Superconducting phase diagram of multilayer square-planar nickelates

Abstract

The discovery of superconductivity in square-planar nickelates has offered a rich materials platform to explore the origins of high-temperature superconductivity. However, experimental investigations have largely been limited to the infinite-layer R NiO 2 ( R , rare earth) nickelates. We constructed a phase diagram of multilayer square-planar Nd n +1 Ni n O 2 n +2 compounds and found signatures of superconductivity for dimensionality n = 4 to 8. Upon decreasing n , the superconducting anisotropy evolves owing to 4 f electron effects, and electronic structure characteristics approach cuprate-like behavior. Magnetic fluctuations persist from within the superconducting regime and into the overdoped, nonsuperconducting regime. The superconducting regime overlaps with that of chemically doped infinite-layer nickelates, demonstrating underlying commonalities as well as differences across varying structural realizations of square-planar nickelates. Our work establishes this layered template for creating new nickel-based superconductors.