Observation of a Ubiquitous(π,π)-Type Nematic Superconducting Order in the Whole Superconducting Dome of Ultra-Thin BaFe_(2-x)Ni_xAs_2 Single Crystals

In iron-based superconductors,the(0,π) or(π,0) nematicity,which describes an electronic anisotropy with a fourfold symmetry breaking,is well established and believed to be important for understanding the superconducting mechanism.However,how exactly such a nematic order observed in the normal state can be related to the superconducting pairing is still elusive.Here,by performing angular-dependent in-plane magnetoresistivity using ultra-thin flakes in the steep superconducting transition region,we unveil a nematic superconducting order along the(π,π) direction in electron-doped BaFe_(2-x)Ni_xAs_2 from under-doped to heavily overdoped regimes with x=0.065-0.18.It shows superconducting gap maxima along the(π,π) direction rotated by 45° from the nematicity along(0,π) or(π,0) direction observed in the normal state.A similar(π,π)-type nematicity is also observed in the under-doped and optimally doped hole-type Ba_(1-y)K_yFe_2 As_2,with y=0.2-0.5.These results suggest that the(π,π) nematic superconducting order is a universal feature that needs to be taken into account in the superconducting pairing mechanism in iron-based superconductors.