Electron-like high-temperature superconductivity induced by compressive strain in La2PrNi2O7 thin films
Abstract
The realization of high-temperature superconductivity in bilayer nickelates under epitaxial compressive strain is widely interpreted as mimicking the effects of high hydrostatic pressure. To test the equivalence of these mechanisms, we investigated a comprehensive strain continuum ranging from compressive (-2.14%) to tensile (+0.91%). Crucially, via ozone-assisted atomic-layer epitaxy, we realized high-temperature superconductivity in as-grown La2PrNi2O7 films on NdAlO3 substrates, which induce the most extreme compressive strain in this material system. Under extreme compression (-2.14%), these films exhibit a Tc_onset of 60 K, zero resistance at 33 K, and a diamagnetic response at 20 K, with magnetotransport measurements confirming a quasi-two-dimensional superconducting nature. Comparing our phase diagram with reported data reveals distinct lattice responses: unlike in pressurized crystals, the superconducting window in epitaxial films diverges significantly in the out-of-plane parameter c (or c/ap ratio) but remains consistent with the bulk regarding the in-plane parameter ap. Crucially, while superconductivity in both systems emerges from the suppression of spin-density waves (SDW), Hall measurements reveal a fundamental electronic dichotomy: optimal superconducting films are intrinsically electron-like (exhibiting a negative Hall coefficient), in stark contrast to the hole-like nature (positive Hall coefficient) of high-pressure bulk crystals and non-superconducting tensile films. Ultimately, both tuning strategies effectively modulate the underlying correlation landscape - the true driver of superconductivity - transcending the constraints of specific Fermi surface topologies. This work establishes a macroscopic platform for probing the multi-orbital physics of nickelates, offering a new dimension for investigating high-temperature superconductivity.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2608.01295,
title = {Electron-like high-temperature superconductivity induced by compressive strain in La2PrNi2O7 thin films},
author = {Zhiwei Wang and Zhengjie Wang and Huiyu Wang and Mingyi Zhu and Mengzu Shi and Zongyao Huang and Houpu Li and Shoucong Ning and Jing Tao and Tao Wu and Xianhui Chen},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2608.01295},
year = {2026}
}
Comments
35 pages, 14 figures, 2 Tables