Superconductivity and Dirac Fermions in 112-phase Pnictides

This article reviews the status of current research on the 112-phase of pnictides. The 112-phase has gained augmented attention due to the recent discovery of high-temperature superconductivity in $\cl$ with a maximum critical temperature $\tc\sim$ 47\,K upon Sb substitution. The structural, magnetic, and electronic properties of $\cl$ bear some similarities with other superconducting pnictide phases, however, the different valence states of the pnictogen and the presence of a metallic spacer layer are unique features of the 112-system. Low-temperature superconductivity which coexists with antiferromagnetic order was observed in transition metal (Ni, Pd) deficient 112-compounds like $\cn$, $\lpb$, $\lps$, $\lns$. Besides superconductivity, the presence of naturally occurring anisotropic Dirac Fermionic states were observed in the layered 112-compounds $\smb$, $\cmb$, $\lab$ which are of significant interest for future nanoelectronics as an alternative to graphene. In these compounds, the linear energy dispersion resulted in a high magnetoresistance that stayed unsaturated even at the highest applied magnetic fields. Here, we describe various 112-type materials systems combining experimental results and theoretical predictions to stimulate further research on this less well-known member of the pnictide family.