Strain mediated suppression of the metal-insulator and anti-ferromagnetic transition in EuNiO3 thin films

Ultrathin epitaxial films of EuNiO$_3$ were grown on a series of substrates traversing highly compressive (-2.4\%) to highly tensile (2.5\%) lattice mismatch. X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements revealed a strong multiplet splitting in the tensile samples that progressively weakens with increasing compressive strain. Transport measurements further collaborated these findings, showing a successively (from tensile to compressive) lower resistance and a complete suppression of the metal-insulator transition at -2.4\% lattice mismatch. The derivative of the transport showed a strong downturn around the bulk Neel temperature, which was also suppressed with compressive strain.