Pressure‐Dependent “Insulator–Metal–Insulator” Behavior in Sr‐Doped La3Ni2O7

Abstract

AbstractRecently, superconductivity at high temperatures is observed in bulk La3Ni2O7−δ under high pressure. However, the attainment of high‐purity La3Ni2O7−δ single crystals remains a formidable challenge. Here, the crystal structure and physical properties of single crystals of Sr‐doped La3Ni2O7 synthesized at high pressure (20 GPa) and high temperature (1400 °C) are reported. Through single crystal X‐ray diffraction, it is shown that high‐pressure‐synthesized paramagnetic Sr‐doped La3Ni2O7 crystallizes in an orthorhombic structure with Ni─O─Ni bond angles of 173.4(2)° out‐of‐plane and 175.0(2)°and 176.7(2)°in plane. The substitution of Sr alters in band filling and the ratio of Ni2+/Ni3+ in Sr‐doped La3Ni2O7, aligning them with those of “La3Ni2O7.05”, thereby leading to significant modifications in properties under high pressure relative to the unsubstituted parent phase. At ambient pressure, Sr‐doped La3Ni2O7 exhibits insulating properties, and the conductivity increases as pressure goes up to 10 GPa. However, upon further increasing pressure beyond 10.7 GPa, Sr‐doped La3Ni2O7 transits back from a metal‐like behavior to an insulator. The insulator–metal–insulator trend under high pressure dramatically differs from the behavior of the parent compound La3Ni2O7−δ, despite their similar behavior in the low‐pressure regime. These experimental results underscore the considerable challenge in achieving superconductivity in nickelates.