Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: We report the synthesis and characterization of lanthanum nitride by direct reaction of lanthanum metal with high pressure nitrogen gas in a laser floating-zone furnace. Combined synchrotron X-ray and neutron diffraction measurement verifies a rocksalt structure with stoichiometry LaN$_{0.94}$, consistent with first principles prediction that LaN is dynamically unstable in the stoichiometric limit. Electrical transport, heat capacity, and magnetization measurements show that LaN$_{0.94}$ is metallic with a superconducting transition at $T_c=5.95$ K. Our data establish LaN as the first bulk superconducting member of the rare earth mononitride family and motivates future exploration of the series using the unique processing space afforded by high-pressure optical reactors.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Authors: Benyacko, Caeli, Yuan, Lin-Ding, Turner, Josiah A., Reimanis, Laila, Ji, Siyuan, Li, Cheng, Lawrence, Erick A., Porter, Hanna Z., Rondinelli, James M., Wilson, Stephen D.
Subfield: Condensed Matter Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7214045616
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