  Advanced synchrotron radiation focusing down to a size of 300 nm has been
used to visualize nanoscale phase separation in the K0.8Fe1.6Se2
superconducting system using scanning nanofocus single-crystal X-ray
diffraction. The results show an intrinsic phase separation in K0.8Fe1.6Se2
single crystals at T< 520 K, revealing coexistence of i) a magnetic phase
characterized by an expanded lattice with superstructures due to Fe vacancy
ordering and ii) a non-magnetic phase with an in-plane compressed lattice. The
spatial distribution of the two phases at 300 K shows a frustrated or arrested
nature of the phase separation. The space-resolved imaging of the phase
separation permitted us to provide a direct evidence of nanophase domains
smaller than 300 nm and different micrometer-sized regions with percolating
magnetic or nonmagnetic domains forming a multiscale complex network of the two
phases.
