Enhanced conductivity and weakened magnetism in Pb-doped Sr2IrO4

Abstract

Group IV element Pb has been selected as the dopant to dope at the Sr site of Sr2IrO4. It is exciting to find that the single-phase crystal structure could be maintained with a high Pb doping level of up to x = 0.3 in Sr2−x Pb x IrO4. The mapping data obtained from energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy analyses give solid evidence that the Pb ions are uniformly distributed in the Sr2IrO4 matrix. The incorporation of Pb leads to a moderate depression of the canted antiferromagnetic ordering state. The electrical conductivity could be greatly enhanced when the Pb doping content is higher than x = 0.2. The present results give a fresh material base to explore new physics in doped Sr2IrO4 systems.