Low fractional volume superconductivity in single crystals of Pr{sub 4}Ni{sub 3}O{sub 10} under pressure

Journal Article · Mon Mar 31 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Physical review B

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.111.094525· OSTI ID:2574933

Chen, Xinglong; Poldi, E. H. T.; Huyan, Shuyuan; Chapai, R.; Zheng, H.; Bud'ko, S. L.; Welp, U.; Canfield, P. C.; Hemley, R. J.; Mitchell, J. F.; Phelan, D.

Magnetotransport measurements of P⁢r4⁢N⁢i3⁢O10 single crystals performed under externally applied pressures up to 73 GPa in diamond anvil cells with either KBr or Nujol oil as pressure media yield signatures of superconductivity with a maximum onset temperature of approximately 31 K. True zero resistance was not observed, consistent with a nonpercolating superconducting volume fraction. Magnetization measurements provided corroborating evidence of superconductivity, with a pressure-dependent diamagnetic signal occurring below the onset temperature, and an estimate from the absolute value of the susceptibility suggests a superconducting volume fraction on the order of 10%. We observe sample to sample variations in the magnitude and pressure dependence of 𝑇𝑐 as well as a dependence on the configuration of electrical contacts on a given sample. Possible causes of this behavior may be significant inhomogeneities in the pressure and/or damage to the samples induced by the pressure media as well as inhomogeneities in the crystals themselves. The results imply that our as-grown P⁢r4⁢N⁢i3⁢O10 single crystals are not bulk superconductors but that there is a minority structure present within the crystals that is indeed superconductin

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy; National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); Chicago/DOE Alliance Center (CDAC); USDOE Office of Science - Office of Basic Energy Sciences - Materials Sciences and Engineering Division
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 2574933
• Journal Information: Physical review B, Journal Name: Physical review B Journal Issue: 09 Vol. 111; ISSN 2469-9950
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English