Enhancing Superconductivity in La3Ni2O7 through One-Pot Chemical Synthesis and Novel Structuring Methods

• Grant number: 24/21097-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: May 01, 2025
• End date: April 30, 2029
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Rafael Zadorosny
• Grantee: Matheus Paniago Brambilla
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FEIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Ilha Solteira. Ilha Solteira , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The nickelates stand out as a promising class of superconductors due to the potential for achieving high critical temperatures and their similarities with cuprates. In particular, La3Ni2O7 exhibits critical temperatures that can reach 80 K under high pressures, opening new research opportunities to understand the mechanisms of superconductivity in nickel-based systems. The structural and electronic similarity with cuprates provides a valuable foundation for exploring the behavior of these materials. However, the low superconducting volume fraction, resulting from impurities and defects in the samples, still limits the practical advancement of this class of materials. Therefore, this project proposes to develop a controlled synthesis and processing methodology for La3Ni2O7, using a one-pot approach with lanthanum and nickel acetates to generate a precursor solution. Additionally, the Solution Blow Spinning (SBS) processing technique will be used to produce nickelate nanofibers, which, due to their larger surface area, may optimize phase formation, leading to an increase in the superconducting volume of the final specimen. Furthermore, a ball mill will be used as an additional processing technique to amorphize the La3Ni2O7 grains, both obtained from nanowires and from the traditional ceramic powder method, and then recrystallize them with a new heat treatment. This technique is already used in ceramic materials to increase both the superconducting volume and Tc. The proposal aims to expand the understanding of phase formation, grain growth, and superconductivity in nickelates and contribute to the development of materials with a larger superconducting volume.