Quantum nickelate material shows superconductivity under extreme pressure

Researchers at Sun Yat-Sen University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences have observed superconductivity in a novel form of lanthanum nickelate, La₃Ni₂O₇, but only when subjected to extreme pressure. Synthesizing a monolayer-trilayer phase of the material, the team found a superconducting transition at 3.6 K above 19 GPa, a stark contrast to the 80 K achieved in the bilayer structure. This difference demonstrates that the temperature at which superconductivity occurs is directly linked to how layers within the material interact, identifying the bilayer NiO₆ block as essential for achieving high-temperature superconductivity in these nickelates. Ruddlesden-Popper Nickelate Superconductivity: Bilayer vs. 1313 Phase The 1313 phase of La₃Ni₂O₇ exhibits a…