our observations reveal that the dominant superconducting phase adopts a tetragonal structure, within which a nanoscale, non-superconducting hexagonal secondary phase, identified as Fe7(Se,Te)8, is embedded. This hexagonal phase exhibits a well-defined orientation relationship with the tetragonal matrix, aligning specific crystallographic planes and directions, which influence phase stability and microstructural evolution. Furthermore, we examine the effects of postannealing and hydrothermal ion deintercalation (HID) treatments on phase separation. The HID treatment effectively reduces the hexagonal phase content, enhancing the homogeneity of the tetragonal matrix. These findings indicate that while phase separation-induced compositional and structural inhomogeneities serve as effective flux pinning centers to enhance Jc, excessive phase separation or an increased hexagonal phase fraction may degrade superconducting performance.

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