A superconducting praseodymium nickelate with infinite layer structure

• Published in: arXiv.org
• Main Authors: Osada, Motoki, Bai Yang Wang, Goodge, Berit H, Lee, Kyuho, Yoon, Hyeok, Sakuma, Keita, Li, Danfeng, Miura, Masashi, Kourkoutis, Lena F, Hwang, Harold Y
• Format: Paper Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 23.06.2020
• Subjects: Critical current density; Nickel oxides; Perovskites; Physics - Materials Science; Physics - Superconductivity; Praseodymium; Substrates; Superconductivity; Thin films; Transition temperature
• ISSN: 2331-8422
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2006.13369

A variety of nickel oxide compounds have long been studied for their manifestation of various correlated electron phenomena. Recently, superconductivity was observed in nanoscale infinite layer nickelate thin films of Nd\(_{0.8}\)Sr\(_{0.2}\)NiO\(_2\), epitaxially stabilized on SrTiO\(_3\) substrates via topotactic reduction from the perovskite precursor phase. Here we present the synthesis and properties of PrNiO\(_2\) thin films on SrTiO\(_3\). Upon doping in Pr\(_{0.8}\)Sr\(_{0.2}\)NiO\(_2\), we observe superconductivity with a transition temperature of 7-12 K, and robust critical current density at 2 K of 334 kA/cm\(^2\). These findings indicate that superconductivity in the infinite layer nickelates is relatively insensitive to the details of the rare earth 4\(f\) configuration. Furthermore, they motivate the exploration of a broader family of compounds based on two-dimensional NiO\(_2\) planes, which will enable systematic investigation of the superconducting and normal state properties and their underlying mechanisms.