3D strain-induced superconductivity in La²CuO^4+δ using a simple vertically aligned nanocomposite approach

A long-term goal for superconductors is to increase the superconducting transition temperature, TC. In cuprates, TC depends strongly on the out-of-plane Cu-apical oxygen distance and the in-plane Cu-O distance, but there has been little attention paid to tuning them independently. Here, in simply grown, self-assembled, vertically aligned nanocomposite thin films of La²CuO^4+δ + LaCuO³, by strongly increasing out-of-plane distances without reducing in-plane distances (three-dimensional strain engineering), we achieve superconductivity up to 50 K in the vertical interface regions, spaced ∼50 nm apart. No additional process to supply excess oxygen, e.g., by ozone or high-pressure oxygen annealing, was required, as is normally the case for plain La²CuO^4+δ films. Our proof-of-concept work represents an entirely new approach to increasing TC in cuprates or other superconductors.