Pressure-dependent magnetization and magnetoresistivity studies on tetragonal FeS (mackinawite): revealing its intrinsic metallic character

The transport and magnetic properties of the tetragonal Fe[Image: see text]S were investigated using magnetoresistivity and magnetization within [Image: see text] K, [Image: see text] 70 kOe and [Image: see text] 3.0 GPa. In addition, room-temperature x-ray diffraction and photoelectron spectroscopy were also applied. In contrast to previously reported nonmetallic character, Fe[Image: see text]S is intrinsically metallic but due to a presence of a weak localization such metallic character is not exhibited below room temperature. An applied pressure reduces strongly this additional resistive contribution and as such enhances the temperature range of the metallic character which, for ∼3 GPa, is evident down to 75 K. The absence of superconductivity as well as the mechanism behind the weak localization will be discussed.