Iron-based superconductivity extended to the novel silicide LaFeSiH

Abstract

We report the synthesis and characterization of the novel silicide LaFeSiH displaying superconductivity with onset at 11 K. We find that this pnictogen-free compound is isostructural to LaFeAsO, with a similar low-temperature tetragonal to orthorhombic distortion. Using density functional theory we show that this system is also a multiband metal in which the orthorhombic distortion is likely related to single-stripe antiferromagnetic order. Electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal that these features occur side-by-side with superconductivity, which is suppressed by external pressure.

5 + epsilon pages, 7 figures, Supplemental Material on demand; v2 includes additional magnetization and resistivity data; v3 includes additional resistivity data from LaFeSiH single crystal