Role of the interface for superconductivity in infinite-layer nickelate films

ORAL

Abstract

The stabilization of superconducting infinite-layer nickelates [1] provides a long-awaited experimental platform to explore a close analogue of the high-Tc cuprates. As the family of superconducting nickelate thin films grows [2-4], superconductivity remains unreported in bulk samples, raising questions about the origin of superconductivity in these samples. In particular, the polar interface between the SrTiO3 substrate and RNiO2 (R = rare earth) films has been proposed to host a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) with very high carrier density [5]. Leveraging high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) in the scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM), we reveal the atomic-scale lattice structure and charge distribution at the nickelate-substrate interface. Informed by systematically varied theoretical models, we provide a more complete understanding of the role played by this interface for superconductivity. 


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

2. Osada, M. et al. Nano Lett. 20, 5735 (2020).

3. Osada, et al. Advanced Materials, 2104083 (2021).

4. Pan, et al. Nature Materials, in press (2021).

5. Geisler & Pentcheva, Phys. Rev. B 102, 020502 (2020).

 

*Supported by DOD AFOSR (FA 9550-16-1-0305), DOE BES MSD (DE-AC02-76SF00515), the Moore Foundation (GBMF9072), the Packard Foundation, and the German Research Foundation (DFG) within CRC/TRR 80 (Projects G3, G8) and computational time at magnitUDE, granted by the Center for Computational Sciences and Simulation of the University of Duisburg-Essen (DFG grant nos. INST 20876/209-1 FUGG).

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Publication: Role of the interface for superconductivity in infinite-layer nickelate films, Goodge, et al. (in preparation).

Presenters

  • Berit H Goodge

    • Cornell University

Authors

  • Berit H Goodge

    • Cornell University

  • Benjamin Geisler

    • University of Duisburg-Essen

  • Kyuho Lee

    • Stanford University
    • Stanford University; SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

  • Motoki Osada

    • Stanford Univ
    • Stanford University; SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
    • Stanford University

  • Bai Yang Wang

    • Stanford University
    • Stanford Univ
    • Stanford University; SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

  • Danfeng Li

    • Stanford Univ
    • City University of Hong Kong
    • Stanford University

  • Harold Y Hwang

    • Stanford Univ
    • Stanford University; SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
    • Stanford University

  • Rossitza Pentcheva

    • University of Duisburg-Essen

  • Lena F Kourkoutis

    • Cornell University
    • School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States.