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Local inversion-symmetry breaking in a bismuthate high-Tc superconductor

Author

Listed:
  • S. Griffitt

    (University of Minnesota
    Cornell University)

  • M. Spaić

    (University of Zagreb)

  • J. Joe

    (University of Minnesota)

  • Z. W. Anderson

    (University of Minnesota)

  • D. Zhai

    (University of Minnesota)

  • M. J. Krogstad

    (Argonne National Laboratory)

  • R. Osborn

    (Argonne National Laboratory)

  • D. Pelc

    (University of Minnesota
    University of Zagreb)

  • M. Greven

    (University of Minnesota)

Abstract

The doped perovskite BaBiO3 exhibits a maximum superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of 34 K and was the first high-Tc oxide to be discovered, yet pivotal questions regarding the nature of both the metallic and superconducting states remain unresolved. Although it is generally thought that superconductivity in the bismuthates is of the conventional s-wave type, the pairing mechanism is still debated, with strong electron-phonon coupling and bismuth valence or bond disproportionation possibly playing a role. Here we use diffuse x-ray scattering and Monte Carlo modeling to study the local structure of Ba1-xKxBiO3 across its insulator-metal boundary. We find no evidence for either long- or short-range disproportionation, which resolves a major conundrum, as disproportionation and the related polaronic effects are likely not relevant for the metallic and superconducting states. Instead, we uncover nanoscale structural correlations that break inversion symmetry, with far-reaching implications for the electronic physics. This unexpected finding furthermore establishes that the bismuthates belong to the broader classes of materials with hidden spin-orbit coupling and a tendency towards inversion-breaking displacements.

Suggested Citation

  • S. Griffitt & M. Spaić & J. Joe & Z. W. Anderson & D. Zhai & M. J. Krogstad & R. Osborn & D. Pelc & M. Greven, 2023. "Local inversion-symmetry breaking in a bismuthate high-Tc superconductor," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-36348-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36348-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. D. Pelc & Z. Anderson & B. Yu & C. Leighton & M. Greven, 2019. "Universal superconducting precursor in three classes of unconventional superconductors," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-6, December.
    2. Linding Yuan & Qihang Liu & Xiuwen Zhang & Jun-Wei Luo & Shu-Shen Li & Alex Zunger, 2019. "Uncovering and tailoring hidden Rashba spin–orbit splitting in centrosymmetric crystals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
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