Critical role of hydrogen for superconductivity in nickelates

The newly discovered nickelate superconductors so far only exist in epitaxial thin films synthesized by a topotactic reaction with metal hydrides 1 . This method changes the nickelates from the perovskite to an infinite-layer structure by deintercalation of apical oxygens 1 – 3 . Such a chemical reaction may introduce hydrogen (H), influencing the physical properties of the end materials 4 – 9 . Unfortunately, H is insensitive to most characterization techniques and is difficult to detect because of its light weight. Here, in optimally Sr doped Nd 0.8 Sr 0.2 NiO 2 H epitaxial films, secondary-ion mass spectroscopy shows abundant H existing in the form of Nd 0.8 Sr 0.2 NiO 2 H x ( x ≅ 0.2–0.5). Zero resistivity is found within a very narrow H-doping window of 0.22 ≤ x ≤ 0.28, showing unequivocally the critical role of H in superconductivity. Resonant inelastic X-ray scattering demonstrates the existence of itinerant interstitial s (IIS) orbitals originating from apical oxygen deintercalation. Density functional theory calculations show that electronegative H – occupies the apical oxygen sites annihilating IIS orbitals, reducing the IIS–Ni 3 d orbital hybridization. This leads the electronic structure of H-doped Nd 0.8 Sr 0.2 NiO 2 H x to be more two-dimensional-like, which might be relevant for the observed superconductivity. We highlight that H is an important ingredient for superconductivity in epitaxial infinite-layer nickelates.