Optimized fabrication of high-quality Nd0.8Sr0.2NiO2 superconducting films by pulsed laser deposition

Abstract

The discovery of superconductivity in the infinite-layer nickelates has motivated tremendous efforts for its’ significance toward the understanding of superconductivity. However, the synthesis of infinite-layer nickelates is instable and has become a holdback to experimental progress. According to systematic growth with variable conditions, our study suggests that the synthesis of the precursor perovskite Nd0.8Sr0.2NiO3 phase is very crucial for the whole experimental progress, whereas the topotactic reduction has a relative wide window of reduction condition. What is more, the laser fluence is found to be the most critical parameter to produce high quality of precursor perovskite Nd0.8Sr0.2NiO3 phase. In contrast, high quality of Nd0.8Sr0.2NiO3 phase can be achieved with large range of growth temperature and oxygen partial pressure.