English

Stabilization of a non-superconducting, orthorhombic phase by over-hydrogenating LaFeSiH

Superconductivity 2026-04-23 v1

Abstract

Chemical composition provides a powerful route to tune the electronic ground state of iron-based superconductors and other quantum materials, yet access to highly doped phases remains limited. Here we demonstrate that high-pressure thermal decomposition of hydrogen-rich precursors enables over-hydrogenation of LaFeSi. Using anthracene, we synthesize tetragonal superconducting LaFeSiH, including a single hydrogen site, while ammonia borane yields a structurally distorted over-hydrogenated phase, LaFeSiH1+x, with an orthorhombic structure. Chemical analysis reveal excess hydrogen (x ~ 0.6), implying a second H site in LaFeSiH1.6 whose localization and occupancy are determined by neutron diffraction. In contrast to metallic LaFeSi and superconducting LaFeSiH, orthorhombic LaFeSiH1.6 exhibits semiconductor-like behavior. Upon hydrogen release near 100 {\deg}C, it transforms into tetragonal superconducting LaFeSiH1+{\delta} ({\delta} << 0.6). These results establish the chemical flexibility of the layered LaFeSiX (X = H, O, F) family and provide access to a high hydrogen-doping regime, creating new opportunities to investigate superconductivity in Fe-based silicides.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2604.20716,
  title  = {Stabilization of a non-superconducting, orthorhombic phase by over-hydrogenating LaFeSiH},
  author = {M. F. Hansen and C. Lepoittevin and J. -B. Vaney and P. Boullay and V. Nassif and A. Sulpice and H. Mayaffre and M. -H. Julien and S. Tencé and P. Toulemonde},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2604.20716},
  year   = {2026}
}