Preparation of Superconducting Thin Films of Infinite-Layer Nickelate Nd0.8Sr0.2NiO2

Abstract

The recent observation of superconductivity in thin films of infinite-layer nickelate Nd0.8Sr0.2NiO2 has received considerable attention. Despite the many efforts to understand the superconductivity in infinite-layer nickelates, a consensus on the underlying mechanism for the superconductivity has yet to be reached, partly owing to the challenges with the material synthesis. Here, we report the successful growth of superconducting infinite-layer Nd0.8Sr0.2NiO2 films by pulsed laser deposition and soft chemical reduction. The details on the growth process are discussed.