Skip to main content

Disentangling types of lattice disorder impacting superconductivity in Sr2RuO4by quantitative local probes

Cornell Affiliated Author(s)

Author

B.H. Goodge
H.P. Nair
D.J. Baek
N.J. Schreiber
L. Miao
J.P. Ruf
E.N. Waite
P.M. Carubia
K.M. Shen
D.G. Schlom
L.F. Kourkoutis

Abstract

The unconventional superconductivity in Sr2RuO4 is infamously susceptible to suppression by small levels of disorder such that it has been most commonly studied in extremely high-purity bulk crystals. Here, we harness local structural and spectroscopic scanning transmission electron microscopy measurements in epitaxial thin films of Sr2RuO4 to disentangle the impact of different types of crystalline disorder on superconductivity. We find that cation off-stoichiometry during growth gives rise to two distinct types of disorder: mixed-phase structural inclusions that accommodate excess ruthenium and ruthenium vacancies when the growth is ruthenium-deficient. Several superconducting films host mixed-phase intergrowths, suggesting this microstructural disorder has relatively little impact on superconductivity. In a non-superconducting film, on the other hand, we measure a high density of ruthenium-vacancies (∼14%) with no significant reduction in the crystallinity of the film. The results suggest that ruthenium vacancy disorder, which is hidden to many structural probes, plays an important role in suppressing superconductivity. We discuss the broader implications of our findings to guide the future synthesis of this and other layered systems. © 2022 Author(s).

Date Published

Journal

APL Materials

Volume

10

Issue

4

URL

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85129747714&doi=10.1063%2f5.0085279&partnerID=40&md5=ea9c3104598f4b0bf29e736d29d860b2

DOI

10.1063/5.0085279

Group (Lab)

Kyle Shen Group

Funding Source

DMR-2039380
FA9550-21-1-0168
DMR-1709255
DMR-2104427
GBMF9073
DMR-1719875
NNCI-2025233

Download citation