Electronic properties of nickelate based films and heterostructures

Perovskite nickelates (RNiO₃, RE = Rare Earth) are fascinating materials, well-known for their metal to insulator transition (MIT) and unique antiferromagnetic (AFM) ground state [1]. In this talk, I will discuss the electronic and magnetic properties of [001] LaNiO₃ and (La_1-xNd_x)NiO₃ films [2]. In the latter, the Nd content allows the MIT temperature to be controlled. Particular attention will be paid to samples with an MIT close to 0K. I will also discuss the properties of [001] (SmNiO₃)/(NdNiO₃) and (LaNiO₃)/(LaMnO₃) superlattices [3,4]. The former display a single or a double MIT depending on the structure wavelength. In the latter system, an unusual exchange bias and antiferromagnetic interlayer exchange coupling are observed in [111]-oriented (LaNiO₃)/(LaMnO₃) superlattices [3,4].
[1] ML. Medarde, Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 9, 1679 (1997).
[2] J. Fowlie et al., Advanced Materials 2, 1605197 (2017).
[3] M. Gibert et al., Nat. Mat. 11, 195 (2012).
[4] M. Gibert et al., Nat. Comm. 7, 11227 (2016).