oxidearsenide

Oxidearsenide is a broad class of chemical compounds that combine elements from the pnictogen group (specifically arsenic) with oxygen and other metallic elements, typically transition metals. These materials are of significant interest in condensed matter physics and materials science due to their unique electronic and superconducting properties.

The term "oxidearsenide" is often used in the context of iron-based superconductors, which were discovered in 2008. These compounds generally have a layered crystal structure, where arsenic and oxygen atoms form planes separated by layers of transition metals such as iron. The most well-known example is LaFeAsO (lanthanum iron arsenide oxide), which exhibits superconductivity at relatively high temperatures compared to conventional superconductors.

Superconductivity in oxidearsenides arises from interactions between electrons and lattice vibrations (phonons), though the exact mechanism remains a subject of ongoing research. These materials can be doped with various elements to optimize their superconducting properties, such as replacing lanthanum with other rare-earth elements or substituting arsenic with phosphorus.

Oxidearsenides are synthesized through solid-state reactions, where metal oxides and arsenic sources are heated under controlled conditions to form the desired crystalline structure. Their properties can be tuned by adjusting synthesis parameters, such as temperature, pressure, and doping levels.

Beyond superconductivity, oxidearsenides exhibit other intriguing phenomena, including magnetic ordering and anomalous transport properties. Research into these materials continues to advance our understanding of strongly correlated electron systems and may lead to practical applications in electronics, energy storage, and quantum computing.