Atomic Lattice and Electronic Structure of Superconducting Nickelate Thin Films

ORAL

Abstract

The recent discovery of superconductivity in Sr-doped NdNiO2 is an important development for condensed matter physics [1]. Nominally similar in structure to the infinite-layer cuprate superconductors, the nickelates present a complementary platform for investigating the underlying physical mechanisms driving superconductivity in these systems. The stabilization of superconducting samples is, however, as yet limited to thin film geometries, raising the importance of spatially localized characterization techniques capable of probing only the regions of interest without contributions from the substrate. Here, we harness the high spatial and energy resolution achieved with scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) to explore both the lattice and electronic structure of these superconducting thin films. Structurally, the effects of different growth parameters are explored across several films within the nickelate series. Electronically, we investigate possible similarities to the cuprate superconductors.

[1] Li, et al. Nature 572, 624 (2019).

*This work is supported by DOD AFOSR (FA 9550-16-1-0305), DOE BES MSD (DE-AC02-76SF00515), and the Moore Foundation (GBMF4415).

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Presenters

  • Berit Goodge

    • Cornell University
    • Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University

Authors

  • Berit Goodge

    • Cornell University
    • Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University

  • Danfeng Li

    • Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
    • SLAC National Accelerator Lab.
    • Physics, Stanford University
    • Stanford University
    • Applied Physics, Stanford University

  • Kyuho Lee

    • Physics, Stanford University
    • Stanford University

  • Motoki Osada

    • Stanford University
    • Physics, Stanford University
    • Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University

  • Bai Yang Wang

    • Department of Physics, Stanford University
    • Physics, Stanford University
    • Stanford University

  • Harold Hwang

    • Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences, Stanford University
    • Stanford University
    • Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University
    • Applied Physics, Stanford University
    • SIMES, SLAC
    • Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
    • SLAC National Accelerator Lab.
    • Physics, Stanford University
    • Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

  • Lena Fitting Kourkoutis

    • Cornell University
    • Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University
    • Kavli Institute at Cornell for Nanoscale Science