Robust charge stripe order under high electric fields in Nd1.67Sr0.33NiO4

TL;DR

This study investigates the effect of high electric fields on charge stripe order in Nd1.67Sr0.33NiO4, finding no evidence of stripe deformation or sliding, and attributing non-linear transport effects to resistive heating.

Contribution

The paper provides direct x-ray diffraction evidence showing charge stripe order remains stable under high electric fields, challenging previous assumptions about stripe sliding.

Findings

Charge stripe order remains stable under high electric fields.

Non-linear conductance effects are due to resistive heating, not stripe sliding.

Stripe pinning in nickelates is confirmed to be robust.

Abstract

The influence of high electric fields on the charge stripe order in Nd1.67Sr0.33NiO4 was studied by means of simultaneous hard x-ray diffraction and electrical transport experiments. Direct measurements of the charge stripe satellite peaks in zero and high electric fields provide no evidence for a deformation or a sliding of the stripe lattice, which contradicts previous indications from non-linear conductance effects. By using the order parameter of a structural phase transition for instant sample temperature measurements, non-linear transport effects can be attributed to resistive heating. Implications for the pinning of stripes in the nickelates are discussed.