Superconductivity in the iron selenide<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mtext>K</mml:mtext><mml:mi>x</mml:mi></mml:msub><mml:msub><mml:mrow><mml:mtext>Fe</mml:mtext></mml:mrow><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msub><mml:msub><mml:mrow><mml:mtext>Se</mml:mtext></mml:mrow><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msub></mml:mrow></mml:math><mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mo>(</mml:mo><mml:mrow><mml:mn>0</mml:mn><mml:mo>≤</mml:mo><mml:mi>x</mml:mi><mml:mo>≤</mml:mo><mml:mn>1.0</mml:mn></mml:mrow><mml:mo>)</mml:mo></mml:mrow></mml:mrow></mml:math>

Abstract

We report the superconductivity at above 30 K in a FeSe-layer compound ${\text{K}}_{0.8}{\text{Fe}}_{2}{\text{Se}}_{2}$ (nominal composition) achieved by metal K intercalating in between FeSe layers. It is isostructural to ${\text{BaFe}}_{2}{\text{As}}_{2}$ and possesses the highest ${T}_{c}$ for FeSe-layer materials so far under ambient pressure. Hall effect indicates the carriers are dominated by electron in this superconductor. We confirm that the observed superconductivity at above 30 K is due to this FeSe-based 122 phase. Our results demonstrate that FeSe-layer materials are really remarkable superconductors via structure and carrier modulation.