Unconventional Crystal Structure of the High-Pressure Superconductor <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>La</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mn>3</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> </mml:msub> </mml:mrow> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>Ni</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> </mml:msub> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi mathvariant="normal">O</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mn>7</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> </mml:msub> </mml:mrow> </mml:math>
Pascal Puphal, Pascal Reiss, Niklas Enderlein, Yu‐Mi Wu, Giniyat Khaliullin, V. Sundaramurthy, Tim Priessnitz, M. Knauft, Anilkumar Suthar, L. Richter, Masahiko Isobe, Peter A. van Aken, H. Takagi, B. Keimer, Y. Eren Suyolcu, Björn Wehinger, P. Hansmann, Matthias Hepting
Abstract
The discovery of high-temperature superconductivity in La_{3}Ni_{2}O_{7} at pressures above 14 GPa has spurred extensive research efforts. Yet, fundamental aspects of the superconducting phase, including the possibility of a filamentary character, are currently subjects of controversial debates. Conversely, a crystal structure with NiO_{6} octahedral bilayers stacked along the c-axis direction was consistently posited in initial studies on La_{3}Ni_{2}O_{7}. Here, we reassess this structure in optical floating zone-grown La_{3}Ni_{2}O_{7} single crystals that show signs of filamentary superconductivity. Employing scanning transmission electron microscopy and single-crystal x-ray diffraction under high pressures, we observe multiple crystallographic phases in these crystals, with the majority phase exhibiting alternating monolayers and trilayers of NiO_{6} octahedra, signifying a profound deviation from the previously suggested bilayer structure. Using density functional theory, we disentangle the individual contributions of the monolayer and trilayer structural units to the electronic band structure of La_{3}Ni_{2}O_{7}, providing a firm basis for advanced theoretical modeling and future evaluations of the potential of the monolayer-trilayer structure for hosting superconductivity.