Signature of superconductivity in pressurized La4Ni3O10-x single crystals grown at ambient pressure

TL;DR

This study demonstrates the emergence of superconductivity in high-quality pressurized La4Ni3O10-x single crystals grown at ambient pressure, highlighting the potential for ambient-pressure synthesis and advancing understanding of nickelate superconductivity.

Contribution

It reports the first observation of superconductivity in pressurized La4Ni3O10-x single crystals grown at ambient pressure, using potassium carbonate flux and high-pressure techniques.

Findings

Superconductivity observed at ~30 K under 77.9 GPa pressure.

High-quality single crystals with perfect trilayer stacking achieved.

Superconductivity linked to high-pressure conditions, not ambient pressure.

Abstract

Nickelates have attracted enormous attention since the discovery of high-temperature superconductivity in La3Ni2O7 under high pressure. However, whether superconducting nickelate single crystals can be prepared at ambient pressure remains elusive. Here we report signature of superconductivity in pressurized La4Ni3O10-x single crystals grown from potassium carbonate flux at ambient pressure. Single crystal X-ray diffraction and scanning transmission electron microscopy investigations re-vealed high-quality single crystals with perfect stacking of trilayers. Resistivity measurements indicate that the metal-to-metal transition observed at ambient pressure was suppressed under high pressure, and a sharp drop occurred at ~30 K at 77.9 GPa, consistent with superconductivity in pressurized La4Ni3O10 single crystals grown by the floating zone method at an oxygen pressure of >18 bar. Our results not only provide an important path to prepare high-quality nickelate single crystals but also support superconductivity in nickelates under high pressure, promoting more systematic and in-depth research in this compelling field.