Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv · 2610.20249

Bulk superconductivity in quintuple-layer square-planar nickelate La6Ni5O12

Abstract

Nickelate superconductors, sharing a similar electronic environment with cuprate superconductors, offer a promising platform for unraveling the mechanism of high-temperature superconductivity. However, the realization of superconductivity in these systems has so far been restricted to thin films or bulk samples under high-pressure. This limits the applicability of various experimental probes to study the mechanism of superconductivity, and hinders the potential application of the nickelate superconductors. Exploring bulk superconductivity at ambient pressure is therefore essential to understand its origin and enable broader experimental research. Here, we report the realization of bulk superconductivity at ambient-pressure in quintuple-layer square-planar (SP) nickelate La6Ni5O12. The SP phase is obtained by performing topotactic reaction on the quintuple-layer Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) compound La6Ni5O16. Optimized reduction condition endows La6Ni5O12 with a superconducting state that exhibits onset transition temperature of ~ 18 K, as verified by both zero resistance and diamagnetic shielding effect. Pronounced hysteresis loops revealed by magnetization and torque magnetometry demonstrate the occurrence of vortex pinning. Specific heat measurements on a polycrystalline pellet of La6Ni5O12 reveal a clear superconducting transition at ~18 K and a superconducting volume fraction of ~ 25%, which strongly supports the presence of bulk superconductivity. Our results establish an unprecedented bulk sample platform for investigating superconductivity in nickelates at ambient pressure, which paves the way for further experimental studies into the superconducting mechanism.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Mengzhu Shi, Mei Du, Hongyu Li, Zhiwei Wang, Zhengjie Wang, Ziji Xiang, Tao Wu, Xianhui Chen. 2026-10-14. Bulk superconductivity in quintuple-layer square-planar nickelate La6Ni5O12. https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.20249

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

Ultrasmall (3,0) carbon nanotube: a superconducting unit with strong electron-phonon coupling

Based on density-functional first-principles calculations, we study the electronic structures, lattice dynamics, and electron-phonon coupling (EPC) properties of the ultrasmall one-dimensional (3,0) carbon nanotube (CNT). Our studies reveal that the (3,0) CNT hosts characteristic collective phonon modes, in which the corresponding atomic vibrations can significantly modulate the electronic self-consistent potential and induce strong EPC. Our results further show that the (3,0) CNT exhibits robust phonon-mediated superconductivity under ambient pressure, with a superconducting transition temperature reaching $\sim$ 33 K ($μ^*$ = 0.10). We also find that although hole doping enhances the density of states (DOS) near the Fermi level, it simultaneously hardens the strongly coupled phonon modes and suppresses the total EPC. This result indicates that phonons play a more crucial role in the superconductivity of ultrasmall CNTs rather than the DOS alone. Therefore, we suggest that the ultrasmall (3,0) CNT can serve as a superconducting unit hosting phonon modes with strong EPC, and propose a strategy for discovering new phonon-mediated superconductors by identifying superconducting units.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

In-Plane Differentiation and Out-of-Plane Coherence in Superconducting K$_{2-x}$Fe$_{4+y}$Se$_5$

The structural link between superconductivity and anomalous $d_2$ diffraction signatures in K$_{2-x}$Fe$_{4+y}$Se$_5$ remains unresolved. Their appearance is accompanied by pronounced host-lattice evolution rather than a static structural background. Using high-resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction, we show that excess Fe alters the vacancy-ordered host lattice, with structural differences between superconducting and nonsuperconducting states emerging before the $d_2$ features appear. All observed $d_2$ reflections can be described using two characteristic in-plane spacings and a nearly common low-temperature $c$ parameter. Temperature-dependent measurements reveal that superconductivity is associated with persistent in-plane differentiation and enhanced Fe-layer coherence along the $c$ axis. These results establish host-lattice evolution as the common structural origin linking the $d_2$ family and superconductivity, and suggest that the host-lattice differentiation identified here represents a structural analogue of the symmetry redistribution in FeSe.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Correlation-driven enhancement of pairing in a nematic Hund's metal

Superconductivity and nematicity coexist in the phase diagram of many correlated systems, including iron-based superconductors. We investigate how Hund-driven correlations reshape boson-mediated superconductivity in a multiorbital nematic metal. We find that dynamical correlation effects beyond a quasiparticle-only description are essential to capture the robustness of superconductivity in the Hund regime. In the nematic phase, Hund correlations simultaneously enhance the orbital differentiation of the superconducting gaps and inhibit the most extreme nematic-driven orbital polarization and coherence collapse that would otherwise suppress pairing at strong coupling. A controlled cutoff analysis reveals a nontrivial, orbital-dependent buildup of the gaps, indicating that different frequency windows of the correlated spectrum contribute unevenly to pairing in the nematic Hund regime. This implies that pairing mechanisms with different characteristic boson energies can lead to distinct gap structures and trends.

cond-mat.supr-con↗