Kavli Affiliate: Lena F. Kourkoutis
| First 5 Authors: Dan Ferenc Segedin, Berit H. Goodge, Grace A. Pan, Qi Song, Harrison LaBollita
| Summary:
The layered square-planar nickelates, Nd$_{n+1}$Ni$_{n}$O$_{2n+2}$, are an
appealing system to tune the electronic properties of square-planar nickelates
via dimensionality; indeed, superconductivity was recently observed in
Nd$_{6}$Ni$_{5}$O$_{12}$ thin films. Here, we investigate the role of epitaxial
strain in the competing requirements for the synthesis of the $n=3$
Ruddlesden-Popper compound, Nd$_{4}$Ni$_{3}$O$_{10}$, and subsequent reduction
to the square-planar phase, Nd$_{4}$Ni$_{3}$O$_{8}$. We synthesize our highest
quality Nd$_{4}$Ni$_{3}$O$_{10}$ films under compressive strain on LaAlO$_{3}$
(001), while Nd$_{4}$Ni$_{3}$O$_{10}$ on NdGaO$_{3}$ (110) exhibits tensile
strain-induced rock salt faults but retains bulk-like transport properties. A
high density of extended defects forms in Nd$_{4}$Ni$_{3}$O$_{10}$ on
SrTiO$_{3}$ (001). Films reduced on LaAlO$_{3}$ become insulating and form
compressive strain-induced $c$-axis canting defects, while
Nd$_{4}$Ni$_{3}$O$_{8}$ films on NdGaO$_{3}$ are metallic. This work provides a
pathway to the synthesis of Nd$_{n+1}$Ni$_{n}$O$_{2n+2}$ thin films and sets
limits on the ability to strain engineer these compounds via epitaxy.
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