Emerging superconductivity hidden beneath charge-transfer insulators.

Area of Science:

• Quantum Materials Science
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Solid-State Chemistry

Background:

• Strong interactions link magnetic moments, electrons, and crystal lattices in quantum materials.
• Superconductivity in 2D cuprates typically requires chemical doping to disrupt antiferromagnetism in Cu(2+) moments.
• Copper coordination in cuprates is usually five- or six-fold.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore superconductivity induction in Pr2CuO4 with four-fold coordinated copper.
• To investigate the effect of pristine square-planar copper coordination on superconductivity.
• To demonstrate new methods for manipulating magnetic and superconducting properties.

Main Methods:

• Synthesizing Pr2CuO4 with square-planar coordinated copper.
• Characterizing the induced quantum state.
• Measuring critical superconducting temperatures.

Main Results:

• Superconductivity was successfully induced in Pr2CuO4 with four-fold coordinated copper.
• The critical superconducting temperatures achieved were higher than those obtained by chemical doping.
• Pristine square-planar copper coordination was realized in the copper-oxygen planes.

Conclusions:

• Copper coordination is a crucial factor for manipulating superconductivity in quantum materials.
• Four-fold coordination offers a novel route to high-temperature superconductivity in cuprates.
• This work expands the understanding of order parameter control in quantum materials.