Ultrathin nickelate film reveals unconventional superconducting pairing

Researchers investigating La₃Ni₂O₇ thin films found superconductivity near 80 K under high pressure, with evidence pointing to an electron-pairing mechanism distinct from the d-wave pairing seen in cuprates. The study, published in Nature Physics, suggests that engineered bilayer nickelate films could offer a new platform for exploring high-temperature superconductivity. This finding challenges existing models of unconventional superconductors and may inform future materials design.