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Nearly Isotropic Upper Critical Field in Pressurized Trilayer Nickelate La4Ni3O10−δ

Di Peng1,2,*, Yaolong Bian3,4,*, Zhenfang Xing2,*, Lixing Chen5,*, Jiaqiang Cai3,4, Tao Luo2, Fujun Lan2, Yuxin Liu2, Yinghao Zhu5 et al.

Enkang Zhang5, Zhaosheng Wang3, Yuping Sun3, Yuzhu Wang6, Xingya Wang6, Chenyue Wang6, Yuqi Yang7, Yanping Yang2, Hongliang Dong2, Hongbo Lou2, Zhidan Zeng2, Zhi Zeng8, Mingliang Tian3, Jun Zhao5,9,†, Qiaoshi Zeng1,2,‡, Jinglei Zhang3,§, and Ho-kwang Mao1,2

  • *These authors contributed equally to this work.
  • †Contact author: zhaoj@fudan.edu.cn
  • ‡Contact author: zengqs@hpstar.ac.cn
  • §Contact author: zhangjinglei@hmfl.ac.cn
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Phys. Rev. X 16, 021008 – Published 8 April, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/h5sv-dzd1

Abstract

Evidence of superconductivity has recently been reported in pressurized nickelates, providing a new platform to explore high-temperature superconductivity. However, detailed experimental characterization of the superconducting properties of nickelates under pressure remains limited and technically challenging. Here, we report the first full temperature-dependent measurements of the upper critical field (μ0Hc2) in pressurized trilayer nickelate La4Ni3O10−δ single crystal, achieved by integrating advanced high-magnetic-field and high-pressure techniques. Remarkably, La4Ni3O10−δ exhibits nearly isotropic superconductivity, with the anisotropic parameter γ decreasing monotonically from 1.4 near Tc to 1 at lower temperatures. By applying a two-band model analysis out of plane and in plane μ0Hc2, we uncover a compensation of anisotropic diffusivity between bands primarily originating from dz2 and dx2−y2 orbitals, resulting in an exceptionally isotropic superconducting characteristic. These findings indicate the significant contribution of the dz2 orbital to superconductivity in pressurized La4Ni3O10−δ and provide essential constraints for theoretical models of the pairing mechanism in Ruddlesden-Popper nickelates.

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Popular Summary

Probing the upper critical field of bulk Ruddlesden-Popper nickelates—a newly discovered family of high-temperature superconductors—remains a significant technical challenge, because it requires the simultaneous application of extreme pressure and strong magnetic fields. We addressed this by developing an experimental platform that realizes hydrostatic pressures above 50 GPa and magnetic fields up to 34 T, enabling angle-dependent transport measurements on trilayer nickelate La4Ni3O10−δ single crystals. Our discoveries reveal that the upper critical field in this material is nearly isotropic, which is unusual for such a layered compound. We found that this isotropy results from a natural compensation between the dz2 and dx2−y2 electron orbitals, which effectively balances their individual directional preferences to create a uniform three-dimensional superconducting state. These results provide a framework for understanding the role of multiorbital physics in nickelate superconductivity. Our work establishes a capability for investigating quantum materials under the combined influence of extreme pressure and high magnetic fields.

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Phys. Rev. X 16, 021008– Published 8 April, 2026
  • Received 12 August 2025
  • Revised 14 January 2026
  • Accepted 16 March 2026
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