Superconductivity in SnO: a Nonmagnetic Analogue to Fe-based Superconductors

We found that under pressure SnO with $\alpha $-PbO structure, the same structure as in many Fe-based superconductors, e.g. $\beta $-FeSe, undergoes a transition to a superconducting state for p $\ge $ 6 GPa with a maximum T$_{c}$ of 1.4 K at p = 9.3 GPa. The pressure dependence of T$_{c}$ reveals a dome-like shape and superconductivity disappears for p $>$ 16 GPa. It is further shown from band structure calculations that SnO under pressure exhibits a Fermi surface topology similar to that reported for some Fe-based superconductors and that the nesting between the hole and electron pockets correlates with the change of T$_{c}$ as a function of pressure. M.K. Forthaus et al., Phys.Rev.Lett. \textbf{105}, 15701 (2010)