Superconductivity in a quintuple-layer square-planar nickelate

Grace A. Pan, Dan Ferenc Segedin, Harrison LaBollita, Qi Song, Emilian M. Nica, Berit H. Goodge, Andrew T. Pierce, Spencer Doyle, Steve Novakov, Denisse Córdova Carrizales, Alpha T. N’Diaye, Padraic Shafer, Hanjong Paik, John T. Heron, Jarad A. Mason, Amir Yacoby, Lena F. Kourkoutis, Onur Erten, Charles M. Brooks, Antia S. BotanaJulia A. Mundy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Scopus citations

Abstract

Since the discovery of high-temperature superconductivity in copper oxide materials1, there have been sustained efforts to both understand the origins of this phase and discover new cuprate-like superconducting materials2. One prime materials platform has been the rare-earth nickelates and, indeed, superconductivity was recently discovered in the doped compound Nd0.8Sr0.2NiO2 (ref. 3). Undoped NdNiO2 belongs to a series of layered square-planar nickelates with chemical formula Ndn+1NinO2n+2 and is known as the ‘infinite-layer’ (n = ∞) nickelate. Here we report the synthesis of the quintuple-layer (n = 5) member of this series, Nd6Ni5O12, in which optimal cuprate-like electron filling (d8.8) is achieved without chemical doping. We observe a superconducting transition beginning at ~13 K. Electronic structure calculations, in tandem with magnetoresistive and spectroscopic measurements, suggest that Nd6Ni5O12 interpolates between cuprate-like and infinite-layer nickelate-like behaviour. In engineering a distinct superconducting nickelate, we identify the square-planar nickelates as a new family of superconductors that can be tuned via both doping and dimensionality.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)160-164
Number of pages5
JournalNature materials
Volume21
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2022

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Chemistry(all)
  • Materials Science(all)
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering

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