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Critical role of hydrogen for superconductivity in nickelates

Author

Listed:
  • Xiang Ding

    (University of Electronic Science and Technology of China)

  • Charles C. Tam

    (Harwell Campus
    University of Bristol)

  • Xuelei Sui

    (Beijing Computational Science Research Center)

  • Yan Zhao

    (University of Electronic Science and Technology of China)

  • Minghui Xu

    (University of Electronic Science and Technology of China)

  • Jaewon Choi

    (Harwell Campus)

  • Huaqian Leng

    (University of Electronic Science and Technology of China)

  • Ji Zhang

    (University of New South Wales)

  • Mei Wu

    (Peking University)

  • Haiyan Xiao

    (University of Electronic Science and Technology of China)

  • Xiaotao Zu

    (University of Electronic Science and Technology of China)

  • Mirian Garcia-Fernandez

    (Harwell Campus)

  • Stefano Agrestini

    (Harwell Campus)

  • Xiaoqiang Wu

    (Chengdu University)

  • Qingyuan Wang

    (Chengdu University)

  • Peng Gao

    (Peking University)

  • Sean Li

    (University of New South Wales)

  • Bing Huang

    (Beijing Computational Science Research Center
    Beijing Normal University)

  • Ke-Jin Zhou

    (Harwell Campus)

  • Liang Qiao

    (University of Electronic Science and Technology of China)

Abstract

The newly discovered nickelate superconductors so far only exist in epitaxial thin films synthesized by a topotactic reaction with metal hydrides1. This method changes the nickelates from the perovskite to an infinite-layer structure by deintercalation of apical oxygens1–3. Such a chemical reaction may introduce hydrogen (H), influencing the physical properties of the end materials4–9. Unfortunately, H is insensitive to most characterization techniques and is difficult to detect because of its light weight. Here, in optimally Sr doped Nd0.8Sr0.2NiO2H epitaxial films, secondary-ion mass spectroscopy shows abundant H existing in the form of Nd0.8Sr0.2NiO2Hx (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 3d orbital hybridization. This leads the electronic structure of H-doped Nd0.8Sr0.2NiO2Hx 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.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiang Ding & Charles C. Tam & Xuelei Sui & Yan Zhao & Minghui Xu & Jaewon Choi & Huaqian Leng & Ji Zhang & Mei Wu & Haiyan Xiao & Xiaotao Zu & Mirian Garcia-Fernandez & Stefano Agrestini & Xiaoqiang W, 2023. "Critical role of hydrogen for superconductivity in nickelates," Nature, Nature, vol. 615(7950), pages 50-55, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:615:y:2023:i:7950:d:10.1038_s41586-022-05657-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05657-2
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    Cited by:

    1. Kejun Hu & Qing Li & Dongsheng Song & Yingze Jia & Zhiyao Liang & Shuai Wang & Haifeng Du & Hai-Hu Wen & Binghui Ge, 2024. "Atomic scale disorder and reconstruction in bulk infinite-layer nickelates lacking superconductivity," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.

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