Optimization for epitaxial fabrication of infinite-layer nickelate superconductors

The discovery of nickelates superconductor creates exciting opportunities to unconventional superconductivity. However, its synthesis is challenging and only a few groups worldwide can obtain samples with zero-resistance. This problem becomes the major barrier for this field. From plume dynamics perspective, we found the synthesis of superconducting nickelates is a complex process and the challenge is twofold, i.e., how to stabilize an ideal infinite-layer structure Nd0.8Sr0.2NiO2, and then how to make Nd0.8Sr0.2NiO2 superconducting? The competition between perovskite Nd0.8Sr0.2NiO3 and Ruddlesden–Popper defect phase is crucial for obtaining infinite-layer structure. Due to inequivalent angular distributions of condensate during laser ablation, the laser energy density is critical to obtain phase-pure Nd0.8Sr0.2NiO3. However, for obtaining superconductivity, both laser energy density and substrate temperature are very important. We also demonstrate the superconducting Nd0.8Sr0.2NiO2 epitaxial film is very stable in ambient conditions up to 512 days. Our results provide important insights for fabrication of superconducting infinite-layer nickelates towards future device applications.