Scanning SQUID study of ferromagnetism and superconductivity in infinite-layer nickelates

Abstract

Infinite-layer nickelates $R_{1-x}$Sr${}_x$NiO${}_2$ ($R$ = La, Pr, Nd) are a class of superconductors with structural similarities to cuprates. Although long-range antiferromagnetic order has not been observed for these materials, magnetic effects such as antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations and spin-glass behavior have been reported. Different experiments have drawn different conclusions about whether the pairing symmetry is $s$- or $d$ wave. In this paper, we applied a scanning superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) to probe the magnetic behavior of film samples of three infinite-layer nickelates (La${}_{0.85}$Sr${}_{0.15}$NiO${}_2$, Pr${}_{0.8}$Sr${}_{0.2}$NiO${}_2$, and Nd${}_{0.775}$Sr${}_{0.225}$NiO${}_2$) grown on SrTiO${}_3$ (STO), each with a nominal thickness of 20 unit cells. In all three films, we observed a ferromagnetic background. We also measured the magnetic susceptibility above the superconducting critical temperature in Pr${}_{0.8}$Sr${}_{0.2}$NiO${}_2$ and La${}_{0.85}$Sr${}_{0.15}$NiO${}_2$ and identified a non-Curie-Weiss dynamic susceptibility. Both magnetic features are likely due to NiO${}_x$ nanoparticles. Additionally, we investigated superconductivity in Pr${}_{0.8}$Sr${}_{0.2}$NiO${}_2$ and Nd${}_{0.775}$Sr${}_{0.225}$NiO${}_2$, which exhibited inhomogeneous diamagnetic screening. The superfluid density inferred from the diamagnetic susceptibility in relatively homogeneous regions shows $T$-linear behavior in both samples. Finally, we observed superconducting vortices in Nd${}_{0.775}$Sr${}_{0.225}$NiO${}_2$. We determined a Pearl length of 330 $\upmu$m for Nd${}_{0.775}$Sr${}_{0.225}$NiO${}_2$ at 300 mK both from the strength of the diamagnetism and from the size and shape of the vortices. These results highlight the importance of considering NiO${}_x$ particles when interpreting experimental results for these films.

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