Nematic properties of FeSe$_{1-x}$Te$_{x}$ crystals with a low Te content

Abstract

We report on the synthesis and physical properties of FeSe$_{1-x}$Te$_x$ single crystals with a low Te content (x = 0.17, 0.21, 0.25), where the replacement of Se with Te partially suppresses superconductivity. Resistivity and Hall effect measurements indicate weak anomalies at elevated temperatures ascribed to nematic transitions. A quasi-classical analysis of transport data, including in a pulsed magnetic field of up to 25 T, confirms the inversion of majority carriers type from holes in FeSe to electrons in FeSe$_{1-x}$Te$_x$ at x $>$ 0.17. The temperature-dependent term in the elastoresistance of the studied compositions has a negative sign, which means that for substituted FeSe compositions, the elastoresistance is positive for hole-doped materials and negative for electron-doped materials just like in semiconductors such as silicon and germanium.