Limits to the strain engineering of layered square-planar nickelate thin films

Abstract

The layered square-planar nickelates, Nd${}_{n+1}$Ni${}_n$O${}_{2n+2}$, are an appealing system to tune the electronic properties of square-planar nickelates via dimensionality; indeed, superconductivity was recently observed in Nd${}_6$Ni${}_5$O${}_{12}$ thin films. Here, we investigate the role of epitaxial strain in the competing requirements for the synthesis of the $n=3$ Ruddlesden-Popper compound, Nd${}_4$Ni${}_3$O${}_{10}$, and subsequent reduction to the square-planar phase, Nd${}_4$Ni${}_3$O${}_8$. We synthesize our highest quality Nd${}_4$Ni${}_3$O${}_{10}$ films under compressive strain on LaAlO${}_3$ (001), while Nd${}_4$Ni${}_3$O${}_{10}$ on NdGaO${}_3$ (110) exhibits tensile strain-induced rock salt faults but retains bulk-like transport properties. A high density of extended defects forms in Nd${}_4$Ni${}_3$O${}_{10}$ on SrTiO${}_3$ (001). Films reduced on LaAlO${}_3$ become insulating and form compressive strain-induced $c$-axis canting defects, while Nd${}_4$Ni${}_3$O${}_8$ films on NdGaO${}_3$ are metallic. This work provides a pathway to the synthesis of Nd${}_{n+1}$Ni${}_n$O${}_{2n+2}$ thin films and sets limits on the ability to strain engineer these compounds via epitaxy.

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Cited by in corpus (9)

• Signature of superconductivity in pressurized La${}_4$Ni${}_3$O${}_{10}$
• Long-Range Structural Order in a Hidden Phase of Ruddlesden-Popper Bilayer Nickelate La${}_3$Ni${}_2$O${}_7$
• Prediction of $s^{\pm }$-wave superconductivity enhanced by electronic doping in trilayer nickelates La${}_4$Ni${}_3$O${}_{10}$ under pressure
• Synthesis of thin film infinite-layer nickelates by atomic hydrogen reduction: clarifying the role of the capping layer
• Advances in Complex Oxide Quantum Materials Through New Approaches to Molecular Beam Epitaxy
• Magnetic excitations in Nd${}_{n+1}$Ni${}_n$O${}_{3n+1}$ Ruddlesden-Popper nickelates observed via resonant inelastic x-ray scattering
• Superconducting phase diagram of multi-layer square-planar nickelates
• Magnetically Mediated Cross-Layer Pairing in Pressurized Trilayer Nickelate La${}_4$Ni${}_3$O${}_{10}$
• Valency, charge-transfer, and orbital-dependent correlation in bilayer nickelates Nd3Ni2O7