Non-bulk Superconductivity in Pr$_4$Ni$_3$O$_{10}$ Single Crystals Under Pressure

Xinglong Chen; E. H. T. Poldi; Shuyuan Huyan; R. Chapai; H. Zheng; S. L. Budko; U. Welp; P. C. Canfield; Russell J. Hemley; J. F. Mitchell; D. Phelan

arXiv · 2410.10666

Non-bulk Superconductivity in Pr$_4$Ni$_3$O$_{10}$ Single Crystals Under Pressure

Xinglong Chen·E. H. T. Poldi·Shuyuan Huyan·R. Chapai·H. Zheng·S. L. Budko·U. Welp·P. C. Canfield·Russell J. Hemley·J. F. Mitchell·D. Phelan

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Abstract

Magneto-transport measurements of Pr$_4$Ni$_3$O$_{10}$ 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 non-percolating 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 Pr$_4$Ni$_3$O$_{10}$ single crystals are not bulk superconductors but that there is a minority structure present within the crystals that is indeed superconducting.

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Xinglong Chen, E. H. T. Poldi, Shuyuan Huyan, R. Chapai, H. Zheng, S. L. Budko, U. Welp, P. C. Canfield, Russell J. Hemley, J. F. Mitchell, D. Phelan. 2024-10-14. Non-bulk Superconductivity in Pr$_4$Ni$_3$O$_{10}$ Single Crystals Under Pressure. https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.10666

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