First Homologous Series of Iron Pnictide Oxide Superconductors (Fe2As2)(Can+1(Sc,Ti)nOy) [n = 3,4,5] with Extremely Thick Blocking Layers

We have discovered first homologous series of iron pnictide oxide superconductors (Fe2As2)(Can+1(Sc,Ti)nOy) [n = 3,4,5]. These compounds have extremely thick blocking layers up to quintuple perovskite oxide layers sandwiched by the Fe2As2 layers. These samples exhibited bulk superconductivity with relatively high Tc up to 42 K. The relationship between Tc and the iron-plane interlayer distance suggested that superconductivity due to the mono Fe2As2 layer is substantially 40 K-class.