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Uncovering origins of heterogeneous superconductivity in La3Ni2O7

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Published: 25 February 2026

Uncovering origins of heterogeneous superconductivity in La3Ni2O7

S. V. Mandyam1 na1,
E. Wang1 na1,
Z. Wang1 na1,
B. Chen1 na1,
N. C. Jayarama2,
A. Gupta1,
E. A. Riesel3,
V. I. Levitas

orcid.org/0000-0001-8556-44194,

C. R. Laumann

orcid.org/0000-0001-8979-756X1,2,5 &

…
N. Y. Yao

orcid.org/0000-0003-0194-72661

Nature

(2026)Cite this article

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Imaging techniques
Magnetic properties and materials
Quantum metrology
Superconducting properties and materials

Abstract

The family of nickelate superconductors have long been explored as analogues of the high-temperature cuprates1,2,3,4,5,6. Nonetheless, the recent discovery that certain stoichiometric nickelates superconduct up to high critical temperatures (Tc) under pressure came as a surprise7,8,9,10,11,12,13. The mechanisms underlying the superconducting state remain experimentally unclear. Apart from the practical challenges posed by working in a high-pressure environment, typical samples exhibit anomalously weak diamagnetic responses, which have been conjectured to reflect inhomogeneous ‘filamentary’ superconducting states7,9,14,15,16,17. Here we perform wide-field, high-pressure, optically detected magnetic resonance spectroscopy to image the local diamagnetic responses of as-grown La3Ni2O7 samples in situ, using nitrogen vacancy quantum sensors embedded in the diamond anvil cell18,19,20,21,22,23. These maps confirm marked inhomogeneity of the functional superconducting responses at the few μm scale. By spatially correlating the diamagnetic Meissner response with both the local tensorial stress environment, also imaged in situ, and stoichiometric composition, we show the dominant mechanisms suppressing and enhancing superconductivity. Our wide-field technique simultaneously provides a broad view of sample behaviour and excellent local sensitivity, enabling the rapid construction of multi-parameter phase diagrams from the local structure–function correlations observed at the sub-μm pixel scale.

Uncovering origins of heterogeneous superconductivity in La<sub>3</sub>Ni<sub>2</sub>O<sub>7</sub>

Uncovering origins of heterogeneous superconductivity in La3Ni2O7

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Abstract

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