Decoupling of lattice and orbital degrees of freedom in an iron-pnictide superconductor

The interplay between structural and electronic phases in iron-based superconductors is a central theme in the search for the superconducting pairing mechanism. While electronic nematicity is competing with superconductivity, the effect of purely structural orthorhombic order is unexplored. Here, using x-ray diffraction and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we reveal a structural orthorhombic phase in the electron-doped iron-pnictide superconductor Pr₄Fe₂As₂Te_0.88O₄ (T_c = 25 K), which is distinct from orthorhombicity in the nematic phase in underdoped pnictides. Despite the high electron doping we find an exceptionally high orthorhombic onset temperature (T_ort∼250 K), no signatures of phase competition with superconductivity, and absence of electronic nematic order as the driving mechanism for orthorhombicity. Combined, our results establish a high-temperature phase in the phase diagram of iron-pnictide superconductors and impose strong constraints for the modeling of their superconducting pairing mechanism.