High-temperature field-free superconducting diode effect in high-T_c cuprates

Area of Science:

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Materials Science
• Superconductivity

Background:

• The superconducting diode effect (SDE) demonstrates a difference in critical currents under opposing magnetic fields.
• Existing SDE observations often require low temperatures or complex device structures.
• There is a need for efficient, field-free superconducting diodes with high operating temperatures and simple configurations for non-dissipative electronics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the possibility of observing the SDE in a high-transition-temperature (high-T_c) superconductor under zero magnetic field.
• To explore the potential of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ (BSCCO) flake devices for practical applications in electronics.
• To determine the operating temperature range and efficiency of the field-free SDE in BSCCO devices.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ (BSCCO) flake devices.
• Experimental measurement of critical currents in opposite directions under zero magnetic field.
• Characterization of the superconducting diode effect (SDE) and its temperature dependence.
• Assessment of the device stability over multiple operational cycles.

Main Results:

• Observation of a robust superconducting diode effect (SDE) in BSCCO flake devices at zero magnetic field.
• The SDE was observed at temperatures up to 72 K, with significant rectification efficiency (22%) at 53 K.
• The rectification effect demonstrated stability over more than two hundred sweeping cycles.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully demonstrates a field-free superconducting diode effect in high-T_c cuprate superconductor BSCCO.
• The observed high operating temperatures and simple device configuration offer promising advancements for non-dissipative electronics.
• The findings provide valuable insights into the mechanisms behind field-free SDE and symmetry breaking in high-T_c superconductors.