Electronic Transitions in Strained SmNiO_3 Thin Films

Abstract

Nickelates are known for their metal to insulator transition (MIT) and an unusual magnetic ordering, occurring at T=T_Néel. Here, we investigate thin films of SmNiO_3 subjected to different levels of epitaxial strain. We find that the original bulk behavior (T_Néel<T_MI) is strongly affected by applying compressive strain to the films. For small compressive strains, a regime where T_Néel=T_MI is achieved, the paramagnetic insulating phase characteristic of the bulk compound is suppressed and the MIT becomes 1st order. Further increasing the in-plane compression of the SmNiO_3 lattice leads to the stabilization of a single metallic paramagnetic phase.

References in corpus (2)

• Role of magnetic and orbital ordering at the metal-insulator transition in NdNiO3
• Raman scattering investigation across the magnetic and MI transition in rare earth nickelate RNiO3 (R = Sm, Nd) thin films

Cited by in corpus (6)

• Ground state oxygen holes and the metal-insulator transition in the negative charge transfer rare-earth nickelates
• Physics of ultrathin films and heterostructures of rare earth nickelates
• Bond disproportionation and dynamical charge fluctuations in the perovskite rare earth nickelates
• Tailoring the electronic transitions of NdNiO_3 films through (111)_pc oriented interfaces
• Tuning the metal-insulator transition in d^1 and d^2 perovskites by epitaxial strain: a first principles-based study
• Complex magnetic order in nickelate slabs