A Superconducting Praseodymium Nickelate with Infinite Layer Structure
Motoki Osada1,2, Bai Yang Wang2,3,4, Berit H Goodge5,4
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States.
Nano Letters
|June 24, 2020
Summary
Superconductivity was discovered in Pr0.8Sr0.2NiO2 thin films, exhibiting a transition temperature of 7-12 K. This finding suggests superconductivity in infinite layer nickelates is robust across different rare earth elements.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Solid-State Chemistry
Background:
- Nickel oxide compounds exhibit correlated electron phenomena.
- Superconductivity recently discovered in infinite layer nickelate thin films (Nd0.8Sr0.2NiO2).
- Epitaxial stabilization on SrTiO3 substrates via topotactic reduction.
Purpose of the Study:
- Synthesize and characterize PrNiO2 thin films on SrTiO3.
- Investigate superconductivity in doped Pr0.8Sr0.2NiO2.
- Determine the influence of rare earth 4f configuration on superconductivity.
Main Methods:
- Epitaxial thin film growth of PrNiO2 on SrTiO3 substrates.
- Topotactic reduction from perovskite precursor.
- Superconductivity measurements including transition temperature and critical current density.
Main Results:
- Successful synthesis of PrNiO2 thin films.
- Observation of superconductivity in Pr0.8Sr0.2NiO2 with Tc = 7-12 K.
- Robust critical current density of 334 kA/cm^2 at 2 K.
Conclusions:
- Superconductivity in infinite layer nickelates is insensitive to rare earth 4f configuration.
- Pr0.8Sr0.2NiO2 is a new superconductor in the infinite layer nickelate family.
- Motivates exploration of broader families of 2D NiO2-based compounds for mechanism investigation.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Types Of Superconductors
1.5K
A superconductor is a substance that offers zero resistance to the electric current when it drops below a critical temperature. Zero resistance is not the only interesting phenomenon as materials reach their transition temperatures. A second effect is the exclusion of magnetic fields. This is known as the Meissner effect. A light, permanent magnet placed over a superconducting sample will levitate in a stable position above the superconductor. High-speed trains that levitate on strong...
1.5K
01:24Superconductor
1.6K
A substance that reaches superconductivity, a state in which magnetic fields cannot penetrate, and there is no electrical resistance, is referred to as a superconductor. In 1911, Heike Kamerlingh Onnes of Leiden University, a Dutch physicist, observed a relation between the temperature and the resistance of the element mercury. The mercury sample was then cooled in liquid helium to study the linear dependence of resistance on temperature. It was observed that, as the temperature decreased, the...
1.6K
02:37Metallic Solids
20.3K
Metallic solids such as crystals of copper, aluminum, and iron are formed by metal atoms. The structure of metallic crystals is often described as a uniform distribution of atomic nuclei within a “sea” of delocalized electrons. The atoms within such a metallic solid are held together by a unique force known as metallic bonding that gives rise to many useful and varied bulk properties.
All metallic solids exhibit high thermal and electrical conductivity, metallic luster, and malleability....
All metallic solids exhibit high thermal and electrical conductivity, metallic luster, and malleability....
20.3K
01:31Ferromagnetism
2.9K
Materials like iron, nickel, and cobalt consist of magnetic domains, within which the magnetic dipoles are arranged parallel to each other. The magnetic dipoles are rigidly aligned in the same direction within a domain by quantum mechanical coupling among the atoms. This coupling is so strong that even thermal agitation at room temperature cannot break it. The result is that each domain has a net dipole moment. However, some materials have weaker coupling, and are ferromagnetic at lower...
2.9K
01:17Theory of Metallic Conduction
1.7K
The conduction of free electrons inside a conductor is best described by quantum mechanics. However, a classical model makes predictions close to the results of quantum mechanics. It is called the theory of metallic conduction.
In this theory, Newton's second law of motion is used to determine the acceleration of an electron in the presence of an applied electric field. Then, its velocity is expressed via this acceleration.
An electron moves through the crystal, containing positive ions,...
In this theory, Newton's second law of motion is used to determine the acceleration of an electron in the presence of an applied electric field. Then, its velocity is expressed via this acceleration.
An electron moves through the crystal, containing positive ions,...
1.7K
01:14Diamagnetic Shielding of Nuclei: Local Diamagnetic Current
1.3K
An applied magnetic field causes the electrons present in the molecule to circulate, setting up a local diamagnetic current within the molecule. The local diamagnetic current arising from circulating sigma-bonding electrons induces a magnetic field, Blocal that opposes the applied magnetic field, B0. The effective magnetic field experienced by these nuclei is given by the difference between the applied and local magnetic fields in a phenomenon called local diamagnetic shielding. Essentially,...
1.3K