Optimization for epitaxial fabrication of infinite-layer nickelate superconductors

Abstract

The discovery of nickelates superconductor creates exciting opportunities to unconventional superconductivity. However, its synthesis is challenging and only a few groups worldwide can obtain samples with zero-resistance. This problem becomes the major barrier for this field. From plume dynamics perspective, we found the synthesis of superconducting nickelates is a complex process and the challenge is twofold, i.e., how to stabilize an ideal infinite-layer structure Nd_0.8Sr_0.2NiO₂, and then how to make Nd_0.8Sr_0.2NiO₂ superconducting? The competition between perovskite Nd_0.8Sr_0.2NiO₃ and Ruddlesden−Popper defect phase is crucial for obtaining infinite-layer structure. Due to inequivalent angular distributions of condensate during laser ablation, the laser energy density is critical to obtain phase-pure Nd_0.8Sr_0.2NiO₃. However, for obtaining superconductivity, both laser energy density and substrate temperature are very important. We also demonstrate the superconducting Nd_0.8Sr_0.2NiO₂ epitaxial film is very stable in ambient conditions up to 512 days. Our results provide important insights for fabrication of superconducting infinite-layer nickelates towards future device applications.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

nickelate superconductivity / infinite-layer / plasma condensate / plume dynamics

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Declarations

The authors declare that they have no competing interests and there are no conflicts.

Author contributions

L. Q. conceived the idea and supervised the project. M. H. X and Y. Z synthesized the perovskite nickelate thin films and performed the topotactic reduction experiments. M. H. X., X. D. and S. Z. characterized the crystalline structure. M. H. X., Y. Z., J. G. performed the transport measurements with the help of H. Q. L. and X. D.. M. H. X., Y. Z. and X. D. analyzed the transport data. M. H. X., Y. Z. and L. Q. wrote the manuscript with input from all authors.

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Acknowledgements

L. Q. acknowledges the support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 12274061, 52072059, and 11774044), the Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province (Grant Nos. 2021JDJQ0015 and 2022ZYD0014). B. H. acknowledges the support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 2230402).

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