Nanoscale chemical phase separation in FeTe0.55Se0.45 as seen via scanning tunneling spectroscopy

Atomically resolved structural and electronic properties of FeTe1-xSex (x = 0 and 0.45) have been studied with scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS). In contrast to the extreme flatness of the Te-terminated FeTe surface, nanoscale chemical phase separation between Te and Se atoms is unambiguously revealed on the surface of FeTe0.55Se0.45. A statistical counting of the two kinds of atoms has the same ratio as that in the bulk. Remarkably, there is no electronic phase separation seen in the tunneling spectroscopy. This indicates that the optimally doped superconductor is chemically inhomogeneous but electronically homogeneous, in contrast to many correlated electron materials.